John Amos

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

18.14

Gender

Male

Birthday

27-Dec-1939

Age

(85 years old)

Place of Birth

Newark, New Jersey, USA

Also Known As
  • Jon Amos
  • Johnny Amos
  • John A. Amos Jr.

John Amos

Biography

John Amos (December 27, 1939 – August 21, 2024) was an American actor and retired football player. He is best known for his role as the adult Kunta Kinte in the landmark miniseries "Roots" and for portraying James Evans Sr. on the CBS television series "Good Times." He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and an NAACP Image Award. On film, he played numerous supporting roles in movies such as "The Beastmaster" (1982), "Coming to America" (1988), "Lock Up" (1989), "Die Hard 2" (1990) and "Coming 2 America" (2021). Prior to acting, he played on the Colorado State Rams football team and in 1964, he signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's Denver Broncos and in 1967 signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs. Both of these contracts did not land him a spot on the teams and played a final season in the Continental Football League with the Victoria Steelers before pursuing acting.


Credits

Ascension Day Ascension Day (2007) Character: Henry
A drama focused on Nat Turner and the 1831 slave rebellion in Virginia.
Against Time Against Time (2007) Character: Coach
About to finish high school, budding inventor Z.T. (Ean Mering) dreams of escaping both his sleepy town and his gloomy, widowed Dad, COLE (Craig T. Nelson). But his ambitions get a stunning reality check with the arrival of ZACK (Robert Loggia), a raving, 68 year-old drunk claiming to be the boy's older self. Suspiciously unable to recall the exact details, Zack is desperate to avert a single, tiny mistake he claims sent the rest of his years into a tragic spiral. As the two forge a shaky alliance to piece together the old man's fragile memory, Z.T. deals with the pressure from his well-meaning Coach (John Amos) and courts a new love, DELENA (Emilie Jacobs). After a devastating confession from Z.T.'s father, Zack's visit takes on new gravity, as one man, split in two by fifty lost years, realizes that both his future and past now hang perilously, in a race AGAINST TIME.
American Lowrider American Lowrider (2013) Character: Slick
Lefty-a hard working, light hearted man is looking to make a decent buck. But when a simple bet goes horribly wrong, Lefty is stuck between a rock and gangster who's dead set on collecting his money.
The Watermelon Heist The Watermelon Heist (2003) Character: Old Man Amos
To make money fast the Browns come up with a plan to win a contest for "Watermelon Juice Afro Sheen," awarding $10,000 to whoever can find the juiciest, sweetest watermelon in the country.
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (2004) Character: (archive footage)
Discover how television has reflected the African American experience in this retrospective of the medium's first half-century. Actors, writers and historians discuss the image of black America on television from Amos and Andy to the present day. The interviews accompany clips from groundbreaking shows and performances by entertainment pioneers that create a timeline of the portrayal of African Americans throughout TV history.
The Beastmaster Chronicles The Beastmaster Chronicles (2020) Character: Self
Documentary about the making of the film The Beastmaster.
Willa Willa (1979) Character: Virgil
A truck-stop waitress, determined to make a better life for her young children after being abandoned by her husband, leaves hash-slinging behind her to embark on a new career as a trucker in the rig her late father used to drive.
Because of Charley Because of Charley (2021) Character: Grandpa
Two estranged stepfamilies reluctantly gather at a Central Florida home for an anniversary party, fully intending to keep the visit brief - but Hurricane Charley takes an unexpected turn that changes everything.
The Truth About Santa Claus The Truth About Santa Claus (2020) Character: Bob
A man does not want children but after a “run-in” with Santa finds the true “gift” of Christmas.
Something to Sing About Something to Sing About (2000) Character: Rev. Washington
Tommy is a troubled young man with a history of crime. When he meets Memaw, an elderly lady, the two form a special bond with Memaw encouraging Charlie to sing in the local church choir, a talent he has ignored until now. While Charlie excels in church, his old friend G. Smooth remains skeptical and stays on the streets.
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration (2015) Character: Self / Gordy Howard (archive footage)
