John Amos: The passage of a master actor of Hollywood's history
At Emmy nominations and trailblazing American television, John Amos is an actor whose impact upon audiences is one of the most memorable, ranging from Good Times to Roots itself, as a weatherman on The Mary Tyler Moore Show to a much older Kunta Kinte in Roots. Delve into his astonishing career, the challenges he faced, and the legacy that he leaves behind.
Early Life and Football Aspirations
John Amos was born on December 27, 1939, in Newark, New Jersey. Coming from a working-class background, his father was a truck driver and mechanic while his mother worked as a housekeeper before she went back to school to become a nutritionist. Despite his humble upbringing, John Amos has big dreams; first, with football, then acting.
Amos attended Colorado State University, where he excelled in football. His talent on the field put him in training sessions with the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League. However, life had other plans in store for Amos, and this football venture created scope for an increasing interest in acting.
From the American Football Field to Small Screen Stardom: Breaking into Hollywood
He soon transitioned to television after his brief flirtation with professional football. His big break, however, came when he was cast as the affable weatherman, Gordy Howard, on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Playing Gordy not only presented Amos to a vast audience but also enabled him to prove himself as a versatile performer.
About this time, Amos also appeared in Melvin Van Peebles' Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971), in the blaxploitation genre. These early roles helped Amos establish a presence in Hollywood and provided a foundation for later success.
Good Times Breakout Role
To further add to his extensive cast list, the peak of his career came when he played James Evans Sr. in the spinoff Good Times, which itself was a spinoff of Maude, which in turn was a spinoff of the extremely popular sitcom All in the Family. This was the first sitcom to center a show around an African-American family. The show aired from 1974 until 1979, focusing on a working-class inner-city Chicago housing project and the numerous issues that type of families faced.
He played James Evans Sr, a manly but tight-lipped, laboring father who also brought up the three children with his wife Florida, who was played by Esther Rolle. Playing the role of a strong, struggling father chimes through every chord in the movie, and Good Times became an instant hit.
On paper, it was a great show, but between the lines, tensions began to grow. Amos grew dissatisfied with the series direction, especially the direction of J.J., which Jimmie Walker played and whose catchphrase "Dy-no-mite" has become a staple of the series itself. Amos felt that the show focused on the antics of J.J. at the expense of the more serious aspirations of the other characters, particularly his on-screen children, played by Ralph Carter and BernNadette Stanis.
Amos had expressed himself during interviews over the frustrations: "I felt that too much attention was being given to J.J. in his chicken hat, saying 'Dy-no-mite!' every third page. I felt that just as much attention and mileage could have been gotten out of my other two children, one of whom wanted to be a Supreme Court justice and the other, a surgeon."
Amos's outspokenness and his scrapes with producers ultimately led to the writing off of his character from the show. Two-part episode as it aired in September 1976, James Evans Sr. died in an auto accident. James Evans Sr.'s death basically sent Amos packing from Good Times.
The Emmy-Nominated Role in Roots
Although Amos exited Good Times, his career was still long from being at its end. In 1977, perhaps the most significant and memorable roles Amos has played are those of the aged Kunta Kinte in the television movie Roots, which is a movie rendition on Alex Haley's novel Roots. This is a work that focuses on an African man's journey through slavery and a fight for freedom as led on by his descendants.
Amos was highly acclaimed by playing Kunta Kinte for which he received an Emmy nomination, starring in this drama where he staked his claim on television history and proved himself capable of handling serious material.
A Return to the Big Screen
He did not just limit his career to the small screen. In 1988, he also made an appearance in the very comedic film Coming to America, where he portrayed Cleo McDowell, owner of an imaginary fast food restaurant that comically resembled a McDonald's. Shared scenes with Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall were quite comedically sparkled and charmed by Amos in those productions.
What few viewers knew at the time was that Amos had spent several years working for McDonald's. He graduated from the company's training program and, in 1971, became the face of a very popular commercial for the chain. He used part of his earnings from the commercial to pay for his children's college education.
Later Career and Lasting Legacy
Through the 1980s and the 1990s, Amos took up steady work with a string of film and television appearances. One of his more notable recurring roles was as Admiral Percy Fitzwallace on *The West Wing*. In the show, he played the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, again playing to great gravitas and authority.
Amos gained another status through his role in television for his dedication to creating African-American history and culture within the storytelling. He strongly claimed a platform for exposure of several important social issues; he did not come short in reminding his audiences consistently of the call for better representation in Hollywood, and absolutely a more significant number of African Americans.
Personal Reflection and Legacy
He had grown beyond being a movie star to be the darling of the fans, and it was more intensified by those who regarded him as a father figure. His son, K.C. Amos, further accorded this grace by saying, "he is a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold."
John Amos died on August 21, 2024, from natural causes. He was 84 years old at the time of his death. His death marked the end to a great life and career, but John Amos never left a vacuum within the confines of television and film that will be forgotten ever.
John Amos left his mark on American television. From the significant role he portrayed in Good Times to Emmy nomination for playing Kunta Kinte in Roots, Amos's contribution to popular culture is undeniable. Decades of work attest to his talent, strength of character, and commitment to telling meaningful stories.
He may have left this world, but the legacy of John Amos lives on, inspiring new generations of actors and filmmakers. His contributions toward television, film, and American culture will never be forgotten.