
We paid tribute to actor John Amos, who made his mark on American television with the hugely popular landmark series “Roots” and “Good Times.”
Amos, 84, played stern but loving patriarch James Evans in 1974’s “Good Times,” one of the first sitcoms about a black family.
However, he was fired after three seasons after a prolonged and heated debate over how the show’s white writers portrayed the characters.
He went on to play the older Kunta Kinte in Roots, a groundbreaking drama about an African man sent to America as a slave.
Amos also appeared in films such as Die Hard 2, Coming to America, and Uncut Gems.
His other television credits include “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “The West Wing,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “30 Rock,” and “Two and a Half Men.” etc.
His last role will be seen in the upcoming series ‘Suits LA’.
“His legacy will live on.”
Fellow actor Martin Lawrence paid his respects on social media, saying: “This film had a different feel. My condolences to the family of John Amos, a true legend.” .
Good Times co-star Jimmy Walker told People: “John was a great actor and I send my condolences to his entire family, friends and his many fans.”
Announcing Amos’ death, his son Kelly Christopher said: “He had the kindest heart and a heart of gold…and was loved all over the world.
“Many fans consider him the father of television. He lived a remarkable life, and his legacy as an actor will live on in his outstanding work in television and film.”
Veteran weather presenter Al Roker posted that Amos always “bred dignity, grace, and integrity to his roles.”
He writes: “When we were just starting out as TV weather forecasters in 1974 and looking to him as a role model, I remember watching him as Gordy the Weatherman on WJM (‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’). I remember playing it.
“And when he left Good Times, people respected his position. He will be missed.”

Amos started out as an American football player before moving on to acting in the comedies The Leslie Uggams Show and Maude.
His character in Maude, along with his on-screen wife played by Esther Rohr, was given a spin-off in the form of Good Times, set in a Chicago high-rise housing project.
“That show was the closest possible depiction of life for an African-American family living in those conditions,” Amos told Time magazine in 2021.
However, it often wasn’t close enough for the actors, and they clashed with creator Norman Lear, who demanded changes to the writing team’s script.
“They’re going to keep talking about their accomplishments,” he told SiriusXM radio.
“So how long have you been black? That doesn’t happen in the community. We don’t think like that. We don’t act like that. We don’t teach our kids that way. I won’t let you do that.” “
“He’s not a very diplomatic guy.”
He particularly objected to the increasing prominence of the character of Walker’s son JJ, whose catchphrase was “Dynomite.”
“I felt like there was too much emphasis on JJ wearing a chicken hat saying ‘Dynomite!’ every third page,” Amos recalled.
“I felt like I could have gotten just as much emphasis and benefit from my other two children, one of whom aspires to be a Supreme Court justice, played by Ralph Carter. , the other (played by Berne Nadette Stannis) aspired to become a Supreme Court justice and become a surgeon.
“But I wasn’t a very diplomatic guy at the time, and[the producers]were tired of having my life threatened because of jokes.
“So they said, ‘Why don’t we just kill him? We can live!'”
“It taught me a lesson: I wasn’t as important to the show or to Norman Lear’s plans as I thought.”
Good Times was adapted in the UK in 1976 as The Fosters, making it the first British sitcom to have an all-black cast.
Norman Beaton played the father, and Lenny Henry had an early role as one of the sons.
And earlier this year, Good Times was rebooted as an animated series by Netflix, which described it as a “spiritual sequel” to the original sitcom.

In 1977, Amos moved on to Roots, which the Library of Congress announced was watched at least in part by 85% of all American households.
The miniseries, based on the novel by Alex Haley, “raised American consciousness” about the history of slavery and its modern-day impact, Amos told New York Channel NY1 in 2022.
“I knew this was a life-changing role for me, both as an actor and as a person,” he told Time magazine.
“It was a culmination of all the misconceptions and stereotypes that had been fed to me throughout my life. It was like a reward for all the humiliation I had endured.”