The no-nonsense and responsible Thelma, who was also a terrible cook, was played by BernNadette Stanis, who went on to author five books: 'Situations 101: Relationships', 'The Good, The Bad & The Ugly'; 'For Men Only'; 'Situations 101: Finances'; and 'The Last Night'. John and Mickelson share two children, son K.C. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Although Amos fierce opinions got him fired, fans of the show complained about missing James Evans presence on the show, and for many people, Good Times lost part of its essence when Amos left. After about the third one, I turned into a human fountain, he recalls. Come over to the studio, do a walk-through with Adam, real casual-like, Amos recalls. John Amos - Biography - IMDb He said Lear explained that the rest of the cast and the production company described him in those terms. On May 11, John shared a throwback picture of himself and his mom, Annabelle Amos. All Rights Reserved. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { } else { }); John described his surprise appearance as a beautiful and tearful moment because all the old wounds had been healed. shared a heartwarming video showing him as his dad as they mimed a song. However, that desire was often slighted by lower comedy, for which John expressed his dissatisfaction. We are one of the worlds fastest growing My role was to try to acquire pretrial freedom for indigent defendants. One day, when I was 5 years old, that all changed. John's second marriage was to actress and producer Lillian Lehman, who is known for "Body of Evidence," "Defending Your Life," and "Spectres.". 'Very open to the idea': Julia Wandelt takes DNA test to verify if she is missing Swiss girl Livia Schepp, Kayla Lemieux: Teacher with prosthetic Z-cup breasts suspended WITH PAY after pics show her dressed as man, Michael Schneider: Psychic detective gives '100%' verdict on whether Julia Wandelt is Madeleine McCann, Lindsay Clancy case: Psychologist reveals psychosis red flags family members could have spotted, 'We have lots to reveal': Madeleine McCann lookalike Julia Wandelt posts footage of meeting with PI probing claims. The source of his revenue is his appearance on hit Television shows like Good Times. March 5, 2021 11:00 AM EST. He has also been nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards and the NAACP Image Award. He aimed it at my Dad & told him to get his White trash and their nigger child off his property. Amos director, writer, producer, editor and daughter Shannon Amos a director, writer and producer. A stand-up comic on the Greenwich Village circuit, the work eventually took him West and, ultimately, led to his hiring as a staff writer on Leslie Uggams' musical variety show in 1969. Photo of the Evans family from the television program Good Times. 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. Now in his eighties, Amos continues to act, and recently reprised his role as fast food chain owner and father-in-law to Eddie Murphy's Prince Akeem in 2019's Coming 2 America. In an article, K.C. If you have any concerns about the accuracy of our content, please reach out to our editors by e-mailing hitType: 'event', ': What Happened to the Stars of the Iconic Series through the Years, Meet John Amos' Kids with a 'Renaissance Woman' to Whom His Marriage Was Banned in 16 States, John Amos 2nd Wife Always Had a Response to Strange Women Telling Her How Much They Loved Her Husband, John Wayne Welcomed Son at 56 & Knew He Would Miss Him Growing Up He Did Not Let Him Go to School. But while the show would air for an additional three years without Amos, his career would hardly stop there. I grew up watching John do this role, so for the three years that I think he played this role, he was really a role model, he told Entertainment Tonight. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), As proof of his excellence as an actor, John was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2020, an honor he well and truly deserved. eventAction: 'click_adunit' For more celebrity updates sent right to your inbox,sign up for our daily newsletter. }); eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), The Cast of 'Family Matters:' Where Are They Now? He was from the inner city of Newark, NJ she was from the small mid-west town of Esterville, Iowa. Therapists say it can damage your connection. hitType: 'event', } As the family's close friend, the sassy and sometimes gossipy Willona was made evergreen by DuBois the American actress, singer-songwriter and dancer. We adhere to structured guidelines for sourcing information and linking to other resources, including John, who is an Emmy-nominated actor who played Admiral Percy Fitzwallace on the first five seasons of The West Wing. }); As part of ABCs second installment of Live in Front of a Studio Audience, produced by Jimmy Kimmel among others, a cast of current A-listers took on roles from the 1970s Norman Lear sitcom, as well as All In the Family. Nothing else exists. All I knew was their love. I said, sure, why not?. Amos. if( 'moc.enilnoefiltseb' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { John began frequently clashing with the higher-ups and, by 1976, was released from the series, with his character being killed in an off-camera car accident while finding employment out of state.Amos rebounded quickly when he won the Emmy-nominated role of the adult Kunte Kinte in the ground-breaking epic mini-series Roots (1977), one of the most powerful and reverential TV features ever to hit television. GOOD TIMES - 10 Episodes of Norman Lear's 1970s Classic Featuring John He is extremely versatile in the roles that he has played both on television as well as on the big screen. ga('ads.send', { The move was a decision from the shows creator, Norman Lear, who alongside the writers of the show had labeled Amos as a disruptive element.. John Amos Reveals Why He Was Fired From Good Times - Ambrosia For Heads } One of his is Shannon, who is an entrepreneur. But. Amos and daughter Shannon Amos. 