According to his son, K.C. Amos, the actor died of natural causes on August 21 in Los Angeles.
“It is with heartfelt sadness that I share that my father has transitioned,” K.C. said in a statement. “He had the kindest heart and a heart of gold… loved worldwide. Many fans considered him their TV father. He lived a good life, and his legacy will continue through his iconic work in television and film.”
Born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1939, Amos initially pursued a career in the NFL after playing college football at Colorado State University. He later entered acting in 1970, appearing on The Cosby Show and The Tim Conway Comedy Hour before his breakout role as Gordy the weatherman on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
Amos became widely known for playing James Evans Sr. on the hit 1970s sitcom Good Times, one of the first shows to portray a Black two-parent family. He also earned an Emmy nomination for his role as Kunta Kinte in the seminal 1977 miniseries Roots, a critical and ratings sensation.
Reflecting on Good Times, Amos told Time magazine in 2021 that it closely depicted the life of an African American family. However, he left the show following disagreements over its later portrayal of Black families.
Amos played the adult Kunta Kinte in Roots, based on Alex Haley’s novel about slavery in the U.S., calling it a “life-changing role.” The miniseries earned 37 Emmy nominations, with Amos securing one of them.
Before his acting career, Amos served in the New Jersey State National Guard and played college football. He also had a brief stint with the Kansas City Chiefs in the pre-merger AFL.
Amos is survived by his son, K.C. Amos, and his daughter, Shannon.
