Actor John Amos, whose lengthy profession included a spread of iconic roles in such works as “Roots,” “Good Occasions” and “The West Wing,” died final month, his household mentioned Tuesday.
He was 84 when he died from pure causes in Los Angeles on Aug. 21, his publicist mentioned in an announcement.
“With a profession spanning over 5 many years, Amos leaves behind a legacy of groundbreaking work on each tv and movie, and a dedication to constructive African American illustration in media,” the assertion learn.
Kelly Christopher Amos referred to as his father “my dad, my finest good friend, and my hero.”
“It’s with heartfelt disappointment that I share with you that my father has transitioned,” he mentioned.
“He was a person with the kindest coronary heart and a coronary heart of gold … and he was cherished the world over. Many followers think about him their TV father. He lived life. His legacy will stay on in his excellent works in tv and movie as an actor.”
Earlier than he obtained on the display, Amos performed soccer at Colorado State College and was short-time Kansas Metropolis Chief.
After Amos left the gridiron, his ‘ large performing break got here in 1970, when he was forged as Gordy the weatherman on the beloved “The Mary Tyler Moore Present.”
However the position that cemented him as one in every of TV’s nice sitcom dads got here in 1974, when he landed the position of stoic father, James Evans, on “Good Occasions.”
He starred in 61 episodes of the Norman Lear comedy a couple of hard-working household attempting to maintain their heads above water in a Chicago housing mission.
Amos went on to play the grownup Kunta Kinte within the groundbreaking 1977 TV miniseries “Roots,” starring alongside a number of of that era’s biggest Black actors, together with Ben Vereen, LeVar Burton, Louis Gossett Jr. and Leslie Uggams.
Film buffs may know him finest as fast-food magnate Cleo McDowell from 1988’s hit Eddie Murphy comedy, “Coming to America,” or as Bruce Willis’ foil in 1990’s “Die Onerous 2.”
His tv profession was revitalized in 1999 when he was forged on the acclaimed White Home drama “The West Wing,” the place he appeared for 5 seasons as Adm. Percy “Fitz” Fitzwallace.
“My father cherished working as an actor all through his whole life …. most just lately in Fits LA enjoying himself and our documentary about his life journey as an actor, America’s Dad,” his son mentioned.
Daniel Arkin contributed.