The news about John Amos, famous for his role in Good Times, was shared on Tuesday by his son, Kelly Christopher Amos. According to The New York Times, John’s publicist, Belinda Foster, confirmed the actor’s passing at the age of 84 on August 21.
Kelly Christopher expressed his grief in a statement reported by Variety:
“It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned.”
He honored his late father, describing him as someone with “a heart of gold,”noting that many viewers of the 1970s sitcom saw John as their “TV father.”KC further stated:
“He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor. My father loved working as an actor throughout his entire life… most recently in ‘Suits LA’ playing himself and our documentary about his life journey as an actor, ‘America’s Dad.’ He was my dad, my best friend, and my hero. Thank you for your prayers and support at this time.”
John gained prominence as James Evans Sr., the patriarch of the Evans family on CBS’s Good Times. Despite the show being a pioneering sitcom that showcased positive Black role models, John and co-star Esther Rolle were vocal critics of the writing for its overly sentimental tone.
A clash of ideologies with executive producer Norman Lear ultimately led to John Amos losing his role on the show. He was forced to exit Good Times in 1976 after just three seasons.
John Amos previously addressed the conflict on the Good Times set
John Amos openly expressed his concerns regarding the portrayal of a Black family in Good Times. He was particularly frustrated by the stereotype presented in the character of J.J. Evans, played by Jimmie Walker, noting that the writers consistently had J.J. repeat the phrase “Dyn-o-mite!”in almost every episode.
Both John and Esther, who portrayed James’ wife Florida, believed that the show disproportionately focused on J.J. in a comedic and buffoonish manner.
They viewed this approach as reminiscent of how white actors had historically caricatured Black characters in 19th-century comedies.
John Amos and Esther shared concerns that the portrayal of J.J. undermined what could have been a more uplifting representation for Black audiences.
John also took issue with the representation of James Evans’ other children, Thelma (played by Bern Nadette Stanis) and Michael (played by Ralph Carter). While Michael aspired to be a Supreme Court Justice, Thelma dreamed of becoming a surgeon. In a 2014 interview with the Archive of American Television, John Amos stated:
“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 ‘Dyn-o-mite!’ 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.”
Ultimately, John Amos felt that the writers were indifferent to his insights based on his real-life experiences as a Black man. The ongoing conflict led him to leave Good Times. He shared:
“I left because I was told that my services were no longer needed because I had become a ‘disruptive element.’ In other words, I didn’t have the diplomacy that I think I’ve cultivated over the last 10 or 15 years.”
John humorously remarked that the creative team was unable to handle his honest feedback about the script’s inaccuracies, adding:
“I mean, the writers got tired of having their lives threatened over jokes.”
Despite this setback, John Amos continued to prosper in his acting career, receiving an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of an adult Kunta Kinte in the acclaimed 1977 miniseries Roots.
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