John Amos, who starred as the family patriarch on the hit 1970s sitcom “Good Times” and received an Emmy nomination for his role in the 1977 miniseries “Roots,” has died. He was 84 years old.

Amos’ publicist Belinda Foster confirmed the news of his death on Tuesday. No other details were immediately available.

He played James Evans Sr. in “Good Times”, which featured one of television’s first black two-parent families. Created by Norman Lear and co-created by actor Mike Evans, who co-starred in “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons”, it ran on CBS from 1974–79.

“That show was the closest depiction of the reality of life for an African American family living in those circumstances,” Amos told Time magazine in 2021.

His character, along with wife Florida, played by Esther Rolle, originated on another Lear show, “Maude”. James Evans often worked two manual labor jobs to support his family, which included three children, with Jimmy Walker becoming a breakout star as eldest son J.J.

The show’s influence was such that Alicia Keys, Rick Ross, Wu-Tang Clan are among the musicians who name-checked Amos or her character in their songs.

Amos and Rolle were eager to portray a positive image of a black family struggling against the odds in a public housing project in Chicago. But Walker became frustrated with his character being made a fool of, and his role was expanded.

Walker described the incident in his 2012 memoir “Dyin-o-Mite!” Wrote, “The fact is that the criticism of Esther, and the criticism of John and others – some of it very frank and personal – has seriously damaged my appeal in the black community.” Good times, bad times, our time.”

After three seasons of critical acclaim and high ratings, Amos was fired. He became critical of the show’s white writing staff creating stories that he felt were inauthentic to black characters.
“There were several instances where I said, ‘No, you don’t do these things. It’s a curse to black society. If you don’t mind I’ll be an expert on it,'” he told Time magazine. “And it was confrontational. And it got so heated that ultimately me being written off the show was the best solution for everyone concerned, including myself.”

Amos’ character was killed in a car accident. Walker expressed regret at the situation. He wrote in his memoir, “If the decision had been up to me, I would have preferred that John stay and that the show remain as a group.” “No one wanted to look forward to me all the time, even me.”

Amos and Lear later reconciled and hugged each other in the “Good Times” live TV reunion special in 2019.

Amos made an immediate comeback, playing an adult Kunta Kinte, the centerpiece of “Roots,” based on Alex Haley’s novel during and after the era of slavery in America. The miniseries was a critical and ratings blockbuster, and Amos earned a salary. Of its 37 Emmy nominations.

“I knew this was a life-changing role for me, both as an actor and from a humanitarian standpoint,” he told Time magazine. “It was the culmination of all the misconceptions and stereotypical roles that I had lived and seen being offered to me. It was like a reward for enduring those humiliations.

Born on December 27, 1939, in Newark, New Jersey, John Allen Amos Jr. was the son of an auto mechanic. He graduated from Colorado State University with a sociology degree and played on the school’s football team.

Before acting, he moved to New York and was a social worker at the Vera Institute of Justice, working with defendants in the Brooklyn House of Detention.

His professional football career was brief, playing in various minor leagues. He signed a free-agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1967, but coach Hank Stram encouraged Amos to pursue his interest in writing instead. Before turning in front of the camera, he worked as an advertising and comedy writer.

Amos’ first major TV role was as meteorologist Gordie Howard on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” from 1970–73. As the show’s only black character, he played roles ranging from straight man to pompous anchor Ted Baxter.

Amos’ film credits include “Let’s Do It Again” with Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier, “Coming to America” ​​with Eddie Murphy and its 2021 sequel, “Die Hard 2,” “Madea’s Witness Protection” and “Uncut” with Adam James” included. Sandler. He was in Ice Cube and Dr. Dre’s 1994 video “Natural Born Killaz”.

He was a frequent guest star on “The West Wing” and his other TV appearances included “Hunter,” “The District,” “Men in Trees,” “All About the Andersons,” “Two and a Half Men” and “The West Wing.” “Farm.”

In 2020, Amos was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. He served in the New Jersey National Guard.