Good Times Dad, Roots and Mary Tyler Moore star was 84

John Amos, the star of “Good Times,” “Roots” and more, died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Aug. 21, his rep confirmed diversity on Tuesday. He was 84.

“It is with deep sadness that I inform you that my father has made the transition,” his son Kelly Christopher Amos said in a statement. “He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold… and he was loved around the world. Many fans consider him to be their TV father. He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding work as an actor on television and film. My father loved working as an actor all his life…. Most recently, he played himself in “Suits LA” and in our documentary “America's Dad” about his journey as an actor. He was my father, my best friend and my hero. Thank you for your prayers and support during this time.”

Amos was born on December 27, 1939 in Newark, New Jersey. His acting career took off when he landed the role of weatherman Gordon “Gordy” Howard on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” in 1970.

From there, he brought his comedic talents to CBS's “Good Times,” a spinoff of “Maude” and “All in the Family,” playing father James Evans Sr. in 1974. The Norman Lear show wrote as the first television program history The series is about a two-parent African-American household. The hard-working and devoted father figure was well received by the audience. However, after three seasons, Amos was dissatisfied with the show's direction and the portrayal of his character's son, James “JJ” Evans Jr. He was fired after Season 3, and Season 4 began with him killing James Evan Sr. off-screen.

Amos received an Emmy nomination in 1977 for his role as the adult Kunta Kinte in the historical ABC miniseries “Roots.” The series, about slavery in the United States, won nine Emmys, a Golden Globe and a Peabody Award and enjoyed strong ratings in the country. More than 130 million people tuned in to the series, more than half of the US population in 1977. The final episode holds the record for the third-highest-rated episode of any television series type and the second-highest-rated episode. Seen the series finale of the story.

Amos also appeared in shows such as “About the Andersons,” “The West Wing,” “Two and a Half Men,” and “The Ranch.” His final television role will be in the upcoming series “Suits LA.” In film, he has had roles in Eddie Murphy's Coming to America and its 2021 sequel Coming 2 America, Die Hard 2, The Beastmaster, Lock Up and Me Tyme. He and his son also produced an upcoming documentary about his life called “America's Dad.”

“We are so proud to have represented John,” said Julia Buchwald, President of Buchwald. “He was not only a remarkable talent, but also a deeply kind and generous soul. His impact on the industry and those who knew him will never be forgotten.”

Outside of film and television, Amos wrote, produced and starred in a one-man play called Halley's Comet. He also appeared on Broadway in August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean. Before he began acting, he played college football at Colorado State University and was with the Kansas City Chiefs for the 1967 NFL offseason.