Good Times star John Amos has died. His son, K.C., just announced that Amos passed on August 21, 2024, of natural causes. He was 84 years old.

Amos played no nonsense husband and father James Evans Sr. in Good Times, which was the first sitcom centered around a Black family. He starred in the first three seasons, starting in 1974, but was fired for being outspoken about some of the show’s stereotypes and focus on J.J.’s antics rather than the other children who were more ambitious.

He was born in Newark, New Jersey on December 27, 1939, and his interest in performing began after attending a taping of The Archie Show radio program. Amos played football at Colorado State University and attended tryouts for the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs. Moving on to the entertainment industry, he was a standup comedian, and a writer and performer on The Leslie Uggams Show.

Amos appeared on Broadway in director Carl Reiner’s production of Tough to Get Help, then his first big movie was Melvin Van Peebles’ blaxploitation film Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song. His acting career took off when he played weatherman Gordy Howard on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

He was nominated for an Emmy for his work in the miniseries, Roots, he was in The Beastmaster, and had a recurring role in Hunter. Amos played fast food restaurant manager Cleo McDowell in Coming to America and he was Major Grant in Die Hard 2. He starred in the miniseries 704 Hauser, did a few episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and he had a recurring role in The District.

Amos had a recurring role as Admiral Fitzwallace in The West Wing, starred in the series Men in Trees, and he was in a few episodes of The Ranchi. His later roles included Uncut Gems, he played Cleo again for Coming 2 America, and his final role was in 2023’s The Last Rifleman.