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." However, it was not because of a third party, and they did not have any children together. On-screen, he was married to Florida Evansplayed by Esther Rolleand they had three grown children: J.J.; Thelma; and Michael. It showed her lovingly dancing with her father toLuther Vandross' Dance with My Father. During this historic point in American television, John Amos delivered a groundbreaking portrayal of James Evans, the revered patriarch of the iconic Evans clan. John Amos carries eight decades of American history in his sturdy 6-foot frame. A few months ago, she posted a photo of a priceless moment she shared with her father on her Instagram page. hitType: 'event', 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. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. On Tuesday night, he was reunited with legendary television producer Norman Lear . ga('ads.send', { } If there is to be a Coming to America 3, and I hope there will be, they can wheel me to Zamunda in a wheelchair, and maybe Ill be selling zebra burgers or hippo lips, he says, laughing. }); eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), In the midst of it all, their love would produce a child (me). | Photo: Wikimedia Commons Images. He is also popular for his appearing on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. pg.acq.push(function() { Amos. He is most famous for portraying James Evans Sr. on the CBS television series "Good Times.". The show had six seasons on CBS from February 8, 1974, to August 1, 1979. J ohn Amos carries eight decades of American history in his sturdy 6-foot frame. }); NEWARK, NEW JERSEY: December 27 is dedicated to John Amos, who turned 83 during the holiday season. pg.acq.push(function() { Rolle and John desired to give the Black-American family they represented a positive image with their casting. Jean E. Himes. Its anathema to Black society. We are one of the worlds fastest growing John Amos, Coming 2 America Star, Reflects on 50-Year Career - Time The sitcom star was unceremoniously fired after pushing back on the direction of the show. "It was a matter of me maturing, and [understanding the impact of] the post-traumatic stress syndrome I'd suffered as a result of playing football and boxing," Amos told Vulture in 2015. John Amos was only 34-year-old when he earned the role as the middle-aged father of family, James Evans, on the first African American sitcom with two parents and a functioning family. Nonetheless, he wasnt expecting to receive a call from Normal Lear while the show was on break. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); In a surprise nod to the original series which ran between 1974 and 1979 original cast member John Amos made an appearance on the live broadcast. ga('ads.send', { The State of Virginia" ruling. John Amos is a footballer turned actor who is well known for his role as James Evans Sr. on the CBS television show Good Times. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ His clashes with the writers often marred John's time on the show. In a Vlad TV interview, John gave more insight into his firing from the cast and his relationship with Lear afterward. },false) ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); Hence, he was not going to portray something less than redeeming. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); ga('ads.send', { 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Weeks after Season 4 of Good Times began airing without him, Amos appeared as the older Kunta Kinte in the record-setting ABC miniseries, Roots. He captioned the video: "Spinning wheel started spinning and we forgot to only pantomimes.". See Him Now at 82. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ CBS 'Good Times' original cast members: Where are they now. }) xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); hitType: 'event', Their marriage violated Virginias Racial Integrity Act of 1924, which criminalized marriage between people classified as white and people classified as colored.'". American actor John Amos was born on December 27, 1939. One of them read, This video needs a tear jerker warning. https://comedyhype.com/ - In 1974 Good Times would premiere showcasing black family life like never before. He was kicked off the show after a conflict with producers. They thought I was talking about a revolution here in the studioand I was, he says. var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); I only saw them as my parents the two people who loved me. | Photo: Getty Images. The catering was good. Get inside the legendary actor's life and know details about the major events surrounding him. Although Amos first said he was leaving the