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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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 . By this time he had secured secondary work on the classic The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970) as Gordy the weatherman. He tried his best to avoid the dim-headed lugs and crime-motivated characters that came his way. Here are ten of his best episodes to look for on getTV: 1. I felt that with two other younger children, one of whom aspired to become a Supreme Court justicethat would be Ralph Carter or Michaeland the other, Bernadette Stanis, she aspired to become a surgeon. 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'. In an article, K.C. ga('ads.send', { I found early on in my acting career that I couldnt resort to the same release of pressure valves: to haul off and hit a writer, who had given me some bad material, with a forearm smash., After three seasons of critical acclaim and high ratings, Amos was unceremoniously fired from the show. He is extremely versatile in the roles that he has played both on television as well as on the big screen. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Along with a few parts (the mini-movie Willa (1979) and the films The Beastmaster (1982) and Coming to America (1988)), he had to endure the mediocre (guest spots on The Love Boat (1977), "The A-Team", "Murder, She Wrote" "One Life to Live"). Other series which John has either appeared in supporting or guest roles include CBS's The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The District, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Martin, and Maude. }); Each and every working experience that I had as a young man and then later in my life served me in good stead as an actor, because they all gave me hands-on experience.. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), My Dad met & fell in love w/ my Mom while attending college at Colorado State University. Amos had harbored football dreams out of college as a path to economic freedom and signed a contract with the Denver Broncos before getting injured; he drifted around various minor and professional football leagues before flaming out. All Rights Reserved. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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. John Amos Talks 'Good Times,' 'Roots' and Career - TVLine 'Sex and the City' Cast: Where Are They Now? The Cast of 'Hanging with Mr. Cooper:' Where Are They Now? On Tuesday night, he was reunited with legendary television producer Norman Lear . eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), His on-screen wife on the show was Esther Rolle. The actor and his kids have portrayed their bond via several posts on their social media. 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. Over the years, he's also been deemed the ideal Black father, with his take-no-mess persona. As Salon reports, shows like "All In The Family" offered a gritty and unflinching look at issues such as racism . One of the pictures Shannon shared showed John posing with her daughter and his granddaughter, Quiera Williams. I thought that somewhere, God is proving that he has a sense of humor, he says. 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! Calling my daddy now! another read, while yet another person commented, So moved by this, dear Shannon. hitType: 'event', When asked if those feelings led to his being kicked out of the show, John said Lear categorized him as a "disruptive element" when he called him to inform him about his sacking. These were teenagers who werent a threat to society: they just caught a bad break at a bad time, he recalls. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); xhr.send(payload); On June 16, 2020, Shannon shared her parents' wedding picture and described how they fell in love while attending Colorado State University. If you have any concerns about the accuracy of our content, please reach out to our editors by e-mailing They said, What are you doing right now? eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), media-tech companies with hubs around the world. 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. Good Times The Very Last Episode James Appeared In! John Amos Last 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. John Amos - Biography - IMDb The case involved Mildred Loving, a black woman, and her white husband, Richard loving, who in 1958 were sentenced to a year in prison for marrying each other. 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. One of them read, This video needs a tear jerker warning. Amos is not just a great father but also an adoring lover and a husband. After about the third one, I turned into a human fountain, he recalls. On May 25, John also shared a TikTok video K.C. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { } On-screen, he was married to Florida Evansplayed by Esther Rolleand they had three grown children: J.J.; Thelma; and Michael. 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John Amos (born December 27, 1939) played the part of James Evans Sr. in the first three seasons of Good Times. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ ga('ads.send', { Everything changed that day. let gads_event; In November of 2022, John uploaded a video on the internet showing him and K.C. 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 ); window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { John Amos has had an illustrious career both as a sportsman and as an actor. },false) John Amos on Norman Lear, Good Times, Live in Front of a Studio He had the opportunity to address institutional grievancesbut he never had to raise his voice or become demonstrative in his feelings to the point that it became so one-sided. 