Not only did Mary Tyler Moore “turn the world on with her smile,” as her show’s theme song declared, she also influenced a generation of women to become more independent and to pursue successful and fulfilling careers. Moore’s own 50-plus-year career has spanned award-winning films and Broadway shows, as well as two beloved television series that broke ground and continue to entertain viewers. ​ This one-hour special includes highlights from a recent interview with Mary Tyler Moore, tributes from her co-stars and clips from iconic moments throughout her career. The program looks at her breakthrough role on The Dick Van Dyke Show, her iconic turn as TV's first independent career woman on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and her Academy Award-nominated work on Ordinary People.
Voodoo Moon Voodoo Moon (2006) Character: Dutch
Voodoo Moon takes place in the mid-west United States, where a demonic figure murders the entire population of a small town, save for one young boy and his sister. Twenty years later, the boy has been consumed with trying to track the devil down and now he thinks he's found him. His sister is now an artist who has developed psychic abilities which enable her to sense disaster, visions she expresses in her art. The two siblings work together in fighting the devil, and also get the assistance of several people they have helped over the years
Личный номер Личный номер (2004) Character: Admiral Melory
A terrorist organization known as "Ansar Allah" is preparing to turn the city of Rome into a City of the Dead. But the heroism of Smolin, the professionalism of Catherine Stone, and the help of Umar together with the cooperation of Russian and Western special forces will save the world from evil terrorists.
Shark's Paradise Shark's Paradise (1986) Character: Taxi Driver
A mad man threatens to lure hundreds of sharks to the beach at Surfers Paradise Australia at the start of the tourist season, his price to hold off the sharks is $2 million. Our heroes do everything from escaping jail to risking death in a chemical factory, to stop him.
Future Cop Future Cop (1976) Character: Officer Bill Bundy
A veteran street cop is assigned a new partner. The partner is not exactly what he seems to be, though--he is an experimental android who has been programmed by the police lab.
The President's Plane Is Missing The President's Plane Is Missing (1973) Character: Marine Corporal
When the President's plane mysteriously disappears with him on board, it is left to the seemingly weak Vice President to try to avert a nuclear exchange with the Chinese.
Cops and Robin Cops and Robin (1978) Character: Officer Bill Bundy
A veteran street cop and his partner, a robot programmed to be the perfect policeman, are assigned to protect the five-year-old daughter of the widow who witnessed the killing of her police officer husband and now is stalked by the gangster who murdered him.
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story (1980) Character: Bumpy Johnson
Filmed on location at Alcatraz Island, this two-part "whole story" actually concentrates on a handful of the denizens behind the cold grey walls of "The Rock". Michael Beck plays the real-life Clarence Carnes, an Oklahoma Choctaw Indian said to be the youngest man ever incarcerated in the notorious maximum security prison. Serving a 99-year sentence for a gas station holdup and murder, Carnes makes periodic attempts to escape, the final attempt being the most violent. Many of the subordinate characters are fictional (as are most of the details concerning Carnes' escape efforts); the one exception is Robert Stroud, the "Birdman of Alcatraz", here portrayed by Art Carney as a gentle, kindly philosopher. Telly Savalas, a costar of the Burt Lancaster vehicle Birdman of Alcatraz, also guest starred in the 1980 film. Originally titled Alcatraz and Clarence Carnes, this made-for-TV movie wavers between gritty realism and "I'm bustin' outta here!" artifice.
Mercy for Angels Mercy for Angels (2015) Character: God
Runaway Tracy is snatched from a dangerous L.A. neighborhood by sadistic thugs while searching for her homeless boyfriend. Her police detective mom races against time to rescue Tracy from the big money, high crime world of sex trafficking.
Zombie Hamlet Zombie Hamlet (2012) Character: Edgar Mortimer
Desperate filmmaker Osric Taylor dreams of making his civil war Hamlet but when production funding dries up, he agrees to take southern matron Hester Beauchamps offer to fund the film if he throws some zombies in it to make their money back. But when Hester dies in mid shoot, Osric dresses up as Hester to cash the last check and awakens the suspicions of both the local police and ambitious local news reporter Shine Reynolds. Inspired by an actual incident.
