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John Amos

Actor

John Amos

Born December 27, 1939 in Newark, New Jersey, USADied August 21, 202455 films

John Amos (December 27, 1939 – August 21, 2024) was an American actor and retired football player. He is best known for his role as the adult Kunta Kinte in the landmark miniseries "Roots" and for portraying James Evans Sr. on the CBS television series "Good Times." He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and an NAACP Image Award. On film, he played numerous supporting roles in movies such as "The Beastmaster" (1982), "Coming to America" (1988), "Lock Up" (1989), "Die Hard 2" (1990) and "Coming 2 America" (2021).

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Prior to acting, he played on the Colorado State Rams football team and in 1964, he signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's Denver Broncos and in 1967 signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs. Both of these contracts did not land him a spot on the teams and played a final season in the Continental Football League with the Victoria Steelers before pursuing acting.

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The best way into John Amos's work
Uncut Gems posterFirst watchUncut Gems20197.2as Neighbor 33FA charismatic New York City jeweler always on the lookout for the next big score makes a series of high-stakes bets that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Die Hard 2 poster7.0Die Hard 21990Coming to America poster6.9Coming to America1988Coming 2 America poster6.3Coming 2 America2021Lock Up poster6.8Lock Up1989Vanishing Point poster7.1Vanishing Point1971Me Time poster5.8Me Time2022The Beastmaster poster6.3The Beastmaster1982Ricochet poster6.1Ricochet1991

Filmography

55 films as actor
  1. TBADevotionRoger
  2. TBAFuture Cop: Cops and RobinOfficer Bundy
  3. 2023The Last RiflemanLincoln Jefferson Adams
  4. 2022Me TimeGil
  5. 2022Block PartyDennis
  6. 2021Christmas in MiamiChief Host
  7. 2021Because of CharleyGrandpa
  8. 2021Coming 2 AmericaCleo McDowell
  9. 2020The Truth About Santa ClausBob
  10. 2019Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"Fred Davis
  11. 2019Uncut GemsNeighbor 33F
  12. 2019Christmas BellesPop Pop
  13. 2015Tamales and GumboThe Patron
  14. 2015Mercy for AngelsGod
  15. 2015Bad Asses on the BayouEarl
  16. 2014Act of FaithMr. Brady
  17. 2013American LowriderSlick
  18. 2012Madea's Witness ProtectionPastor Nelson
  19. 2012Zombie HamletEdgar Mortimer
  20. 2007All Over AgainCoach Zeller
  21. 2007Ascension DayHenry
  22. 2006Voodoo MoonDutch
  23. 2006Dr. Dolittle 3Jud
  24. 2005ShadowboxingХилл
  25. 2004CountdownAdmiral Melory
  26. 2004My Baby's DaddyUncle Virgil
  27. 2003The Watermelon HeistOld Man Amos
  28. 2000Disappearing ActsMr. Swift
  29. 2000Something to Sing AboutRev. Washington
  30. 1998The Players ClubFreeman
  31. 1997The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden PagodaBooker Hutch
  32. 1995Hologram ManWes Strickland
  33. 1995For Better or WorseGray
  34. 1993Night TrapCapt. Hodges
  35. 1992MacNat
  36. 1991RicochetReverend Styles
  37. 1990Die Hard 2Major Grant
  38. 1990Two Evil EyesDet. Legrand
  39. 1989Lock UpCaptain Meissner
  40. 1988Coming to AmericaCleo McDowell
  41. 1988Bonanza: The Next GenerationMr. Mack
  42. 1986Shark's ParadiseTaxi Driver
  43. 1985American FlyersDr. Conrad
  44. 1983Dance of the DwarfsEsteban
  45. 1982The BeastmasterSeth
  46. 1980Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking StoryBumpy Johnson
  47. 1980Touched by LoveTony
  48. 1979WillaVirgil
  49. 1978Cops and RobinOfficer Bill Bundy
  50. 1976Future CopOfficer Bill Bundy
  51. 1975Let's Do It AgainKansas City Mack
  52. 1973The President's Plane Is MissingMarine Corporal
  53. 1973The World's Greatest AthleteCoach Sam Archer
  54. 1971Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss SongBiker
  55. 1971Vanishing PointSuper Soul's Engineer (uncredited)