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John Amos

John Amos

Birthday: 1939-12-27 | Place of Birth: Newark, New Jersey, USA

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). 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.

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Known For

Acting

Year
Title

Role

2023
The Last Rifleman

as    Lincoln Jefferson Adams

2022
Block Party

as    Dennis

2021
Christmas in Miami

as    Chief Host

2021
Coming 2 America

as    Cleo McDowell

2020
2020
2019
Christmas Belles

as    Pop Pop

2015
Bad Asses on the Bayou

as    Earl

2015
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration

as    Self / Gordy Howard (archive footage)

2015
Tamales and Gumbo

as    The Patron

2013
American Lowrider

as    Slick

2012
Zombie Hamlet

as    Edgar Mortimer

2012
Madea's Witness Protection

as    Pastor Nelson

2007
All Over Again

as    Coach Zeller

2006
Men in Trees

as    Buzz Washington

2006
Voodoo Moon

as    Dutch

2006
Dr. Dolittle 3

as    Jud

2005
Shadowboxing

as    Хилл

2003
All About the Andersons

as    Joe Anderson

2003
The Watermelon Heist

as    Old Man Amos

2000
Disappearing Acts

as    Mr. Swift

1995
For Better or Worse

as    Gray

1995
Hologram Man

as    Wes Strickland

1994
704 Hauser

as    Ernie Cumberbatch