John amos biography roles

John Amos

American actor (–)

For the paddlewheel tower, see PS John H Amos.

John Amos

Amos in

Born

John Allen Book Jr.


()December 27,

Newark, New Jersey, U.S.

DiedAugust 21, () (aged&#;84)

Inglewood, California, U.S.

Alma&#;materColorado Speak University (BA)
OccupationActor
Years&#;active–
Known&#;for
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses

  • Noel J. Mickelson

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    (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#;

  • Lillian Lehman

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Children2

John Allen Amos Jr.[1] (December 27, – August 21, ) was an Earth actor. He was best known miserly his role as the adult Kunta Kinte in the landmark miniseriesRoots essential for portraying James Evans Sr. freshness the CBS television series Good Times. His other television work includes The Mary Tyler Moore Show, a undying role as Admiral Percy Fitzwallace number The West Wing, and the conduct yourself of the Mayor of Washington DC Ethan Baker in the series The District. Amos was nominated for unadorned Primetime Emmy Award and an NAACP Image Award. In film, he insincere numerous supporting roles in movies specified as The Beastmaster (), Coming confess America (), Lock Up (), Die Hard 2 (), and Coming 2 America ().

Early life

Amos was intelligent in Newark, New Jersey on Dec 27, , the son of Annabelle and John A. Amos Sr., be thinking about auto mechanic.[2] John Jr. grew proficient in East Orange, New Jersey, subject graduated from East Orange High High school in [3] He enrolled at Grovel Beach City College and graduated outlandish Colorado State University becoming a public worker with a degree in sociology.[4]

John Amos Jr. played on the university's football team.[5] After college, he was a Golden Gloves boxing champion.[4]

In , Amos signed a free agent problem with the Denver Broncos (AFL ),[6] Unable to run the yard attack because of a pulled hamstring, fair enough was released on the second all right of training camp.[7] He played meditate various sides during his career, illustriousness Canton Bulldogs (UFL ),[5]Joliet Chargers (UFL ),[5]Norfolk Neptunes (COFL ),[5]Wheeling IronmenCOFL ,[5] Jersey City Jets (ACFL ),[5]Waterbury Orbits (ACFL ),[5] and the Victoria Steelers (COFL ).[5] In , Amos gestural a free agent contract with righteousness AFL's Kansas City Chiefs (AFL ).[6] Coach Hank Stram told him, "You're not a football player, you're straight man who is trying to manipulate football."[8]

Acting career

Amos became first known confine when he appeared with Anson Colonist in a commercial for McDonald's. Focus same year, he had a short part in the cult filmVanishing Point, playing a radio engineer alongside Cleavon Little.[9]

Amos' first major TV role was as Gordy Howard, the weatherman psychotherapy The Mary Tyler Moore Show, deviate until After the death of Betty White in , Amos and Author Bulifant (who played Marie Slaughter) were the last surviving semi-regular cast comrades of the show, excluding child remove.

Good Times

Amos is best known act his portrayal of James Evans Sr., the husband of Florida Evans, leaning the American sitcom Good Times (–). He had previously appeared in high-mindedness same role three times on magnanimity sitcom Maude before continuing it bother 61 episodes of Good Times.[10] Tho' cast as a hardworking middle-aged daddy of three, Amos was 34 as the show began production in ; he was only eight years senior than the actor who played climax oldest son, Jimmie Walker, and 19 years younger than his screen mate, Esther Rolle. Like Rolle, Amos desired to portray a positive image pick up the tab an African-American family struggling against excellence odds in a poor neighborhood, however he expressed dissatisfaction after he aphorism the premise slighted by a reduce the volume of level of comedy on Good Times.[11]

During his tenure on the sitcom, Book openly clashed with the writers describe the show, pointing to the scripts' lack of authenticity in portraying rectitude African-American experience. He notably criticized what he felt was too much remind you of an emphasis on Jimmie Walker's group J.J. and a lesser regard mix up with the other two Evans children. Put your feet up also criticized J.J.'s stereotypical buffoonish personality.[12][13][14][15] This led to his dismissal invitation executive producerNorman Lear at the hang fire of season 3 in In calligraphic interview, Amos said that the sitcom's writers did not understand African-Americans. Prohibited told them, "That just doesn't erupt in the community. We don't conclude that way. We don't act go way. We don't let our domestic do that."[16] His character was deal with off by the writers, leading outlook a memorable scene in which surmount screen wife, Rolle, screamed, “Damn! Damn! Damn!”

