John Amos was born on December 27 1939 in Newark, New Jersey. His father was a tractor-trailer driver and mechanic, while his mother was a housekeeper who later became a nutritionist. One of his mother's clients was one of the artists on the Archie comic book feature. He arranged for the young John Amos and a friend to attend a taping of the radio program Archie Andrews at Radio City Music Hall. While at East Orange High School he drew cartoons and wrote columns in the school newspaper. He appeared in the school's production of The Man Who Came to Dinner and was also a running back on the football team.
John Amos won football scholarships to Long Beach City College in California and then Colorado State University in Fort Collins. After graduating, John Amos signed as a free agent with the Denver Broncos in the American Football League. He then went to the short-lived United Football League, where he played for the Canton Bulldogs and Joliet Explorers. He played for the Norfolk Neptunes and Wheeling Ironmen in the short-lived minor league called the Continental Football League. He then played for the Jersey City Jets and Waterbury Orbits in the Atlantic Coast Football League. In 1967 he signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs in the American Football League. He returned to the Continental Football League where he ended his football career playing for the Victoria Steelers.
It was while John Amos was in Vancouver that he did stand-up comedy. He also met a television writer who moved him to go to Los Angeles. He got a job a a writer and performer on a variety show hosted by Al Lohman and Roger Barkley.and produced by KNBC. The following year he was a writer and performer on the variety show The Leslie Uggams Show on CBS. He guest starred on The Bill Cosby Show and The Tim Conway Comedy Hour. He began his stint playing Gordy Howard on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
It was in 1973 that John Amos first appeared as Henry Evans, the wife of Maude's housekeeper Florida Evans (Esther Rolle) on the sitcom Maude. The character of Florida Evans would lead to the sitcom Good Times, which was not quite a spin-off of Maude John Amos once more played her husband, although he was now named James. Sadly, he would eventually be fired from the sitcom after speaking out about stereotypes on the show. James was then killed off on Good Times. In the Seventies John Amos continued to appear as Gordy Howard on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He was one of the regular performers on the sketch comedy show The Funny Side. He was a regular on the show Future Cop. He played Kunta Kinte on the mini-series Roots. John Amos guest starred on the shows Love, American Style; The New Dick Van Dyke Show; Sanford and Son; and Police Story. He made his film debut in an uncredited role in Vanishing Point (1971). He appeared in the movies Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971), The World's Greatest Athlete (1973), Let's Do It Again (1975), and Touched by Love (1980).
In the Eighties John Amos appeared in the movies The Beastmaster (1982), Dance of the Devils (1983), American Flyers (1985), Coming to America (1988), Lock Up (1988), Two Evil Eyes (1990), and Die Hard 2 (1990). He had a regular role on the TV show Hunter. He guest starred on the shows Here's Boomer; Insight; The Love Boat; The A-Team; Trapper John, M.D.; Hardcastle and McCormick; One Life to Live; Murder, She Wrote; Stingray; You Are the Jury; Beauty and the Beast; The Cosby Show; and Gideon Oliver.
In the Nineties John Amos starred on the short-lived sitcom 704 Hauser. He had a regular role on The West Wing. He had a recurring roles on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, In the House, and The District. He guest starred on the shows Touched by an Angel; Martin; Walker, Texas Ranger; King of the Hill; and The Outer Limits. He appeared in the movies Ricochet (1991), Without a Pass (1991), Mac (1993), Night Trap (1993),. For Better or Worse (1995), and The Players Club (1998).
In the Naughts Mr. Amos continued to appear on The West Wing and The District. He had regular roles on the shows All About the Andersons and Men in Trees. He guest starred on the shows American Masters, Psych, My Name is Earl, Two and a Half Men, Royal Pains, 30 Rock, and Lie to Me. He appeared in the movies All Over Again (2001), The Watermelon Heist (2003), My Baby's Daddy (2004), Countdown (2004),. Shadowboxing (2005), Dr. Dolittle 3 (2006), Ascension Day (2007)., and Lean Like a Choo (2010).
In the Teens John Amos had a recurring role on The Ranch. He guest starred on the shows NYC 22, Ballers, Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell, Live in Front of a Studio Audience, and The Last O.G. He appeared in the movies Zombie Hamlet (2012),. Madea's Witness (2012), Act of Faith (2014), Bad Asses on the Bayou (2015), Mercy for Angels (2015), Tamales and Gumbo (2015). Hauntsville (2016), and Uncut Gems (2019).
In the 2020s John Amos guest starred on The Righteous Gemstones. He appeared in the movies Coming 2 America (2021), Because of Charley (2021). Christmas in Miami (2021), Me Time (2022), and The Last Rifleman (2023).
John Amos was an incredible actor. I think it will be safe to say he will always be remembered as James Evans on Good Times. James was in many ways a pioneering role. As a father he was firm and he did have a bit of a temper, but he was also gentle and compassionate. It was a pioneering role, presenting a strong father of a nuclear family, and John Amos played it perfectly. Like many, I think Good Times went downhill after he was fired. He was also remarkable as Gordy Howard, the weatherman on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Gordy was friendly and good-natured, and always professional. For the role of the older Kunta Kinte (who was given the slave name "Toby") he was nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series. Over the years he played many other great roles, including Admiral Percy "Fitz" Fitzwallace on The West Wing, the bodyguard Seth in The Beastmaster, fast food restaurant owner Cleo McDowell in Coming to America, and many others. John Amos gave a number of great performances throughout his career. In fact, I cannot remember him giving a bad one, no matter how poor the material may have been. He was simply a great actor.
No comments:
Post a Comment