show to focus on his career in film, he later opened up about what really happened behind the scenes. His second marriage was to actress Lillian Lehman. Overseas he received plaudits for his appearance in a heralded production of "The Life and Death of a Buffalo Soldier" at the Bristol's Old Vic in England. hitType: 'event', The politically charged storyline was fitting for its Wednesday night airtime, as the broadcast was interrupted several times due to updates from the House of Representatives vote to impeach President Donald Trump happening simultaneously in Washington, D.C. For the All in the Family live show, actors Woody Harrelson, Marisa Tomei, Ike Barinholtz, Ellie Kemper, Kevin Bacon and Jesse Eisenberg also took on retro roles. So it was all a way of preparation., And Amos was particularly happy when his West Wing character Admiral Percy Fitzwallace, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, got the chance not only to flex his military power but also his ability to effect social change. Amos appeared roughly a dozen times over the course of the show's first three seasons, and even though he left to take a regular gig on Good Times in 1974, his character was vital enough. But Amos also remembers growing frustrated by the incongruity of the shows white writers like Lear penning Black storylines he felt were inauthentic. When I went back to work, I couldnt finish the day because I kept belching every 30 seconds.. hitType: 'event', Amos was the face of the patriarch James Sr a veteran of the Korean war who despite his commitment to provide for his family, only ends up finding odd jobs because of his lack of education. }); They would be forced to introduce me to the existence of racism and my innocent view of the world was forever changed, she concluded. Theirs was an interracial marriage that lasted from 1965 to 1975. window.adsContainer = {"position2":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Above_Next_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position3":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_ATF_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position4":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position5":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle1_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position6":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle2_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position7":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle3_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position8":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle4_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position9":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle5_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position10":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle6_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position11":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle7_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position12":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle8_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position13":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle9_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position14":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle10_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position15":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle11_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position16":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle12_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250}} Roots. John Amos, better known for his role as James Evans in the 70s series Good Times, was written off the show on its fourth season. I thought that somewhere, God is proving that he has a sense of humor, he says. 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 . John Amos was only 34-year-old when he earned the role as the middle-aged father of family, James Evans, on the first African American sitcom with two parents and a functioning family. I like playing bad guys. The Evans' oldest child, JJ, with his goofball ladies man persona and a flair for art was made iconic by Walker and then, of course, there is the catchphrase: 'Dy-no-mite!' if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { Think of the word "princess" as more of a nickname and less of an adjective. Uncut Gems. John Amos and Esther Rolle, 1974. Getting fired from Good Times is one of the best things that could have ever happened to John Amos.. After three seasons of fighting with executive producer Norman Lear and the CBS sitcom's . MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online. 