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John Amos

John Amos

Acting·1939–2024·58 films

John Amos (December 27, 1939 – 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).

Filmography

Die Hard 2
Die Hard 2 (1990)Major Grant
Uncut Gems
Uncut Gems (2019)Neighbor 33F
Coming to America
Coming to America (1988)Cleo McDowell
Coming 2 America
Coming 2 America (2021)Cleo McDowell
Lock Up
Lock Up (1989)Captain Meissner
Me Time
Me Time (2022)Gil
Vanishing Point
Vanishing Point (1971)Super Soul's Engineer
Dr. Dolittle 3
Dr. Dolittle 3 (2006)Jud
The Beastmaster
The Beastmaster (1982)Seth
Ricochet
Ricochet (1991)Reverend Styles
Two Evil Eyes
Two Evil Eyes (1990)Det. Legrand
Madea's Witness Protection
Madea's Witness Protection (2012)Pastor Nelson
Bad Asses on the Bayou
Bad Asses on the Bayou (2015)Earl
American Flyers
American Flyers (1985)Dr. Conrad
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971)Biker
The Last Rifleman
The Last Rifleman (2023)Lincoln Jefferson Adams
The Players Club
The Players Club (1998)Freeman
Shadowboxing
Shadowboxing (2005)Хилл
My Baby's Daddy
My Baby's Daddy (2004)Uncle Virgil
Disappearing Acts
Disappearing Acts (2000)Mr. Swift
Mac
Mac (1992)Nat
The World's Greatest Athlete
The World's Greatest Athlete (1973)Coach Sam Archer
Let's Do It Again
Let's Do It Again (1975)Kansas City Mack
Hologram Man
Hologram Man (1995)Wes Strickland
Countdown
Countdown (2004)Admiral Melory
Night Trap
Night Trap (1993)Capt. Hodges
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You (2016)Self
Voodoo Moon
Voodoo Moon (2006)Dutch
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times" (2019)Fred Davis
Something to Sing About
Something to Sing About (2000)Rev. Washington
Zombie Hamlet
Zombie Hamlet (2012)Edgar Mortimer
Touched by Love
Touched by Love (1980)Tony
Dance of the Dwarfs
Dance of the Dwarfs (1983)Esteban
For Better or Worse
For Better or Worse (1995)Gray
The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda
The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda (1997)Booker Hutch
The President's Plane Is Missing
The President's Plane Is Missing (1973)Marine Corporal
American Lowrider
American Lowrider (2013)Slick
Block Party
Block Party (2022)Dennis
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story (1980)Bumpy Johnson
Christmas Belles
Christmas Belles (2019)Pop Pop
Bonanza: The Next Generation
Bonanza: The Next Generation (1988)Mr. Mack
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (2004)(archive footage)
The Watermelon Heist
The Watermelon Heist (2003)Old Man Amos
Because of Charley
Because of Charley (2021)Grandpa
Act of Faith
Act of Faith (2014)Mr. Brady
Willa
Willa (1979)Virgil
Shark's Paradise
Shark's Paradise (1986)Taxi Driver
Cops and Robin
Cops and Robin (1978)Officer Bill Bundy
Future Cop
Future Cop (1976)Officer Bill Bundy
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration (2015)Self / Gordy Howard (archive footage)
The Truth About Santa Claus
The Truth About Santa Claus (2020)Bob
Mercy for Angels
Mercy for Angels (2015)God
Ascension Day
Ascension Day (2007)Henry
Devotion
DevotionRoger
The Beastmaster Chronicles
The Beastmaster Chronicles (2020)Self
Remembering Roots
Remembering Roots (2002)Self
Tamales and Gumbo
Tamales and Gumbo (2015)The Patron
Christmas in Miami
Christmas in Miami (2021)Chief Host