John Amos
Actor
Biography
John Amos (December 27, 1939 β August 21, 2024) was an American actor and retired football player. He is best known for his role as the adult Kunta Kinte in the landmark miniseries "Roots" and for portraying James Evans Sr. on the CBS television series "Good Times." He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and an NAACP Image Award. On film, he played numerous supporting roles in movies such as "The Beastmaster" (1982), "Coming to America" (1988), "Lock Up" (1989), "Die Hard 2" (1990) and "Coming 2 America" (2021).
Prior to acting, he played on the Colorado State Rams football team and in 1964, he signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's Denver Broncos and in 1967 signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs. Both of these contracts did not land him a spot on the teams and played a final season in the Continental Football League with the Victoria Steelers before pursuing acting.
Filmography
Uncut Gems
as Neighbor 33F 2019
Coming to America
as Cleo McDowell 1988
Coming 2 America
as Cleo McDowell 2021
Lock Up
as Captain Meissner 1989
Me Time
as Gil 2022
Vanishing Point
as Super Soul's Engineer 1971
Dr. Dolittle 3
as Jud 2006
The Beastmaster
as Seth 1982
Ricochet
as Reverend Styles 1991
Two Evil Eyes
as Det. Legrand 1990
Madea's Witness Protection
as Pastor Nelson 2012
Bad Asses on the Bayou
as Earl 2015
American Flyers
as Dr. Conrad 1985
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
as Biker 1971
The Players Club
as Freeman 1998
The Last Rifleman
as Lincoln Jefferson Adams 2023