A veteran Hollywood star, John Amos, renowned for his memorable performances in “Coming to America” and the hit 1970s sitcom “Good Times,” has reportedly died at 84.
Amos succumbed to natural causes on August 21, as confirmed by his son, Kelly Christopher Amos, who issued a statement on Tuesday.
In his eulogy, Kelly shared profound grief over his father’s death, emphasizing the actor’s kind nature and the significant influence he left on audiences around the globe.
“It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned. He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold and he was loved world over.
“Many fans consider him as their TV father. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor,” he announced.
Amos, who once played football at Colorado State University and had brief training camp experiences with the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs, made a successful switch to the entertainment industry.
He became known as Gordy Howard, the meteorologist on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
Originally from New Jersey, Amos was nominated for an Emmy for his role as the elder version of Kunta Kinte in the highly regarded 1977 television miniseries Roots. Additionally, he played a regular role as Admiral Percy Fitzwallace on NBC’s West Wing.
Amos’ journey in movies started with Melvin Van Peebles’ 1971 hit Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song. He went on to star in Coming to America (1988), where he played the proprietor of a restaurant modeled after McDonald’s that employs Eddie Murphy’s character.
It’s noteworthy that Amos had worked at McDonald’s before landing a role in a well-known commercial for the fast-food chain in the 1970s.
