John Amos
American actor (1939-2024) · United States · On the map · Actors · Died at 84
John Allen Amos Jr. was an American actor. He was best known for his role as James Evans Sr. on the CBS television series Good Times. His other well known roles were as the adult Kunta Kinte in the landmark miniseries Roots and for portraying Captain Meissner in Lock Up (1989) and Major Grant in Die Hard 2 (1990).
John Amos is read about 1,337 times a day, in 33 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 6 November 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 400 days, one point a day.
Something wrong?A life in dates
The Last RiflemanFilm, Lincoln Jefferson Adams2021
Coming 2 AmericaFilm, Cleo McDowell2019New Jersey Hall of FameAward2016
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of YouFilm2015
BallersSeries, Deacon Eller2013
American LowriderFilm, Slick2006
30 RockSeries, John Amos
Dr. Dolittle 3Film, 2006Jud2004
CountdownFilm, Admiral Melory2003
Two and a Half MenSeries, Ed1998
The Players ClubFilm, Freeman1997
King of the HillSeries, Glen Johnson (voice)1994
Touched by an AngelSeries, James Mackey1993
Night TrapFilm, Capt. Hodges1992
MartinSeries, Sgt. Strawn1991
RicochetFilm, Reverend Styles1989
Lock UpFilm, Captain Meissner1985
American FlyersFilm, Dr. Conrad1984
HunterSeries, Captain Dolan1982
The BeastmasterFilm, Seth1977
The Love BoatSeries, Duke Taylor1975
Let's Do It AgainFilm, Kansas City Mack1971
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss SongFilm, Biker1969
Love, American StyleSeries, Bell Captain1961
The Mike Douglas ShowSeries1939Born27 December 1939People around John
Alex Graves Directed College Kids (2002)
Christopher Misiano Directed The Black Vera Wang and The Dogs of War
John Badham Directed Men in Trees and American Flyers
Joel Silver Produced Die Hard 2 and Ricochet
Lawrence Gordon Produced Die Hard 2 and Lock Up
Thomas Schlamme Directed What Kind of Day Has It Been (2000)- Charles Gordon Produced Die Hard 2 and Lock Up
- Gus Trikonis Directed Touched by Love and Dance of the Dwarfs
- Michael Viner Produced Touched by Love and Dance of the Dwarfs
Michael Imperioli Also in Mac and Disappearing Acts
Joseph Campanella Also in The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Suzanne Todd Produced Die Hard 2 (1990)
Sidney Poitier Directed Let's Do It Again (1975)
Dr. Dre Produced Murder Was the Case (1994)
Michael Clarke Duncan Also in Two and a Half Men and The Players Club
Ice Cube Directed The Players Club (1998)
Betty White Also in My Name Is Earl
Jason Alexander Directed For Better or Worse (1995)
LeVar Burton Duets: Kunta Kinte
Doris Roberts Also in The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Jenna Elfman Also in Two and a Half Men and My Name Is Earl
Renny Harlin Directed Die Hard 2 (1990)
Missi Pyle Also in Two and a Half Men and My Name Is Earl- Bill Walsh Produced The World's Greatest Athlete (1973)
John AmosPartners
Is this everyone?
Only relatives with a profile here are drawn, so a family can be larger than this. A line here can also be wrong.
Correct this familyKnown for
View all 40 titles
Uncut Gems 2019
Vanishing Point 1971
Die Hard 2 1990
Coming to America 1988
Lock Up 1989
Also in Deutsch
Filmography 40
115 credits on file
Television 24
Media & music
Awards
About this person
His other television work includes The Mary Tyler Moore Show, a recurring role as Admiral Percy Fitzwallace on The West Wing, and the role of the Mayor of Washington DC Ethan Baker in the series The District. Amos was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and an NAACP Image Award. In film, he played numerous supporting roles in movies such as The Beastmaster (1982), Coming to America (1988), and Coming 2 America (2021).