Block Party Block Party (2022) Character: Dennis
Recent Harvard grad Keke McQueen, 23, is eager to ditch her hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan for her dream job in Atlanta, but when Keke discovers that her once super-sharp Grandma Janice is showing early signs of dementia, Keke puts her career at stake in order to save her Grandma's block party, and in the process, Keke falls back in love with her hometown and its people.
Uncut Gems Uncut Gems (2019) Character: Neighbor 33F
A charismatic New York City jeweler always on the lookout for the next big score makes a series of high-stakes bets that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime. Howard must perform a precarious high-wire act, balancing business, family, and encroaching adversaries on all sides in his relentless pursuit of the ultimate win.
Me Time Me Time (2022) Character: Gil
With his family away, a devoted stay-at-home dad enjoys his first me time in years by joining his hard-partying old friend on a wild birthday adventure.
Bad Asses on the Bayou Bad Asses on the Bayou (2015) Character: Earl
The third installment in the successful Bad Ass action-comedy franchise. Bad Asses on the Bayou reunites the dynamic duo, Frank Vega (Danny Trejo) and Bernie Pope (Danny Glover), as they travel to Louisiana to attend the wedding of their dear friend Carmen Gutierrez (Loni Love). What was pictured as a wedding weekend escape to the south turns violently ugly as madness and mayhem ensue, pressing our senior heroes to once again serve justice.
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times" (2019) Character: Fred Davis
Live performances of classic holiday-themed episodes from Norman Lear's hit shows "All in the Family" and "Good Times."
Bonanza: The Next Generation Bonanza: The Next Generation (1988) Character: Mr. Mack
This is the continuing saga of the Cartwrights, only none of the original Cartwrights are here anymore but their sons. Ben and Hoss have passed on, and Little Joe is MIA; he went with Teddy Roosevelt and is currently missing. Ben's brother, Aaron is now in charge of the Ponderosa, and Little Joe's wife Annie also lives there. His son, Benjamin has come back fom the East. Charlie Poke is a man who owes his life to Ben Cartwright and is now the ranch foreman, and is not exactly on good terms with Aaron. Aaron has allowed a mining company access to mine on the Ponderosa, but the man in charge has other ideas. And Hoss' son Josh whom no one has seen before, has come to the Ponderosa to kill Hoss cause he thinks Hoss deserted him and his mother not knowing that Hoss died before he could go back to bring his mother back to the Ponderosa.
American Flyers American Flyers (1985) Character: Dr. Conrad
When Dr. Marcus Sommers realizes that he and his troubled, estranged brother David may be prone a fatal brain disease that runs in their family, he decides to make peace with his sibling, and invites him on a trip to the Rockies. There, the brothers bond over their shared enthusiasm for cycling and decide to enter a grueling bike race through the mountains. However, Marcus' health soon begins to fail, and David must compete without his brother at his side.
Hologram Man Hologram Man (1995) Character: Wes Strickland
Five years after the mad terrorist Slash Galagher was sentenced to holographic stasis, he is given a parole hearing. But an equipment failure engineered by his cronies transforms the criminal into a living hologram with god-like powers. Now, stopping him is up to Kurt Decoda, the man who as a police rookie was responsible for arresting Galagher.
The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda (1997) Character: Booker Hutch
After a quiet fishing trip, Rockford is tricked into taking over a fellow PI's case involving alleged Police misconduct, which lands him in the hospital, hounded by a beautiful reporter, and out of favor with the entire Police Deapartment. Meanwhile Angel tries to cash in on the publicity by selling a movie about Rockford's life.
The Last Rifleman The Last Rifleman (2023) Character: Lincoln Jefferson Adams
A WWII veteran escapes his care home in Northern Ireland and embarks on an arduous but inspirational journey to France to attend the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, finding the courage to face the ghosts of his past.
Night Trap Night Trap (1993) Character: Capt. Hodges
A New Orleans cop tries to track down and stop a vicious and demonic killer whom has sold his soul to the devil for invulnerability and immortality.
Let's Do It Again Let's Do It Again (1975) Character: Kansas City Mack
