John Amos, known for his roles in Die Hard 2 and Roots, passes away – Ents & Arts News
John Amos, who was best known for his roles in the 1977 miniseries Roots and Die Hard 2, passed away at the age of 84.
His publicist Belinda Foster confirmed that he died of natural causes on 21 August, but the news was only announced on Tuesday.
Amos also portrayed James Evans Sr on Good Times, a show that showcased one of television’s first Black two-parent families.
“That show was a realistic depiction of life as an African American family living in those circumstances,” Amos stated in an interview with Time magazine in 2021.
Amos had a successful film career, appearing in movies like Let’s Do It Again, Coming To America, and Die Hard 2.
Good Times had such a significant impact that musicians like Alicia Keys, Rick Ross, and the Wu-Tang Clan referenced Amos or his character in their lyrics.
“Many fans see him as their TV father,” his son Kelly Christopher Amos remarked in a statement.
“He lived a fulfilled life. His remarkable contributions to television and film as an actor will be remembered,” he added.
The original cast of Roots – Sandy Duncan, from left, John Amos, Ben Vereen, Louis Gossett Jr., Leslie Uggams, Georg Stanford Brown and Lynne Moody. Pic: Amy Sussman/Invision/AP
Amos was let go from Good Times after criticizing the show’s white writing staff for creating storylines that he believed were not authentic to the Black characters.
Pic: AP Photo/Nick Ut
“The disagreements escalated to a point where my character being killed off the show was the best resolution for everyone involved, myself included,” Amos revealed.
His co-star Jimmie Walker expressed his preference for Amos to remain in the show and for it to maintain more of an ensemble feel.
Amos was born on 27 December 1939, in Newark, New Jersey, and was the son of a mechanic.
He earned a degree in sociology from Colorado State University and also played football for the university.
Before pursuing acting, he worked as a social worker at the Vera Institute of Justice in New York, assisting defendants at the Brooklyn House of Detention.
He also had a short-lived professional football career in various minor leagues.
