With all due respect to Coming to America Cleo McDowell, who owns a knockoff version of McDonald's with a logo featuring gold elements, arcs , not arches, and a Big Mick Burger, not a Big Mac – John Amos’ two most recognizable roles were from over ten years earlier, during the Seventies. In 1974, CBS launched Good Times In this series, Amos and Esther Rolle portrayed James and Florida Evans, who were trying hard to support their children amidst challenging conditions at a Chicago housing project. Following his dismissal from the show due to complaints about how James and Florida’s genuine issues were getting less attention compared to the exaggerated behavior of their teenager JJ, he secured the main part in the groundbreaking miniseries. Roots where he portrayed the elder incarnation of Kunta Kinte, an Africa-born enslaved person, who was compelled by his white captors to respond to the name Toby.
Although the time periods and backgrounds varied greatly, the roles he portrayed were unmistakably those of John Amos' characters—robust, reliable, and capable of being either formidable or tender as required by the scenario.
Amos, who passed away on August 21, confirmed today His remarkable physique could be attributed to his genes since his family possessed similar traits. Before venturing into entertainment, he aimed to become a professional footballer. He initially pursued this dream at Colorado State University as part of their Rams team. Later, he participated in trials with both the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs from the former American Football League. Additionally, he played for various squads within the lower tiers of professional football organizations such as the Canton Bulldogs in the United Football League. It’s said that Chiefs’ head coach Hank Stram once remarked to him, “You’re not just playing football; you’re proving yourself as someone capable of handling the game.”
However, he transformed into quite the individual once he abandoned his aspirations of becoming an athlete and ventured into acting instead. During the early 1970s, he took up minor parts in television series—one particularly notable being a regular role on The TV show "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" As the affable and calm WJM meteorologist Gordy Howard—and in advertisements. (He probably leveraged his experiences from this musical McDonald's ad When it was time for McDowell to perform, Esther Rolle's portrayal of Florida emerged as an early standout character contrasting with Bea Arthur’s role. Maude , the show's creators, such as the renowned Norman Lear, opted to provide her with a spouse - and, by the episode's conclusion, Maude Season Two, to provide the pair with their own series.
Good Times It was among the earliest television sitcoms focused on a Black nuclear family. The show aimed to follow a similar style as both Maude and All in the Family With Florida and James navigating through poverty, discrimination, and various societal issues, they offered a steady foundation for their children amidst chaotic circumstances — resonating deeply with spectators facing similar challenges in an America still recovering from the aftermath of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Amos skillfully exchanged jokes alongside his castmates, notably during scenes where James would criticize JJ’s lackadaisical attitude (portrayed by actor-comedian Jimmie Walker). However, to those accustomed to seeing only white actors portray perfect sitcom fathers, James’ presence—and the heartfelt manner in which Amos portrayed him—made him seem like a landmark figure.
However, it was JJ – along with his often-shouted catchphrase, “DYN-O-MITE!” – that elicited the strongest reaction from audiences, causing the program to pivot towards centering around him. This left James and Florida cast as frustrated foils in what should have been their narrative arc. Both Rolle and Amos strongly disagreed with this change, each voicing objections regularly. While her concerns were typically voiced publicly, his tenderness toward them leaned into hostility. (“In those times, I wasn’t exactly known for my diplomacy,” he remarked retrospectively, noting how his superiors grew weary of threats made over comedic content). After the conclusion of the third season, Amos found himself dismissed, and at the start of the fourth season, viewers witnessed the Evans family grappling with sorrow when an out-of-frame James perished in a vehicular collision during a work-related move to Mississippi. Following that incident, Rolle chose not to return post-season, which rendered JJ’s character far less engaging against an unanchored backdrop—this resulted in declining viewer numbers.
There was a silver lining to Amos' unforeseen job loss: He had time to take on starring roles. Roots , a miniseries adaptation of Alex Haley’s novel chronicling America's dark past of slavery, told from the perspective of Kunta Kinte and his descendants. In the initial two episodes, LeVar Burton portrayed the youthful and rebellious Kunta Kinte, followed by John Amos taking over as the elder version, who seems more accepting of his captivity but still secretly schemes for freedom and a return to Africa. The book created quite a stir, and the television series was even more impactful, drawing viewership from over half of the U.S. populace. At one point, Amos expressed hope that Good Times Would spark discussions among Americans about both historical and current challenges faced by the Black community; Roots , he not only lived that dream but exceeded all expectations.
Not many actors could surpass taking on the main part in a production of such enormous scale. Roots , and Amos understandably couldn't manage to. Like James Earl Jones , who would portray Amos' in-law in both versions? Coming to America and its 2021 sequel Coming 2 America , Amos found himself caught in a casting conundrum throughout much of his career: He wasn’t really seen as a lead actor, yet his formidable presence and personality made it challenging for directors to place him in typical supporting roles. As a result, he frequently got cast to add weight to others' narratives. (He excelled at this role too, such as when portraying Admiral Fitzwallace, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,) The West Wing He has had notable roles from time to time — he is hilariously entertaining as Cleo McDowell and convincingly sparred with Bruce Willis as one of the antagonists. Die Hard 2 - However, one of his limited chances to lead a project was an unexpected meeting with Norman Lear, occurring almost two decades after Lear had dismissed him. Good Times . 704 Hauser was an All in the Family This spin-off features Amos as a working-class individual residing in the former residence of Archie Bunker in Queens. The central dynamics have been inverted; here, Amos embodies a vocal liberal, whereas his son takes on a conservative stance (paired with a Caucasian spouse portrayed by a young Maura Tierney). Despite this setup, only six episodes were produced, including one that remained unaired.
To some extent, Amos entered the acting world at an ideal time. During the 1970s, television was finally ready to embrace—and sometimes enthusiastically share—Black narratives after largely attempting to overlook them throughout much of its history. Good Times it felt like the perfect show for this moment, despite it somehow slipping through Amos's hands. Roots Is likely the most significant TV series ever produced, and amongst the finest. He stood at the core of these achievements. Additionally, Amos was pioneering for his era, dedicating much of his professional life to an industry yet to fully grasp how to utilize a Black actor possessing a resonant voice coupled with the build of a football player.
Nevertheless, how many actors manage to secure roles as iconic as those of James Evans or Kunta Kinte, not just once but twice, and also demonstrate perfect alignment with their characters' essence?
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