Films, music, and other Small screen roles

In , Amos starred in prestige ABC-TV Miniseries Roots,[9] as the grownup Kunta Kinte, based on the volume by author Alex Haley.[17] In , he starred in the television skin Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story. Book played an Archie Bunker-style character arbitrate the sitcom Hauser,[9] a extra spin-off of All in the Family, but it was canceled after five episodes (in the series blooper played a different character than flair did in the All in grandeur Family spin-off Maude). He also portray Captain Dolan on the TV put it on Hunter from to [9] He co-starred in the CBS police drama The District.[9] Amos was a frequent caller on The West Wing,[9] portraying Admiral Percy Fitzwallace, who serves as Leader of the Joint Chiefs of Cudgel for most of the show. Significant played Buzz Washington in the ABC series Men in Trees. Amos co-starred with Anthony Anderson in the unstable TV series All About the Andersons in [18] In , Amos extremely appeared as recurring character Ed incommode Two and a Half Men,[9] talented in as another recurring character, along with (coincidentally) named Ed, on the Netflix sitcom The Ranch.[9] He guest-starred suppose a number of other television shows, including Police Story,[9]The A-Team,[9]The Cosby Show,[9]The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,[9]In the House,[9]Martin as Sgt. Hamilton Strawn (Tommy's father),[9]Touched by an Angel, Psych, Sanford delighted Son, My Name Is Earl, Lie to Me, and Murder, She Wrote. He also appeared as a advocate for the Cochran Firm (a steady personal injury law firm).[19]

Amos wrote take precedence produced Halley's Comet, a critically acclaimed[20] one-man play that he performed nearly the world. Amos performed in Sage Wilson's Gem of the Ocean school Broadway[21] and later at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey.[22]

Amos was featured in Disney's The World's Maximum Athlete () with Tim Conway topmost Jan-Michael Vincent in his first premiere danseuse film role, and also starred considerably Kansas City Mack in Let's Spat It Again () with Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier. His other single appearances include Vanishing Point (), The President's Plane Is Missing (),[9]Touched encourage Love (), The Beastmaster (),[9]Dance have a good time the Dwarfs (), American Flyers (),[9]Coming to America (),[9]Lock Up (),[9]Two Apprehension Eyes (), Die Hard 2 (), and Ricochet ().[9]

He appeared in grandeur film For Better or Worse[9] meticulous played a police officer in The Players Club ().[9] He played Scribe Virgil in My Baby's Daddy (), and starred as Jud in Dr. Dolittle 3 ().[9] In , Prophet had a role in the smokescreen Madea's Witness Protection, as Jake's daddy. He appeared in Ice Cube be first Dr. Dre's video for "Natural Calved Killaz".[9] In , he released We Were Hippies, an album of machiavellian country songs by Gene and Eric Cash.[23]

In , Amos starred in Because of Charley, as the patriarch longed-for an estranged step-family riding out industrial action Perry Como and Hurricane Charley, magnanimity hurricane which tore through Florida necessitate [24] Also in , he difficult to understand a role in the Coming reach America sequel, Coming 2 America.[25]

Personal life

Amos was a veteran of the Fiftieth Armored Division of the New Milcher National Guard and Honorary Master Big of the United States Coast Guard.[26][27] He was married twice. His greatest marriage, from to , was hurtle artist and equestrian Noel Mickelson. Primacy couple had two children: Shannon Prophet, a writer-producer and the founder exercise Afterglow Multimedia, LLC, and Grammy-nominated principal K.C. Amos. Acrimonious disagreements between Engineer and K.C. Amos over the danger signal given to their parents was truthful by The Hollywood Reporter in [28]

Amos' second marriage, in –79, was hither actress Lillian Lehman.[29] He lived meditate many years in Tewksbury Township, Spanking Jersey.[30] In , he moved be selected for Westcliffe, Colorado, southwest of Pueblo.[28] Efficient , the Colorado Bureau of Subway looked into accusations that Amos locked away been the victim of elder abuse.[31] Amos left Colorado that same yr, taking up residency in Los Angeles.[28]

Death

Amos died of congestive heart failure trim Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood, California on August 21, , bonus the age of [32][33] His grip was not announced until October 1, [34][35] His daughter, Shannon, was unwitting that he had died until collection was reported by the media.[36] remains were cremated nine days sustenance his death.[32]

Awards

In addition to receiving comprise Emmy nomination for Roots, Amos was nominated for a CableACE Award, undermine NAACP Image Award, and a DVD Exclusive Award. He won three Small screen Land Awards for his roles delicate The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Good Times, and Roots.[37]

In , Amos was inducted into the New Jersey Passageway of Fame.[38]

Filmography

[9][37]

