'Good Times' And 'Coming To America' Actor John Amos Has Passed Away At The Age Of 84
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John Amos’s cause of death has finally been determined after the beloved star of TV and film died last month. His son, film producer Kelly Christopher Amos, announced that he passed on the 21st of August, 2024, at the age of 84 after suffering a congenital heart failure. He gave a moving tribute:
“He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold…and he was loved the world over. Many fans consider him their TV father. He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.”
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Very strangely, daughter Shannon has stated online that she found out about her father’s death through social media, and someone else pretended to be her in the ER.
Born in New Jersey, John Amos attended Colorado State and graduated with a degree in sociology. A keen sportsman, he took home a Golden Gloves boxing championship before embarking on a football career. Initially signing with the Denver Broncos (after a stint in the lower leagues), he went on to play for the Kansas City Chiefs. But legendary coach Hank Strum told him straight, "You're not a football player, you're a man who is trying to play football.” He wasn’t wrong.
John Amos landed a job writing for The Leslie Uggams Show and the connection led to several small walk-ons, including The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Amos never gave up the pen; he wrote and produced the critically acclaimed play, Halley's Comet.
Amos advocated for the accurate portrayal of African-American characters in TV and film, and this often meant conflicts with writers. A clash over his character famously led to his departure from Good Times.
John Amos spent the 1980s making appearances in every major television series from Roots to Murder She Wrote. However, his most famous role was in an Eddie Murphy flick (Coming To America) where he starred as McDowell’s owner, Cleo. Another blockbuster, Die Hard 2, soon followed, but he never strayed far from the small screen. He was added as a series regular to LL Cool J’s In the House and Emmy nominated The District before landing the part of Percy Fitzwilliam in hit political drama The West Wing. He worked right up until his last months with an episode of Suits: LA still to air. He will be sorely missed.
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