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Good Times

John Amos Dies at 84: Remembering the ‘Good Times’ and ‘Roots’ Star

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John Amos died in Los Angeles on August 21, 2024, at age 84. His publicist confirmed his death, which was announced on October 1, 2024, according to the Associated Press. Amos was best known as James Evans Sr. on Good Times and as adult Kunta Kinte in the 1977 miniseries Roots.

What is known about John Amos’s death

The Associated Press reported that Amos died of natural causes, citing confirmation from his publicist. The report gave no more specific medical cause. His death was announced publicly on October 1, several weeks after the August 21 date of death; no reason for the timing was given.

His son, Kelly Christopher Amos, shared the family’s statement. “Many fans consider him their TV father,” he said, according to the AP. The statement added: “He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.”

The roles that defined his screen legacy

James Evans Sr. in Good Times

Amos played James Evans Sr., the father and family patriarch in the CBS sitcom Good Times, which ran from 1974 to 1979. The series portrayed a Black family living in Chicago public housing. In a 2021 TIME interview, Amos said: “That show was the closest depiction in reality to life as an African-American family living in those circumstances as it could be.”

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The AP reported that Amos and co-star Esther Rolle wanted the show to present a positive image of a Black family. They became frustrated with the direction of J.J., the family’s son, and the expansion of that character’s role. That tension is part of the series’ production history, though it does not by itself explain every decision in Amos’s career.

Adult Kunta Kinte in Roots

In the 1977 miniseries Roots, Amos played adult Kunta Kinte. The production received 37 Emmy nominations, including one for Amos. He later described the part’s personal and professional impact to TIME: “I knew that it was a life-changing role for me, as an actor and just from a humanistic standpoint.”

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How the two landmark roles differ

Work Format Amos’s role What it shows about his legacy
Good Times (1974–1979) CBS sitcom James Evans Sr., a family patriarch A sustained television portrayal of a working-class Black family, which Amos discussed in his 2021 TIME interview.
Roots (1977) Miniseries Adult Kunta Kinte A dramatic role in a production that received 37 Emmy nominations, one of them for Amos.
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Other work across film and television

Amos’s career extended well beyond the two roles for which he is most widely remembered. The AP also noted film appearances in Let’s Do It Again, Coming to America and its 2021 sequel, Die Hard 2, Madea’s Witness Protection and Uncut Gems, alongside later television work. The range of those credits reflects a long career across comedy, drama and film.

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