Clyde Williams and Billy Foster are a couple of blue-collar workers in Atlanta who have promised to raise funds for their fraternal order, the Brothers and Sisters of Shaka. However, their method for raising the money involves travelling to New Orleans and rigging a boxing match.
Die Hard 2 Die Hard 2 (1990) Character: Major Grant
One year after his heroics in Los Angeles, John McClane is an off-duty cop who is the wrong guy in the wrong place at the wrong time. On a snowy Christmas Eve, as he waits for his wife's plane to land at Washington Dulles International Airport, terrorists take over the air traffic control system in a plot to free a South American army general and drug smuggler being flown into the US to face drug charges. It's now up to McClane to take on the terrorists, while coping with an inept airport police chief, an uncooperative anti-terrorist squad, and the life of his wife and everyone else trapped in planes circling overhead.
Lock Up Lock Up (1989) Character: Captain Meissner
Frank Leone is nearing the end of his prison term for a relatively minor crime. Just before he is paroled, however, Warden Drumgoole takes charge. Drumgoole was assigned to a hell-hole prison after his administration was publicly humiliated by Leone, and has now arrived on the scene to ensure that Leone never sees the light of day.
Ricochet Ricochet (1991) Character: Reverend Styles
An attorney is terrorized by the criminal he put away years ago when he was a cop.
Mac Mac (1992) Character: Nat
Niccolo "Mac" Vitelli is the eldest of three brothers in 1950s Queens. Mac is a construction builder, a trade he learned from his late father, and helps put his brothers on the job. When they can no longer take working for Polowski, who does shoddy work and is abusive to his staff, Mac and his brothers set up their own company. Together, Vitelli Brothers Construction builds houses with pride and care. But Mac turns out to be an overbearing workaholic, with obsessive concern about the quality of their work and incredible attention to detail. His intensity and driven ambition precludes a happy family life and begins to drive his brothers away.
My Baby's Daddy My Baby's Daddy (2004) Character: Uncle Virgil
A trio of young men are forced to grow up quick when their girlfriends all become pregnant around the same time.
Act of Faith Act of Faith (2014) Character: Mr. Brady
After the death of his beloved wife, Mr. Brady struggles to maintain a neighborhood diner in Atlanta Georgia. His few faithful waitresses have become his only family.
Coming to America Coming to America (1988) Character: Cleo McDowell
An African prince decides it’s time for him to find a princess... and his mission leads him and his most loyal friend to Queens, New York. In disguise as an impoverished immigrant, the pampered prince quickly finds himself a new job, new friends, new digs, new enemies and lots of trouble.
The World's Greatest Athlete The World's Greatest Athlete (1973) Character: Coach Sam Archer
Stuck with a feeble sports department, college coach Sam Archer (John Amos) faces the ax unless he can reverse the school's athletic fortunes. An African vacation with his assistant (Tim Conway) answers Archer's prayers when he spots the athletically gifted Nanu (Jan-Michael Vincent). Sam counts on Nanu's remarkable abilities to put the team back on the winning track. This upbeat farce boasts an impressive cast of comedians.
Disappearing Acts Disappearing Acts (2000) Character: Mr. Swift
Zora Banks is a school teacher and aspiring singer hoping to become a successful star while taking a break from heartache. Franklin Swift is a down-on-his-luck construction worker and not-quite divorced father of two hoping to start his own business. The two meet and fall in love and during the course of the stormy relationship, they both come to some startling conclusions about love and each other.
Dance of the Dwarfs Dance of the Dwarfs (1983) Character: Esteban
An anthropologist and an alcoholic helicopter pilot discover a race of predatory reptile men in the jungles of South America.
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You (2016) Character: Self
Arguably the most influential creator, writer, and producer in the history of television, Norman Lear brought primetime into step with the times. Using comedy and indelible characters, his legendary 1970s shows such as All In the Family, Maude, Good Times, and The Jeffersons, boldly cracked open dialogue and shifted the national consciousness, injecting enlightened humanism into sociopolitical debates on race, class, creed, and feminism.
Бой с Тенью Бой с Тенью (2005) Character: Хилл