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.". "Good Times" writers got fed up with John constantly squaring up to them, and the show's producer Norman Lear had to fire him from the show in 1976. | Photo: Wikimedia Commons Images. John Amos at the SiriusXM Studios on October 10, 2017 in New York City. If you have children, these are the things you'd really rather go unsaid. When Amos told Lear it was his call, he proceeded to inform John that the show had been picked up for a new season, which wasnt really a surprise considering its success. He portrayed the character of Percy Fitzwallace in the critically acclaimed show The West Wing. Amos was born on December 27, 1939, to Annabelle P. and John A. Amos, Sr. in Newark, New Jersey. Got us all blurry eyed. This song always brings me to tears! Good Times The Very Last Episode James Appeared In! John Amos Last ga('ads.send', { eventAction: 'click_image_ads' I was a sign of the times that we just werent going to take any more, but hadnt developed the social graces to express our disfavor. He and Lear later reconciledand the pair shared a hug at a Good Times TV reunion special on ABC in 2019. Past Commencement Speakers & Honorary Degree Recipients. In addition, John directed two well-received productions, "Miss Reardon Drinks a Little" and "Twelve Angry Men", in the Bahamas. 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". On June 12, 1967, the court issued a unanimous decision in the Lovings favor and overturned their convictions. So, when the writers started to rely too much on the non-sensical humor of J.J, Amos was outspoken about his disappointment. Amos is a veteran of the 50th Armored Division of the New Jersey National Guard and Honorary Master Chief of the United States Coast Guard.[2][3]. In a Zoom interview, Amos watched some of the most iconic scenes from across his career and reflected on the life experiences that impacted those rolesand the impact those roles in turn had on his life. eventAction: 'view' document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { I left because I was told that my services were no longer needed because I had become a disruptive element,'" the actor says. 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? As Salon reports, shows like "All In The Family" offered a gritty and unflinching look at issues such as racism . He explained he was not jealous of Jimmie Walker but felt it was a disservice to Thelma and Michael and young people's image to say they did not matter. }) 'Good Times' Actor John Amos Is Still Kicking It at 80 in Photos with On-screen, he was married to Florida Evansplayed by Esther Rolleand they had three grown children: J.J.; Thelma; and Michael. He has found it a constant uphill battle to further himself in an industry that tends to diminish an actor's talents with severe and/or demeaning stereotypes and easy pigeonholing. John Amos Talks 'Good Times,' 'Roots' and Career - TVLine xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); gads_event = event; Being born in Newark, raised in East Orange, I had a way of voicing my differences against the script that werent acceptable to the creative staff. He also said John taught him to discover his passion, develop it, and give it back in a way that will be meaningful to others. In the post's caption, he urged fans to watch the show and said he enjoyed working with the cast. He has kept up a steady stream of appearances on movies and television alike, which constantly augments his income and keeps him fresh in the minds of his audiences. At a fundraiser for a good cause in Denver, Colorado, in July 2021, John was captured on film by his son KC, who then posted it on Instagram. John's kids are also fond of their mother. ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc. And I saw them become old men in front of my eyes. Many wondered why the shows producers would make such a decision and, over the years, rumors surfaced that they and Amos could not reach an agreement in their contractual negotiations. He has been in the industry since the 1970s and plays incredibly relevant roles even in the present day. } But if theres a buck to be made selling the McDowells product, then rest assured, I will be there in the form of Cleo McDowell. John Amos may be days away from celebrating his 80th birthday, but so many of his wishes have already come true. There were several examples where I said, No, you dont do these things. Even if you don't know his name, you've surely seen him onscreen, whether you're . Working with Eddie Murphy: I cant describe it to you. John Amos has had an illustrious career both as a sportsman and as an actor. I danced with my father at his 80th Birthday and he asked, Whos leading, you or me? Blessings my friend. Another chimed in, I felt your energy of joy while your head was on his chest listening to his heartbeat., However, its not just Amos and Shannon who spent some good time together. While Amos did bring out the reality of a struggling family man in the 70s, he went on to quit the show after three of its six-year run owing to creative disputes with Lear. It went on to win for Outstanding Variety Special, which made Lear the oldest Emmy winner ever. His on-screen wife on the show was Esther Rolle. 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. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. pg.acq.push(function() { Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images, See '70s Teen Idol Robby Benson Now at 66. Making his legit stage debut in a 1971 L.A. production of the comedy "Norman, Is That You? Having kids wipe their finger along your cheek to see if the black came off, or saying about my nose, Geez, can you breathe through that thing or walk through it?, But Amos says the teachers at those schools encouraged his thespian instincts and pushed him to explore his creativity. In May of 2015, in histhree-and-a-half-hour interviewwith the Archive of American Television, Amos shed light on exactly why he leftGood Times. Amos also played the role of Anthony Anderson in All About the Andersons in 2003. is a director, writer, and producer, the same occupations his sister holds. John has been active in Hollywood for five decades and has credits in multiple films and television series. },false) In 2019, the actor also made a surprise appearance during a live broadcast event recreating a Good Times episode for ABC's Live in Front of a Studio Audience series. Although the actor is pushing 80, he has managed to embody the famous phrase, "Black don't Crack." In the photos which he shared, the star poses . He makes the transition seamlessly, and he is an award-winning actor as well. | Photo: Wikimedia Commons Images, Amos also admitted that he wasnt the most diplomatic guy at the time, and the writers were getting tired of having their lives threatened over jokes.. Hence, they had to kill him off. Here are excerpts from the conversation. John Amos a.k.a. Good Times Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. And on top of being a walking Hollywood encyclopedia, the actor has also charted the course of an American century in many other ways, from being one of the first young Black students at mostly white schools following Brown v. Board of Education to playing with the Denver Broncos to being a social worker at the Brooklyn House of Detention. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. },false) I've played a lot of lovable dads in my time.". He played the character of Hunter Dolan in Hunter (1984-85). Walker, a comedian, won a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor In A Television Series in 1975 and 1976 for playing JJ. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { John Amos is a footballer turned actor who is well known for his role as James Evans Sr. on the CBS television show Good Times. } But the film was no ordinary Sandler flick: it was Uncut Gems, the Safdie Brothers chaotic and abrasive thriller which has already taken on the status of cult classic in some circles. Me, the experience of working and living at the time as an African American. And some of his writers, who theorized what my reactions or the characters reactions would be, predicated on a Beverly Hills point of view for the most part., Exacerbating the situation was Amos temper, which he says was borne out of the PTSD he developed after playing professional football and boxing. Their perception or their idea of what a Black family would be and what a Black father would be was totally different from mine, and mine was steeped in reality., Stating creative differences withthe shows writers and producers, Amos said of his 1976 departure: I left because I was told that my services were no longer needed because I had become a disruptive element. In other words, I didnt have the diplomacy that I think Ive cultivated over the last 10 or 15 years. 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. It was brought to the fore on November 30, 2020, when Shannon shared several images of herself and her daughter as she celebrated the latter's 29th birthday. For example, he shared a photo of him and his friends posing all smiles in front of his gigantic book-themed 80th birthday cake last year. This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. Fired from Good times is one of the best things that could ever happen to John Amos.. After three seasons of struggling with executive producer Norman Lear and the white writers of the CBS sitcom about stereotypical Black Man portraits and dialogue the show has dragged on, especially when it comes to Starring Jimmie Walker, Amos' contract to play patriarch James Evans was not renewed at the . 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. 'Everybody Loves Raymond' star Ray Romano turns 65 surrounded by a loving wife and four children, Al Roker looks chipper wearing matching pajamas in family photo on Christmas after leaving hospital, Shannon put up the heartwarming post in October. All Rights Reserved. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { 2023 TIME USA, LLC. hitType: 'event', John Amos Played James Evans, Sr. on "Good Times." Big John, I got some good news and some bad news. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ on tour.The following year he returned to New York to take his first Broadway bow in "Tough To Get Help". Free shipping for many products! It was like a reward for having suffered those indignities., As Amoss career entered its third decade, he settled into many roles of authority, including police officers and military leaders. While Amos had initially gone out for smaller roles in the show, he was astonished to land the part of the middle-aged version of Kinte, the shows hero. "Once I'd matured, I'd realized the mistakes I'd made in addressing my grievances about scripts. Inside John Amos' Life after Firing from 'Good Times' Including His The differences I had with the producers of the show, I felt that there was too much emphasis being put on J.J. and his chicken hat saying Dynomite! every third page, when just as much emphasis and mileage could have been gotten out of my other two children and the concomitant jokes and humor that could have come out of that., In aninterviewwithVladTV, Amos alsospoke in depth about the lack of diversity onGood Times writing team and how he believed the construction of those scripts lead to an inaccurate portrayal of African-Americans.