John Amos

infobox actor
name = John Amos

---

imagesize =
caption = Amos at the Coast Guard Activity in New York, July 2000
birthdate = birth date and age|1939|12|27
birthplace = Newark, New Jersey, United States
occupation = Actor, Athlete
yearsactive = 1970 - present

John Amos (born December 27, 1939) is an American actor and former football player who has received both a Primetime Emmy Award and the NAACP Image Award. Best known for his TV roles on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", "Good Times", his Emmy-nominated turn in the miniseries "Roots", and a recurring role in "The West Wing", he has also appeared on Broadway and in numerous motion pictures in a career that spans four decades.

Early life

Amos was born John Amos, Jr. in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Annabelle P. and John A. Amos, Sr., who was an auto mechanic. [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/25/John-Amos.html John Amos Biography (1939?-) ] ] He attended Colorado State University. [ [http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800033206/bio John Amos Biography - Yahoo! Movies ] ] Amos was a Golden Gloves boxing champion. In 1967, he had a tryout with the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs (he was released in training camp, though he did play semi-pro football for the Wheeling Ironmen in West Virginia.)

Career

"Good Times"

Amos is perhaps best known for playing the characters of Gordy Howard, the weatherman on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", from 1970 until 1973 and James Evans, Sr., the role of the sporadically-unemployed husband of Florida Evans, first appearing three times on the sitcom Maude, and then recreated the role in 63 episodes of "Good Times" from 1974 to 1976. Although he played the part of the chronically unemployed father of three on the show, in reality Amos is only eight years older than the actor who played his oldest son: Jimmie Walker, and nearly 20 years younger than his screen wife, Esther Rolle. Amos, much like series' co-star Esther Rolle, wanted to portray a positive image of an African American family, struggling against the odds in the ghetto of Chicago, but saw the premise slighted by lighter comedy, and expressed his dissatisfaction. Unhappy with the scripts and tension with the producers, he was fired from the show after the third season. Instead of writing out his character, they wrote that James Evans died in a car accident and continued the series without him.

Other television roles

Amos was part of the Emmy award winning cast on the miniseries "Roots", playing the adult Kunta Kinte in 1977. He also portrayed Captain Dolan on television show "Hunter" from 1984 to 1985. He co-starred in the CBS police drama "The District", and guest-starred on a number of other television programs including "The Cosby Show", "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air", "In the House", "The A-Team", and "Martin" as Sgt. Hamilton Strawn (Tommy's father). He was a frequent guest on "The West Wing", portraying Admiral Percy Fitzwallace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He played a pilot, Buzz Washington, in a remote Alaskan town in the ABC series, "Men in Trees". He also appeared in a Season 1 episode of "Touched by An Angel," although he was credited as Jon (not John) Amos. Most recently, he guest starred on USA Network's original drama/comedy "Psych". Amos costarred with Anthony Anderson in the TV series "All About the Andersons" in 2003 and made an appearance on My Name Is Earl in September 2008.

Stage
Amos is the writer and producer of "Halley's Comet" a critically acclaimed one man play that he performs to sold out audiences around the world.

Projects In Development
Back In Shape With John Amos and T and "Gangs At Sea"

Film roles

Amos has had roles in several films, such as "Coming to America", "Vanishing Point", "The Beastmaster" and "Die Hard 2". He also starred in "Let's Do It Again" (1975) as Kansas City Mack with Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier. Amos was also featured in the movie "The World's Greatest Athlete" with Tim Conway and Jan-Michael Vincent. He was also in Ice Cube's and Dr. Dre's video for "Natural Born Killaz" and played a police officer in "The Players Club". Amos also played Prison Capt. Meissner, co-starring with Sylvester Stallone in the 1989 movie Lock Up.

Amos is currently represented by Hollywood agent Preeth Kumar Sangavaram, who also manages the careers of Arsenio Hall and Eriq La Salle, both of whom appeared with Amos in the 1988 comedy "Coming to America".

Awards

Amos has the distinction of winning more TV Land Awards than anyone, taking home trophies for his roles on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", "Good Times" and the TV miniseries "Roots".

Personal life

John Amos is a veteran of the 50th Armored Division of the New Jersey National Guard and Honorary Master Chief of the U.S. Coast Guard. [ [http://www.wkrn.com/nashville/news/harley-ride-celebrates-veterans/128115.htm#top Harley Ride Celebrates Veterans | WKRN.COM ] ] He is father to daughter Shannon and son KC--grandfather to Quiera and Jhazz.

Quotes

"There are three stages to an actor's career: who is John Amos, get me John Amos, and get me a young John Amos!"

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0025309|name=John Amos (I)
*ibdb name|id=104492|name=John Amos
*amg name|2:1409
*tvtome person|id=5405|name=John Amos

Persondata
NAME= Amos, John
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Amos, John Jr.
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Actor, Athlete
DATE OF BIRTH= December 27, 1939
PLACE OF BIRTH= Newark, New Jersey, United States
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=