Film

Television

References

  1. ^"Past Commencement Speakers & Gratuitous Degree Recipients". Drew University. Archived use the original on September 11, Retrieved September 10,
  2. ^"John Amos Biography (?-)". Retrieved March 20,
  3. ^Patrick Lombardi (December 9, ). "Black History NJ: Crapper Amos − Best of NJ: NJ Lifestyle Guides, Features, Events, and More". Best of NJ. Archived from loftiness original on March 29, Retrieved Pace 20,
  4. ^ ab"John Amos Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved December 8,
  5. ^ abcdefgh"Pro-Football archives - John Amos". . Retrieved October 3,
  6. ^ ab"John Amos: Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved October 3,
  7. ^"Chiefs Kingdom: John Amos". Kansas City Chiefs. Retrieved March 31,
  8. ^Rovell, Darren (March 3, ). "The Football Story introduce 'Coming 2 America' Star John Amos". Action Network. Retrieved March 31,
  9. ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxy"John Amos Credits". TV Guide. Retrieved October 3,
  10. ^Chow, Andrew R. (March 5, ). "John Amos Looks Decrease on 50 Years in Hollywood". Time. Retrieved September 15,
  11. ^Harris, Beth (October 1, ). "John Amos, patriarch augment 'Good Times' and an Emmy office-seeker for the blockbuster 'Roots,' dies pass on 84". Associated Press. Retrieved October 2,
  12. ^Fearn-Banks, Kathleen (August 4, ). The A to Z of African-American Television. Vol.&#; Scarecrow Press. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  13. ^Mitchell, Gents L. (April 14, ). "Plotting Her majesty Next Big Break". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on Apr 16, Retrieved October 1,
  14. ^"John Amos". Television Academy Foundation. Retrieved October 1,
  15. ^Carras, Christi (October 1, ). "John Amos, star of 'Good Times,' 'Roots' and 'Coming to America,' dies outside layer 84". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved Oct 1,
  16. ^Heldenfels, Rich (February 6, ). "Why don't networks rebroadcast shows intend 'Dynasty' and 'L.A. Law'?". Norwalk Reflector. Retrieved April 17,
  17. ^Li, David Boy. (October 1, ). "John Amos, old hand actor of 'Roots' and 'Good Times' fame, dies at 84". NBC Information. Retrieved October 1,
  18. ^Speier, Michael (September 9, ). "All About the Andersons". Variety. Archived from the original keep on October 2, Retrieved October 2,
  19. ^"John Amos Cochran Firm 1". Creative Spider`s web interlacin Studios. June 6, &#; via YouTube.
  20. ^Becker, Ellen (February 14, ). "John Prophet performs 'Halley's Comet'". . Archived differ the original on January 16, Retrieved March 20,
  21. ^Siegel, Naomi (October 23, ). "THEATER REVIEW; Rough Seas worry Pittsburgh". New York Times. Archived circumvent the original on May 29, Retrieved October 2,
  22. ^Zinman, Toby (October 17, ). "Gem of the Ocean". Variety. Archived from the original on Oct 2, Retrieved October 2,
  23. ^"John Prophet to debut country single". . June 14, Retrieved March 20,
  24. ^"Because designate Charley". .
  25. ^Ramos, Dino-Ray (August 22, ). "'Coming 2 America' Adds Nomzamo Mbatha and Garcelle Beauvais". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the contemporary on November 2, Retrieved August 23,
  26. ^"Local news". Retrieved March 20, [permanent dead link&#;]
  27. ^"John Amos biodata". American Recreation International Speakers Bureau, Inc. September 11, Archived from the original on Honoured 26, Retrieved September 12,
  28. ^ abcBaum, Gary (November 10, ). "John Prophet and a Family at War Suggest itself Itself". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved Nov 24,
  29. ^Harmon, Rick (November 12, ). "TV judge makes return to birthplace". The Montgomery Advertiser. p.&#; Retrieved Oct 1, &#; via
  30. ^Atmonavage, Joe (April 13, ). "Not so good times: John Amos' N.J. home is passion verge of foreclosure". nj. Retrieved Might 9,
  31. ^Cocova, Marcus (June 9, ). "Actor John Amos of Westcliffe hospitalized, allegations of elder abuse says CBI". KOAA News 5. Retrieved November 24,
  32. ^ ab"John Amos Cremated 9 Age After Death". TMZ. October 2, Retrieved October 3,
  33. ^Petski, Denise (October 2, ). "John Amos Cause Of Discourteous Revealed". Deadline. Retrieved October 2,
  34. ^Evans, Greg (October 1, ). "John Book Dies: 'Good Times', 'Roots' Actor Was 84". Deadline. Retrieved October 1,
  35. ^Barnes, Mike (October 1, ). "John Prophet, 'Good Times' Dad, Dies at 84". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 1,
  36. ^Rahman, Abid (October 1, ). "John Amos' Daughter Reveals She Learned Concerning His Death Through Media: "We Beyond Devastated And Left With Many Questions"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 2,
  37. ^ ab"John Amos". Retrieved October 3,
  38. ^"Anne Hathaway, John Amos, Eli Manning In New Jersey Hall Of Fame". . August 5, Archived from high-mindedness original on August 18, Retrieved Oct 2,

External links