ga('ads.send', { pg.acq.push(function() { }) pg.acq.push(function() { Our content is fact checked by our senior editorial staff to reflect accuracy and ensure our readers get My early departure from the show, I felt that with two younger childrenone of whom aspired to become a Supreme Court Justicethat would be Ralph Carter (Michael Evans) and the other, Bern Nadette Stanis (Thelma Evans) who aspired to become a surgeon, Amos stated. "You don't retire in my position," he told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2017. I love the way that Aaron Sorkin had written this characters dialogue, as it reflected on the mans position and the military, he says. John Amos at the 2nd Annual Giant Night of Comedy on September 26, 2016 in New York. Amos has one grand child,a grand-daughter, Quiera Williams. MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of 'James Evans' from Good Times. John loves to have fun and do what he loves best, whether with his children, granddaughter, family members, or colleagues. He played the character of Hunter Dolan in Hunter (1984-85). READ THIS NEXT:See '70s Icon Pam Grier Now at 72. From 1974 to 1976, John Amos touched millions of lives as the iconic patriarch James Evans, Sr., on Good Times until he was unceremoniously dumped from the cast midway through its run. They said, What are you doing right now? My Dad met & fell in love w/ my Mom while attending college at Colorado State University. A native of New Jersey and son of a mechanic, African-American John Amos has relied on his imposing build, eruptive nature and strong, forceful looks to obtain acting jobs, and a serious desire for better roles to earn a satisfying place in the annals of film and TV. On May 5, he also shared a picture that showed him posing with the cast of "The Last O.G." I thought that somewhere, God is proving that he has a sense of humor, he says. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. The episode finds the Evans family in political disagreement as they lean individually toward voting for Davis or his opponent, played by recent Emmy winner for When They See Us, Jharrel Jerome. Amos' first marriage to late equestrian and artist Noel J. Mickelson produced two children: daughter Shannon Amos, a writer and producer turned mindfulness instructor and shaman, and son, director and actor Kelly Christopher "K.C." ga('ads.send', { eventAction: 'click_adunit' She also posted a heartwarming tribute to her. K.C also celebrated his mom's love for horses in an Instagram post he made in January 2017. His second marriage was to actress Lillian Lehman . John Amos Reveals He Was Fired From Good Times For Trying To Make It More Authentic (Video) At a crucial point in American television, Good Times presented one of the first beloved Black TV . He is also a Golden Gloves Boxing Champion. Amos first major role, starting in 1970, was on one of the most successful sitcoms in America: The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which consistently drew high ratings and would rack up 29 Emmys over its seven-year run. Amoss second marriage to Lillian Lehman was between 1978-79. } AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Think of the word "princess" as more of a nickname and less of an adjective. }); His first marriage, from 1965 to 1975, was to artist and equestrian Noel Mickelson, with whom he has two children: Shannon Amos, a writer/producer and founder of Afterglow Multimedia, LLC, and Grammy-nominated director K.C. The original cast of 'Good Times' featuring (L-R) Ralph Carter, Bern Nadette Stanis, Ja'Net DuBois, John Amos (front), Esther Rolle and Jimmie Walker. One time, a Pepsi commercial nearly cost him another acting job: I broke away on my lunch hour and started drinking these 16-ounce Pepsis. 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MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. The 1977 show, which followed the story of the enslaved Kunta Kinte and his descendants, was an immediate cultural phenomenon, drawing an estimated 130 million viewers and prompting many frank discussions about the brutality of slavery and its continuing impact. During this historic point in American television, John Amos delivered a groundbreaking portrayal of James Evans, the revered patriarch of the iconic Evans clan. As a student, he had been part of the inaugural desegregating classes of two schools in New Jersey. According to a 1975 Ebony article, co-stars Amos and Esther Rolle (Florida) were vocally opposed to the negative characterization of Black youth they felt J.J. represented, as well as other scenarios and characterizations on the show. Marla Gibbs Remembers Giving Regina King Tough Love on '227' Set: 'We Can Argue If You Want To', Hilary Duff Says the 'Goal' Is to Have All 'HIMYM' Alums Guest on 'HIMYF' After Neil Patrick Harris, Charles Kimbrough, Best Known for 'Murphy Brown', Dead at 86, Jason Segel Says He's Open to a 'How I Met Your Father' Cameo: 'Those People Changed My Life'. Theres life left in the old boy yet., The 25 Defining Works of the Black Renaissance. The Cast of 'Hanging with Mr. Cooper:' Where Are They Now? reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. His versatility extends to the theatre as well, which he declares as his first love. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ Some of his most iconic film and television roles include portraying the adult Kunta Kinte in the iconic miniseries "Roots," "Coming to America" (1988), and the famous and award-winning "The Mary Tyler Moore Show.". A few months ago, she posted a photo of a priceless moment she shared with her father on her Instagram page. John Amos (born December 27, 1939) played the part of James Evans Sr. in the first three seasons of Good Times. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. hitType: 'event', A native of New Jersey and son of a mechanic, African-American John Amos has relied on his imposing build, eruptive nature and strong, forceful looks to obtain acting jobs, and a serious desire for better roles to earn a satisfying place in the annals of film and TV. Can you think of a better job than one where you know youre going to be laughing all day, and theyre serving you food, and then you go back to laughing some more?, he recalls about the original film. Amos was also the only major Black cast member of the show, an experience that may have been new to him in the realm of entertainment, but not in his life. 'Downton Abbey' Cast: Where Are They Now? window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { }); Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images, See '70s Teen Idol Robby Benson Now at 66. ga('ads.send', { Amos. ga('ads.send', { Icons from 50 Years of 'The Young and the Restless' Celebrate Show's Golden Anniversary See the Cast Photo. Hollywood star, John Amos, looked evergreen in new photos he shared with fans as he ages gracefully. His on-screen wife on the show was Esther Rolle. CBS 'Good Times' original cast members: Where are they now. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' Despite what happened on Good Times, Amos and one of the show's executive producers, the legendaryNorman Lear, would go on to resolve their differences and work together again creatively, something Amos attributes to "maturing" in how he expressed his beliefs. var payload = 'v=1&tid=UA-72659260-1&cid=e7986e3b-8b16-40c6-a0f0-b8bdee3adc57&t=event&ec=clone&ea=hostname&el=domain&aip=1&ds=web&z=4989053684412828883'.replace( 'domain', location.hostname ); Amos affable and talented weatherman Gordy was often the straight man in his scenes, genially absorbing a maelstrom of antics. On Father's Day, she shared several pictures of him and wished him a Happy Father's Day. Rolle played the matriarch of the Evans family, who alongside her husband James, was part of the working class duo raising three kids in a Chicago housing project back in the 70s. interview with the American Archive of Television. The actor and his kids have portrayed their bond via several posts on their social media. },false) Hence, they had to kill him off. sound information and advice to make the smartest, healthiest choices. MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of Throwback Thursday Interview: John Amos Reveals How Departure From 'Good Times' Went Down - Essence "I left because I was told that I had become a 'disruptive element,'" the actor told the. pg.acq.push(function() { xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); Randy Chrisley Is Todd Chrisley's Brother Who Was Diagnosed with Cancer in 2014, Johnny Depp's Weight Gain & Changes in Appearance over the Years, 'Whos the Boss? Instead, the writers focused more on the obvious and comedic Jimmie Walker, which John was not proud of. The Roots actors son KC also shares a great bond with his father. As Good Times grew in popularity, it increasingly focused on the the "dy-no-mite"-spouting elder son J.J., portrayed by comedian Jimmie Walker. Calling my daddy now! another read, while yet another person commented, So moved by this, dear Shannon. He continued to work in both TV and film, returning to his former role as The Mary Tyler Moore Show's weatherman, Gordy, for the show's final season and later taking on more notable roles, including Seth in Beastmaster, Cleo McDowell in Coming to America, antagonist Major Grant in Die Hard 2, Percy Fitzwallace in The West Wing, and Ed in Two and a Half Men. }); In an article, K.C. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The show had six seasons on CBS from February 8, 1974, to August 1, 1979. It was very, very sobering., Amos says the job gave him a greater appreciation for the whole judicial system and the inequities in it. Every time I played a correction officer or a law enforcement officer, whether it be military or civilian, I had those experiences to draw on. With each woman, he had two children. Working with Eddie Murphy: I cant describe it to you. shot that showed him relaxing at the beach during one of his trips to Jamaica. In November, the father-son duo entertained their fans singing to Johnny Nash's I Can See Clearly Now as the caption read, Always #GoodTimes Kickin it w my son @k.c.amos over the holiday.. He is an illustrious actor who has been nominated for Primetime Emmy Award and the NAACP Image Award. While reflecting on his long and amazing career and the impact his roles had on his life, he said every working experience he had as a young man and later in his life served him in good stead as an actor because they all gave him hands-on experience. They would be forced to introduce me to the existence of racism and my innocent view of the world was forever changed, she concluded. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ He also received fine reviews in a Berkshire Theater festival production of "The Boys Next Door", a tour of O'Neill's towering play "The Emperor Jones", and in a Detroit production of Athol Fugard's "Master Haroldand The Boys". Consequently, when you talk about real things, people are very interested in them., 9 Classic TV Shows That Could Come Back (and How We Imagine Them Happening), Tis the Season! For them, it was love at first sight. scientific studies and medical journals. },false) ), In a 2017 interview with Sway in the Morning, Amos minced no words as he recounted leaving the series stating, "I left because I was told that my services were no longer needed because I had become a 'disruptive element.'". The iconic actor has held many recent roles and reprised his role as Cleo McDowell in the "Coming to America" sequel, "Coming 2 America," released in March 2021. He was from the inner city of Newark, NJ she was from the small mid-west town of Esterville, Iowa. Come over to the studio, do a walk-through with Adam, real casual-like, Amos recalls. ", The post continued, On Feb 21st, 1965, just 2 months after their marriage, Malcom Ex would be assassinated. } He is extremely versatile in the roles that he has played both on television as well as on the big screen.