John Amos, the talented television actor recognized for his performances in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Good Times, The West Wing, and Roots, has passed away at the age of 84.
His family shared that Amos died of natural causes in his Los Angeles home on August 21, but the announcement was only made public today.
“With deep sadness, I announce that my father has transitioned,” his son, Kelly Christopher Amos, said in a statement to Deadline. “He was a man with an incredibly kind heart and a golden spirit… loved by people everywhere. Many fans regarded him as their TV father.”
Born on December 27, 1939, in Newark, New Jersey, Amos initially pursued a career in football, playing in the Continental Football League and the Atlantic Coast Football League. He was signed by the Denver Broncos in 1964 but was released before the season due to an injury.
His acting career, however, proved more successful. He gained recognition as weatherman Gordy Howard on the popular sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show, a role he held from 1970 to 1973.
Amos is best remembered for his portrayal of James Evans, the father in the classic sitcom Good Times. At just 34 years old when he was cast, he convincingly depicted a hardworking father of three living in a low-income housing project.
The show was lauded for its exploration of significant issues like poverty and racism. However, as the series progressed, Amos had disagreements with the writers and producers regarding the portrayal of Black families and the show’s shift toward broader comedic themes. After season 3, he was let go, and his character met his end in a car accident.
Shortly thereafter, Amos took on another defining role as the adult Kunta Kinte in the groundbreaking miniseries Roots, for which he received an Emmy nomination.
He is also known for his role as Admiral Percy Fitzwallace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in the political drama The West Wing. Additionally, he had recurring roles in Two and a Half Men and The Ranch.
Among his notable film credits are Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, Die Hard 2, Coming to America, and its sequel.
“He led a fulfilling life, and his legacy will endure through his remarkable contributions to television and film,” his son expressed in the statement. “My father cherished his work as an actor throughout his life.”
“He was my father, my closest friend, and my hero. I appreciate your prayers and support during this difficult time.”
Meg Ryan’s Shocking Transformation: See How She Looks Now After Quitting Acting!
Meg Ryan was born in Fairfield, Connecticut, in 1961. Her parents got divorced when she was a teenager, which made life tough for her.
But Meg’s charm and talent shone through, and she became a big star in Hollywood. You might remember her from movies like Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail.
People loved Meg Ryan because she was both pretty and kind. She became known as “America’s sweetheart” because of her popularity.
After becoming famous, Meg Ryan chose to step back from acting and spend more time with her family. This decision came after her well-known relationship with actor Russell Crowe, which caused a lot of attention until they broke up for good.
Because of this, Meg decided to take a break from being in the public eye to avoid more issues.
Meg Ryan’s acting journey began while she was studying journalism at the University of Connecticut and New York University. She started acting in commercials.
Later, Meg starred in the movie Innerspace, where she met her future husband, Dennis Quaid.
Meg Ryan made her acting debut in the movie Top Gun, where she played the wife of Nick “Goose” Bradshaw, played by Anthony Edwards. Meg and Anthony had a romantic relationship while filming, which lasted for some time.
Director Joe Dante thought Meg’s success in Armed and Dangerous, where she starred alongside John Candy, was a big deal for her career. That’s why her role in Top Gun was important.
Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid, her co-star from Innerspace, felt an instant connection. They described it as feeling like a bolt of lightning. But after ten years of marriage, they got divorced.
There were rumors that Meg Ryan was dating her co-star Russell Crowe before her divorce. Meg said her marriage ended because of her husband’s affair, not because of Crowe.
Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid seemed like a perfect couple, but their marriage ended after eight years. In an interview, Meg talked about how her husband’s affair hurt her.
Even though Meg said Russell Crowe wasn’t to blame for her breakup, Dennis Quaid disagreed. He said he couldn’t believe she kept talking about their relationship in public.
While Meg Ryan said their marriage wasn’t healthy, Dennis Quaid said they still loved each other and had good memories of their 13-year marriage.
Even though they got divorced, they still support each other publicly. They also have a son named Jack, who’s now in the movie business. You might recognize him from The Hunger Games.
Meg Ryan has been acting for a long time and has been in many movies, like When Harry Met Sally.
In 2006, Meg Ryan decided to grow her family and adopted a 14-month-old girl from China named Daisy.
Meg said that even though adopting Daisy was different from having her son Jack, she still felt the same love and connection.
Meg Ryan hasn’t been in the spotlight much lately because she took a break from acting. But her friends say she’s thinking about coming back to Hollywood.
Even though she’s 60 years old, Meg still looks youthful and radiant. We’re excited to see her on the big screen again soon!
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