John Amos Jr is a multifaceted and talented individual who has made a name for himself as an actor, former football player, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known for his iconic role as James Evans senior on the CBS television series Good Times, but his career spans five decades and includes a wide range of work in film, television, and theater.
Early Life of John Amos Jr
John Allen Amos Jr was born on December 27, 1939, in New York, New Jersey. He is the son of Annabelle and John A. Amos senior, who was an auto mechanic. He grew up in East Orange, New Jersey, and graduated from East Orange High School in 1958. After high school, he enrolled at Long Beach City College before eventually graduating from Colorado State University with a degree in sociology. During his time in college, Amos played on the Colorado State Rams football team and even won a Golden Gloves boxing championship.
Personal Life of John Amos Jr
John Amos Jr has been married and divorced three times. His first marriage was from 1965 to 1975 to artist and equestrian Noel Mickelson, with whom he has two children, Shannon Amos, a writer and producer, and k AC Amos, a Grammy-nominated director. His second marriage, from 1978 to 1979, was to actress Lillian Lehman, and his third marriage was to Elizabeth D’Souza. John Amos is also a veteran of the 50th Armored Division of the New Jersey National Guard and is an honorary master chief of the United States Coast Guard.
Acting Career of John Amos Jr
John Amos Jr became well known in his first major TV role, playing Gordy Howard, the weatherman on the Mary Tyler Moore Show from 1970 until 1973. He appeared with Anson Williams in a commercial for McDonald’s in 1971, but he is best known for his portrayal of James Evans senior on the sitcom Good Times from 1974 to 1976. Although James is a hard-working middle-aged father of three, John Amos was 34 years old when the show began production, only eight years older than the actor who played his oldest son, Jimmy Walker, and 19 years younger than his screen wife, Esther. Much like his role, he wanted to portray a positive image of an African-American family struggling against the odds in a poor neighborhood but saw that the premise was slighted by lower comedy, and he expressed dissatisfaction.
John Amos has appeared on Broadway and in numerous films, including The Beastmaster in 1982, Coming to America in 1988, Die Hard 2 in 1990, and Coming to America in 2021. He was nominated for a prime time Emmy Award and an NAACP Image Award, and in 2020, he was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
John Amos’s Other Television Work
John Amos’s other television work includes a recurring role as Admiral Percy Fitzwallace on The West Wing and the role of Washington D.C. mayor Ethan Baker in the series The District. He has also appeared as a guest star on a number of other television shows, including Police Story, The A-Team, The Cosby Show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, In the House, Martin, Psych, Sanford and Son, My Name is Earl, Lie to Me, and Murder, She Wrote. He played Buzz Washington in the ABC series Men in Trees, and in 2003, he co-starred with Anthony Anderson in the short-lived TV series All About the Andersons. In 2010, he also appeared as the recurring character Ed on 2.5 Men, and in 2016, as another recurring character, also coincidentally named Ed, on the Netflix sitcom The Ranch.
John Amos has also written and produced Hayley’s Comet, a critically acclaimed one-man play that he has performed around the world. He performed in August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean on Broadway and later at the MacArthur Theater in Princeton, New Jersey. In addition to his work in theater, John Amos has also made a number of film appearances, including Vanishing Point in 1971, The President’s Plane is Missing in 1973, Touched by Love in 1980, Dance of the Dwarfs in 1983, American Flyers in 1985, Lockup in 1989, Two Evil Eyes in 1989, and Ricochet in 1991. He appeared in the 1995 film For Better or Worse and played a police officer in The Players Club in 1998. He played Uncle Virgil in My Baby’s Daddy in 2004 and starred as Judd in Dr. Dolittle 3 in 2006.
In 2012, he had a role in the movie Medea’s Witness Protection as Jake’s father, and in 2009, he released We Were Hippies, an album of original country songs by Gene and Eric Cash. In 2021, John Amos starred in Because of Charlie as the patriarch of an estranged step family riding out the hurricane that tore through Florida. In addition to his Emmy nomination for Roots, he has also been nominated for a Cable Ace Award, an NAACP Image Award, and a DVD Exclusive Award. John Amos has won three TV Land Awards, taking home trophies for his roles in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Good Times, and the TV mini-series Roots.
John Amos’s Football Career
In 1964, John Amos signed a free agent contract with the American Football League’s Denver Broncos. Unfortunately, he was unable to run the 40-yard dash because of a pulled hamstring and was released on the second day of training camp. He then played with the Canton Bulldogs and Joliet Explorers of the United Football League in 1965. In 1966, he played with the Norfolk Neptunes and Wheeling Ironman of the Continental Football League, and in 1967, he signed a free agent contract with the American Football League’s Kansas City Chiefs. Coach Hank Stram told him, “You’re not a football player, you’re a man who’s trying to play football.” He returned to the Continental League, where he played that year with the Victorious Steelers.
Real Estate of John Amos Jr
John Amos lived for many years in Tewksbury Township, New Jersey, where he owns a 3,280 square foot, four-bedroom, three and a half bathroom ranch house. At some point, he listed this property for $439,000. As of 2020, he resides in West Cliff, Colorado, where he owns a ranch house.
In conclusion, John Amos Jr is a well-respected and accomplished actor, former football player, screenwriter, and producer. He has made a significant impact on the entertainment industry and has been recognized for his work with numerous awards and nominations. Despite his success, John Amos has remained grounded and has continued to pursue his passions with dedication and enthusiasm. His story is an inspiration to many and a reminder that hard work and perseverance can lead to great success.
One of America’s greatest actor I loved him I’m ROOTS. He captured the hearts of many playing kuta kinta. And he is still respected and loved today.
John Amos is aging gracefully he looks good and healthy.
John Amos, the true definition of an Alpha Male.
This guy is a true legend.. great actor.He should be in more Hollywood movies..