John Amos, who rose to fame as the father on Good Times before abruptly exiting the sitcom after three seasons, has died. He was 84.
Amos died on August 21 in Los Angeles of natural causes, his son Kelly Christopher Amos announced.
“It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned,” he said in a statement. “He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold… and he was loved the world over. Many fans consider him their TV father. He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.”
Born December 27, 1939 in Newark, New Jersey, John Amos initialy eyed a career in football, signing as a free agent with the American Football League’s Denver Broncos in 1964. Unable to run the 40-yard dash because of a pulled hamstring, he was released on the second day of training camp. He then played with the Canton Bulldogs and Joliet Explorers of the United Football League.
Amos was also associated with the Norfolk Neptunes and Wheeling Ironmen of the Continental Football League, the Jersey City Jets and Waterbury Orbits of the Atlantic Coast League, and the America Football League’s Kansas City Chiefs before seguing to acting.
Prior to Good Times, John Amos had the recurring role of Gordy Howard, the weatherman, on The Mary Tyler Moore Show from 1970 to 1973. Following a string of TV show guest spots, including The New dikk Van Dyke Show, Love, American Style and Sanford and Son, Amos was cast as Esther Rolle’s (Florida Evans) husband in three episodes of Norman Lear sitcom Maude. That, of course, let to spin-off Good Times, where Amos was still Florida’s husband, but his name changed from Henry to James (and there was no explanation how Florida and James Evans ended up in the projects in Chicago with three children).
As the first series historically centered on an African American family with a loving mother and father present, at the heart of Good Times was the strong bond shared by Florida and James Evans, and their children James, Jr., aka “J.J.” (Jimmie Walker), Thelma (BernNadette Stanis) and Michael (Ralph Carter). Ja’Net DuBois played Willona Woods, Florida’s former schoolmate and their next-door neighbor.
“The Evans family lived, as marginally as possible, in the Cabrini-Green project in Chicago. James held down three jobs if he had to,” said Norman Lear at the time. “Still, we were determined that the family would never go on welfare; they would deal with the reality of their world (gangs, drugs, crime, poverty, etc.), and despite that, the kids would not fail to get an education.”
While Good Times was intended to be a timely show focused on the family dealing with serious subjects in a comedic way, Walker’s J.J. was the breakout character (complete with his “Dyn-O-Mite” catchphrase) to the disillusionment of Rolle and Amos. They felt he was not necessarily the type of role model it wanted to demonstrate for the African American community.
Esther Rolle, in particular, was more public voicing her concerns, but it was John Amos who was let go by Norman Lear at the end of season three. In the two-episode fourth season premiere, the Evans family learns of James’ passing in an automobile accident just as they are getting ready to join him in Mississippi where he has a promising new job.
Florida shouting "Damn! Damn! Damn!" in a meltdown after James dies was voted as one of television's most famous moments.
John Amos, ‘Good Times’ and ‘Roots’ Star, Dies At 84
Amos died on August 21 in Los Angeles of natural causes, his son Kelly Christopher Amos announced.
“It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned,” he said in a statement. “He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold… and he was loved the world over. Many fans consider him their TV father. He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.”
Born December 27, 1939 in Newark, New Jersey, John Amos initialy eyed a career in football, signing as a free agent with the American Football League’s Denver Broncos in 1964. Unable to run the 40-yard dash because of a pulled hamstring, he was released on the second day of training camp. He then played with the Canton Bulldogs and Joliet Explorers of the United Football League.
Amos was also associated with the Norfolk Neptunes and Wheeling Ironmen of the Continental Football League, the Jersey City Jets and Waterbury Orbits of the Atlantic Coast League, and the America Football League’s Kansas City Chiefs before seguing to acting.
Prior to Good Times, John Amos had the recurring role of Gordy Howard, the weatherman, on The Mary Tyler Moore Show from 1970 to 1973. Following a string of TV show guest spots, including The New dikk Van Dyke Show, Love, American Style and Sanford and Son, Amos was cast as Esther Rolle’s (Florida Evans) husband in three episodes of Norman Lear sitcom Maude. That, of course, let to spin-off Good Times, where Amos was still Florida’s husband, but his name changed from Henry to James (and there was no explanation how Florida and James Evans ended up in the projects in Chicago with three children).
As the first series historically centered on an African American family with a loving mother and father present, at the heart of Good Times was the strong bond shared by Florida and James Evans, and their children James, Jr., aka “J.J.” (Jimmie Walker), Thelma (BernNadette Stanis) and Michael (Ralph Carter). Ja’Net DuBois played Willona Woods, Florida’s former schoolmate and their next-door neighbor.
“The Evans family lived, as marginally as possible, in the Cabrini-Green project in Chicago. James held down three jobs if he had to,” said Norman Lear at the time. “Still, we were determined that the family would never go on welfare; they would deal with the reality of their world (gangs, drugs, crime, poverty, etc.), and despite that, the kids would not fail to get an education.”
While Good Times was intended to be a timely show focused on the family dealing with serious subjects in a comedic way, Walker’s J.J. was the breakout character (complete with his “Dyn-O-Mite” catchphrase) to the disillusionment of Rolle and Amos. They felt he was not necessarily the type of role model it wanted to demonstrate for the African American community.
Esther Rolle, in particular, was more public voicing her concerns, but it was John Amos who was let go by Norman Lear at the end of season three. In the two-episode fourth season premiere, the Evans family learns of James’ passing in an automobile accident just as they are getting ready to join him in Mississippi where he has a promising new job.
Florida shouting "Damn! Damn! Damn!" in a meltdown after James dies was voted as one of television's most famous moments.
John Amos, ‘Good Times’ and ‘Roots’ Star, Dies At 84
to a legend in the black community
James Earl and now Amos, we really out here losing a generation of black men that helped define modern cinema and television as it is today.
