John Amos, star of the TV show «Good Times», has passed away. He was 84 years old. His son confirmed the news of his death
1 october 2024 в 22:37
Famous actor John Amos, known for his role in the TV show «Good Times», has passed away. The late actor was 84 years old. John’s son, Kelly Christopher Amos, confirmed on Tuesday, October 1, that his father passed away months ago on August 21.
«With deep sadness, I inform you that my father has passed away», - Kelly said in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. «He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold… and he was loved all over the world. Many fans consider him their television father».
Kelly added in his statement that John «lived a good life» and his «legacy will live on in his outstanding work on television and in film as an actor».
The late Emmy-nominated actor worked in show business for five decades. However, he initially aspired to a professional football career. After playing for the University of Colorado football team, a New Jersey native, he was signed as a free agent for the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL. Eventually, he left sports and fell in love with acting.
By the early 1970s, John gained recognition for his role as weatherman Gordy Howard on «The Mary Tyler Moore Show». In 1973, he was cast as James Evans Sr. on «Good Times». However, John’s experience on set was filled with disagreements. He often clashed with the show’s writers over the portrayal of African Americans. By the third season, John was fired from «Good Times».
During a 2017 interview, John recalled his disputes with the writers.
«The truth of the matter was, when the show first started, we didn’t have any black writers on the show, and some of the relationships that they wrote, like for my character, and frankly for some of the other characters as well, made me say, 'No, we can’t do this, we can’t do this.' And they would say, 'What do you mean, we can’t do this?'» John said, according to Ebony magazine. «They kept talking about their credentials and everything else, and I looked at each and every one of them and said, 'Well, how many years have you been black? This just doesn’t happen in the community. We don’t think like this. We don’t act like this. We don’t let our kids do this.'»
After «Good Times», - John landed several roles on television and in film. His most notable television works include «The West Wing», - «All About the Andersons», - and «Men in Trees»
«With deep sadness, I inform you that my father has passed away», - Kelly said in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. «He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold… and he was loved all over the world. Many fans consider him their television father».
Kelly added in his statement that John «lived a good life» and his «legacy will live on in his outstanding work on television and in film as an actor».
The late Emmy-nominated actor worked in show business for five decades. However, he initially aspired to a professional football career. After playing for the University of Colorado football team, a New Jersey native, he was signed as a free agent for the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL. Eventually, he left sports and fell in love with acting.
By the early 1970s, John gained recognition for his role as weatherman Gordy Howard on «The Mary Tyler Moore Show». In 1973, he was cast as James Evans Sr. on «Good Times». However, John’s experience on set was filled with disagreements. He often clashed with the show’s writers over the portrayal of African Americans. By the third season, John was fired from «Good Times».
During a 2017 interview, John recalled his disputes with the writers.
«The truth of the matter was, when the show first started, we didn’t have any black writers on the show, and some of the relationships that they wrote, like for my character, and frankly for some of the other characters as well, made me say, 'No, we can’t do this, we can’t do this.' And they would say, 'What do you mean, we can’t do this?'» John said, according to Ebony magazine. «They kept talking about their credentials and everything else, and I looked at each and every one of them and said, 'Well, how many years have you been black? This just doesn’t happen in the community. We don’t think like this. We don’t act like this. We don’t let our kids do this.'»
After «Good Times», - John landed several roles on television and in film. His most notable television works include «The West Wing», - «All About the Andersons», - and «Men in Trees»
© Artemenko Olga