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. In a chat with Vulture, he said being the first Black father of a complete family on television meant he shouldered a huge responsibility. At the beginning of the third season, Amos delayed taping for a week as part of a contract dispute a source described to the magazine as being about "more than money," but also about his objections to the show reinforcing "how Black men have been treated in this country all along." 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. Well, if youre ready, lets start. Amos, who is also known for his work in Die Hard 2 and The West Wing, is set to reprise his role alongside Eddie Murphy in next years long-awaited comedy sequel to 1988s Coming to America. 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. Maybe you know about John Amos very well But do you know how old and tall is he, and what is his net worth in 2023? John Amos Played James Evans, Sr. on "Good Times." See Him Now - Yahoo! document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { } ", John went on to earn a Los Angeles Drama Critics nomination for "Best Actor". It was tooth and nail over what we felt was right. 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. Good Times: John Amos' Biracial Daughter Shows Off Mom & Follows In Pop In a Vlad TV interview, John gave more insight into his firing from the cast and his relationship with Lear afterward. Amos has been married two times. 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. GOOD TIMES - 10 Episodes of Norman Lear's 1970s Classic Featuring John pg.acq.push(function() { On the bright side, he won the recurring role of the sporadically-unemployed husband of maid Florida Evans (played by Esther Rolle) on Norman Lear's Maude (1972) starring Bea Arthur. 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. Much to the chagrin of the shows supporters, James Evanswas killed during the height ofGood Times popularity. }); 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. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ READ THIS NEXT:See '70s Teen Idol Robby Benson Now at 66. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); Obituaries from the Perry County Times (3/4/23) - pennlive.com Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! The show ran for six seasons from 1974 to 1979, but sadly, Amos character was killed in the first episode of the fourth season. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital In 2017, Amos released his first children's book, A World Without Color, a children's tale of a young boy living in the gray, mundane town of Bleakersville before it comes to be inhabited by characters who bring color to it. Our content is fact checked by our senior editorial staff to reflect accuracy and ensure our readers get His on-screen wife on the show was Esther Rolle. What really could have been passed off as pedestrian comedy became an actors lesson in how you get people togetherCloris Leachman, Mary and so many wonderful, wonderful actors with good materialto become a life form, almost., Even though Amos was sharing space with comedic legends, finding steady work wasnt always easy. pg.acq.push(function() { John was 34 when "Good Times" began production in 1973. A Complete List of Christmas Movies Coming to Hallmark, Lifetime & More in 2019, The Black Shows That Revolutionized TV, from 'Julia' and 'The Jeffersons' to 'Empire', Janet Jackson Was 'Like a Little Sister' to 'Good Times' Costar BernNadette Stanis: 'Sweet as Pie'. Amos. John Amos and Esther Rolle, 1974. ABC's Live in Front of a Studio Audience got off to a rousing start thanks to Good Times. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. She also had two children: Rani DuBois, and Raj Kristo Gupta, who died of cancer in 1987 at 36. With the 'Live in Front of a Studio Audience: All in the Family and Good Times' special heading our way, it only makes sense to wonder where the main cast of the original that we so loved and adored is these days. He makes the transition seamlessly, and he is an award-winning actor as well. I love the way that Aaron Sorkin had written this characters dialogue, as it reflected on the mans position and the military, he says. [emailprotected]. 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}} hitType: 'event', Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLEs free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. interview with the American Archive of Television. eventAction: 'render' Theirs was an interracial marriage that lasted from 1965 to 1975. For many, Good Timeswas the first and only glimpse into the dynamic of the African-American household. (CBS) Consistency is one of the biggest paradigms in television comedy, and no show has maintained it better than the 70s sitcom 'Good Times'. Amos has one grand child,a grand-daughter, Quiera Williams. This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. Past Commencement Speakers & Honorary Degree Recipients. The U.S. Supreme court struck down laws banning interracial marriage. Two marriages and two children later, Amos has been a resident of Tewksbury Township, New Jersey. },false) reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. Known for his distaste for former president Barrack Obama, and support for sitting president Donald Trump, Walker still travels nationwide, touring for his stand up comedy routine. 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.. There were several examples where I said, No, you dont do these things. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ John felt the show would have gotten a great deal of mileage out of Thelma and Michael's aspirations to become a Supreme Court justice and surgeon. With each woman, he had two children. 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. 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. 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.