Artem Kolchin was one of many, but he wanted glory. And he has chosen the way: he became the boxer. Now Artem the applicant for a champion title, fighter, known worldwide as Great White Hope. But the main fight in his life has not gone how he expected...
Dr. Dolittle 3 Dr. Dolittle 3 (2006) Character: Jud
Lisa Dolittle sends her daughter to 'Durango', a Dude Ranch, to find herself. While there, she uses her talent to talk to the animals in order to save Durango from being taken over by a neighboring Ranch.
Tamales and Gumbo Tamales and Gumbo (2015) Character: The Patron
A beautiful Latina and a lovable African-American try to survive the crazy cultural clashes between their families, as their wedding day nears.
Vanishing Point Vanishing Point (1971) Character: Super Soul's Engineer
Kowalski works for a car delivery service, and takes delivery of a 1970 Dodge Challenger to drive from Colorado to San Francisco. Shortly after pickup, he takes a bet to get the car there in less than 15 hours.
For Better or Worse For Better or Worse (1995) Character: Gray
A comic love triangle wherein a loser falls in love with his recently-married brother's wife.
Christmas Belles Christmas Belles (2019) Character: Pop Pop
Despite being successful in their careers, two 30-something BFFs never stop hearing that they both need a man before it's too late. When a handsome pastor arrives just in time to kick off the Christmas season, both ladies try to make a move-but as their hilarious attempts to one up each other keep growing, it will be up to their family to remind them what the holiday season is truly about.
The Players Club The Players Club (1998) Character: Freeman
Single mother Diana struggles to provide for her child and pay for her college education. When she meets two dancers from a nearby gentlemen's club, Diana's convinced there's fast money to be made stripping.
Coming 2 America Coming 2 America (2021) Character: Cleo McDowell
Prince Akeem Joffer is set to become King of Zamunda when he discovers he has a son he never knew about in America – a street savvy Queens native named Lavelle. Honoring his royal father's dying wish to groom this son as the crown prince, Akeem and Semmi set off to America once again.
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971) Character: Biker
After saving a Black Panther from some racist cops, a black male prostitute goes on the run from "the man" with the help of the ghetto community and some disillusioned Hells Angels.
Christmas in Miami Christmas in Miami (2021) Character: N/A
Akpos jets off with his family to the exotic city of Miami, Florida to represent Nigeria at the Intercontinental Christmas Fiesta, which is a unifying Fiesta that will bring together 6 families from 6 very diverse nations across 5 continents, to spend the week leading up to Christmas together, on an exotic island in Miami, USA. This 'mini' Olympics of Christmas is a multi-ethnic story of unity in diversity. It celebrates how we are all different, but the same, or how we are all 'same difference'. It reminds that Christmas transcends skin colour and racial barriers. It's a rib-tickling comedy that aims to unite borders by helping each of the nations represented to also debunk long-held negative stereotypes and perceptions that the general public always had about them. And of course, somewhere in between all of these, we are treated to endless servings of Akpos' mis-adventures.
Due occhi diabolici Due occhi diabolici (1990) Character: Det. Legrand
A duo of Edgar Allan Poe adaptations about a greedy wife's attempt to embezzle her dying husband's fortune, and a sleazy reporter's adoption of a strange black cat.
Touched by Love Touched by Love (1980) Character: Tony
A teenager with cerebral palsy attempts to become pen pals with her idol, Elvis Presley.
The Beastmaster The Beastmaster (1982) Character: Seth
Dar, is the son of a king, who is hunted by a priest after his birth and grows up in another family. When he becomes a grown man his new father is murdered by savages and he discovers that he has the ability to communicate with the animals, which leads him on his quest for revenge against his father's killers.
Madea's Witness Protection Madea's Witness Protection (2012) Character: Pastor Nelson
For years, mild-mannered Wall Street banker George Needleman has meandered through life oblivious to his family's dysfunction and his company's malfeasance, but he's forced to wake up when he learns that he's been framed in a mob-backed Ponzi scheme. Placed under federal protection, George and his family are shipped down South to Madea's house, where the no-nonsense matriarch whips them all into shape using her special brand of tough love.



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