With all due respect to Coming to America Cleo McDowell — who owns a knockoff version of McDonald’s, distinguished by a logo that includes gold elements arcs , not arches, and a Big Mick Burger, not a Big Mac — John Amos' two most recognizable roles occurred over a decade earlier, during the Seventies. In 1974, CBS launched Good Times In this scenario, Amos and Esther Rolle portrayed James and Florida Evans, who were trying hard to support their children amidst challenging conditions in a Chicago housing project. Following his dismissal from the series due to grievances about how James and Florida’s genuine issues were being overshadowed by exaggerated scenes involving their eldest son, JJ, he subsequently secured the main part in an influential TV miniseries. Roots where he portrayed the elder incarnation of Kunta Kinte, an Africa-born enslaved person, who was compelled by his white captors to respond to the name Toby.
Although the time periods and backgrounds varied greatly, the roles he portrayed were unmistakably those of John Amos' characters—strong, reliable, and capable of being either formidable or kind, based on what was required by the scenario.
Amos, who passed away on August 21, confirmed today His family inherited their striking physique from him. Long before venturing into entertainment, he aimed to be a professional footballer, playing at the collegiate level for the Colorado State Rams. He also participated in trials with both the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs—teams in the former American Football League—and competed on various squads within the lower tiers of professional football such as the Canton Bulldogs in the United Football League. It’s said that according to Chiefs’ head coach Hank Stram, “You’re not just a football player; you’re a man attempting to master this game.”
However, what an individual he became once he abandoned his aspirations of becoming an athlete and ventured into acting. During the early 1970s, he took up minor parts in television series—most prominently a repeated role on The TV show "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" As the affable and cool-headed WJM meteorologist Gordy Howard – as well as in advertisements. (He probably relied on his experiences) this musical McDonald's ad When it was time for McDowell to be played, Esther Rolle's portrayal of Florida helped her become one of the first standout characters opposite Bea Arthur. Maude , the show’s creators, such as the renowned Norman Lear, opted to provide her with a spouse - culminating in Maude Season Two, to provide the pair with their own series.
Good Times It was among the earliest TV sitcoms focused on a Black nuclear family. The show aimed to follow a style comparable to that of other popular series. Maude and All in the Family With Florida and James navigating through poverty, racism, and various societal issues, they offered a steady foundation amidst the chaotic realities faced by their children—and resonated deeply with audiences grappling with similar challenges in an America still recovering from the impact of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Amos skillfully exchanged jokes alongside his fellow cast members, notably when James would voice his discontent over JJ’s lackadaisical attitude, portrayed brilliantly by comedian Jimmie Walker. Yet, for those accustomed to only witnessing white actors embodying the quintessential sitcom father figure, James’ presence—brought vividly to life by Amos—felt monumental simply because he existed as such a character.
However, it was JJ—and his often-shouted catchphrase, "DYN-O-MITE!"—that elicited the strongest reaction from the audience. As a result, the program started to revolve more closely around him, pushing James and Florida into roles as bewildered foils within their own narrative arc. Both Rolle and Amos voiced strong objections to this change numerous times. While her protests were generally more visible publicly, his tended toward greater hostility. (“In those days, I wasn’t exactly known for my diplomacy,” he recalled later, noting that his superiors “grew weary of threats made over comedic material.”) After the conclusion of the third season, Amos found himself dismissed, and at the start of the fourth season, the Evans family faced another crisis: Off-screen, James perished in a vehicle crash while chasing down career prospects in Mississippi. Following that season’s end, Rolle left too. Without the parents present to anchor the storyline, JJ became far less engaging, leading to declining viewership numbers.
There was a bright side to Amos' unforeseen job loss: He had time to take on starring roles. Roots , a miniseries adaptation of Alex Haley’s novel chronicling America's dark past of slavery, told from the perspective of Kunta Kinte and his descendants. In the initial two episodes, LeVar Burton portrayed the young, rebellious Kunta, followed by John Amos taking over as the elder version, who seems more accepting of his captivity despite still planning escapes and dreaming of returning to Africa. The book created a significant impact, but the television series surpassed this, drawing over fifty percent of the U.S. audience at one point. Initially, Amos had harbored hopes that Good Times Would spark discussions among Americans about both historical and current challenges faced by the African American community; Roots , he not only lived that dream but exceeded all expectations.
Not many actors could surpass taking on the main part in a production of such immense scale. Roots , and Amos understandably couldn't manage to. Like James Earl Jones , who would portray Amos' in-law in both Coming to America and its 2021 sequel Coming 2 America , Amos would find himself caught in a casting predicament throughout much of his career: He didn't quite fit into the mold of a leading actor, yet his commanding presence and physical stature made it challenging for directors to place him in typical supporting roles. As a result, he frequently found work lending gravity to others' narratives. For instance, he excelled in such a capacity when portraying Admiral Fitzwallace, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The West Wing He held notable positions from time to time — he was hilariously portrayed as Cleo McDowell and convincingly sparred with Bruce Willis as one of the antagonists. Die Hard 2 - However, one of the rare instances where he had the chance to lead a project was an unexpected meeting with Norman Lear, occurring almost two decades after Lear had dismissed him. Good Times . 704 Hauser was an All in the Family This spin-off features Amos as a working-class individual residing in the former residence of Archie Bunker in Queens. The central dynamics have been reversed; here, Amos embodies a vocal liberal stance, whereas his son adopts a conservative viewpoint (paired with a white spouse portrayed by a young Maura Tierney). Despite this concept, only six episodes were produced, including one that remained unaired.
To some extent, Amos entered the acting world at an ideal time. During the 1970s, television was finally ready—and occasionally enthusiastic—to portray African American narratives following years when the industry largely overlooked such tales. Good Times it felt like the perfect show for this moment, despite it somehow slipping out of Amos' grasp. Roots Is likely the most significant TV series ever produced, and amongst the finest. He stood central to both aspects. Additionally, Amos was pioneering for his era, dedicating much of his professional life to an industry yet to fully grasp how to utilize a Black actor possessing a resonant voice coupled with the build of a football player.
However, how many actors manage to secure roles as iconic as those of James Evans or Kunta Kinte, not just once but twice, and also demonstrate they were ideally matched with their characters?
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