October 2024 has already been a tough month. As soon as the month, loved by Halloween fans, started, there was a lot of sad news. Broadway fans learned that two stars, Ken Page and Gavin Creel, had passed away, and just hours later, more heartbreak came with reports of John Amos’ death.
The month of October started off with a lot of sad news, leaving fans in shock. Just days after Dame Maggie Smith passed away, news of three heartbreaking deaths followed. John Amos’ death was especially upsetting for many fans, as he had long been seen as America’s “TV dad” from Good Times.
John Amos was 84 when he passed away on October 1st. He was still active in his acting career, with his last role in the 2023 film The Last Rifleman. No one knew he had any health problems, so his death came as a big shock, leaving people wondering what caused the loss of this legendary actor.
How did John Amos die?
Even if you’re not a fan of Good Times, the 1970s show that made Amos famous, or if you haven’t seen Roots, where he played Toby/Kunta Kinte, don’t worry — you’ve probably seen him in something else. If you’re like me, you might remember him from Die Hard 2: Die Harder, which is the second movie in the Die Hard series. But more likely, you recognize him from one of his classic TV shows.
He often appeared on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and also made guest appearances on popular shows like The New Dick Van Dyke Show and The Bill Cosby Show. His first big movie role was in 1973’s The World’s Greatest Athlete. After that, he appeared in many beloved films and shows, including Coming to America, Dr. Doolittle, Die Hard, and Madea.
Even though he often played supporting roles, Amos received many nominations and awards, including an Emmy nomination for Roots. In 2020, he was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. His legacy will live on, which is comforting for fans who are heartbroken over his unexpected death.
While his death was surprising, it doesn’t seem like it was caused by an accident or injury. He wasn’t dealing with any hidden illness, like some stars do — he passed away from natural causes.
Amos’ son, Kelly Christopher Amos, confirmed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that his father passed away on August 21, 2024, though the news wasn’t shared until more than a month later. He described his father as “a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold” and said he was loved by people all over the world. “Many fans saw him as their TV father,” he added. “He lived a good life, and his legacy will continue through his amazing work in TV and film.”
Elderly Man Always Bought Two Movie Tickets for Himself, So One Day I Decided to Find Out Why – Story of the Day
Every Monday, I watched an elderly man buy two tickets but always sit alone. Curiosity drove me to uncover his secret, so I bought a seat next to him. When he started sharing his story, I had no idea that our lives were about to intertwine in ways I could never have imagined.
The old city cinema wasn’t just a job for me. It was a place where the hum of the projector could momentarily erase the worries of the world. The scent of buttered popcorn lingered in the air, and the faded vintage posters whispered stories of a golden age I had only ever imagined.
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Every Monday morning, Edward appeared, his arrival as steady as the sunrise. He wasn’t like the regulars who rushed in, fumbling for coins or their tickets.
Edward carried himself with quiet dignity, his tall, lean frame draped in a neatly buttoned gray coat. His silver hair, combed back with precision, caught the light as he approached the counter. He always asked for the same thing.
“Two tickets for the morning movie.”
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And yet, he always came alone.
His fingers, cold from the December chill, brushed mine as I handed him the tickets. I managed a polite smile, though my mind raced with unspoken questions.
Why two tickets? Who are they for?
“Two tickets again?” Sarah teased from behind me, smirking as she rang up another customer. “Maybe it’s for some lost love. Like an old-fashioned romance, you know?”
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“Or maybe a ghost,” another coworker, Steve, chimed in, snickering. “He’s probably married to one.”
I didn’t laugh. There was something about Edward that made their jokes feel wrong.
I thought about asking him, even rehearsing a few lines in my head, but every time the moment came, my courage vanished. After all, it wasn’t my place.
***
The following Monday was different. It was my day off, and as I lay in bed, staring at the frost creeping along the edges of the window, an idea began to form.
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What if I follow him? It isn’t spying. It is… curiosity. Almost Christmas, after all—a season of wonder.
The morning air was sharp and fresh, and the holiday lights strung along the street seemed to glow brighter.
Edward was already seated when I entered the dimly lit theater, his figure outlined by the soft glow of the screen. He seemed lost in thought, his posture as straight and purposeful as ever. His eyes flickered toward me, and a faint smile crossed his lips.
“You’re not working today,” he observed.
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I slid into the seat next to him. “I thought you might need a company. I’ve seen you here so many times.”
He chuckled softly, though the sound held a trace of sadness. “It’s not about movies.”
“Then what is it?” I asked, unable to hide the curiosity in my tone.
Edward leaned back in his seat, his hands folded neatly in his lap. For a moment, he seemed hesitant, as though deciding whether or not to trust me with what he was about to say.
Then he spoke.
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“Years ago,” he began, his gaze fixed on the screen, “there was a woman who worked here. Her name was Evelyn.”
I remained quiet, sensing this wasn’t a story to rush.
“She was beautiful,” he continued, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Not in the way that turns heads but in the way that lingers. Like a melody, you can’t forget. She’d been working here. We met here, and then our story began.”
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I pictured it as he spoke: the bustling cinema, the flicker of the projector casting shadows on her face, and their quiet conversations between showings.
“One day, I invited her to a morning show on her day off,” Edward said. “She agreed.”
He paused, his voice faltering slightly. “But she never came.”
“What happened?” I whispered, leaning closer.
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“I found out later she’d been fired,” he said, his tone heavier now. “When I asked the manager for her contact information, he refused and told me never to come back. I didn’t understand why. She was just… gone.”
Edward exhaled, his gaze falling to the empty seat beside him. “I tried to move on. I got married and lived a quiet life. But after my wife passed, I started coming here again, hoping… just hoping… I don’t know.”
I swallowed hard. “She was the love of your life.”
“She was. And she still is.”
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“What do you remember about her?” I asked.
“Only her name,” Edward admitted. “Evelyn.”
“I’ll help you find her.”
At that moment, the realization of what I’d promised struck me. Evelyn had worked at the cinema, but the manager—the one who had fired her—was my father. A man who barely acknowledged my existence.
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***
Getting ready to face my father felt like preparing for a battle I wasn’t sure I could win. I adjusted the conservative jacket I’d chosen and brushed my hair back into a sleek ponytail. Every detail mattered.
My Dad, Thomas, appreciated order and professionalism—traits he lived by and judged others for.
Edward waited patiently by the door, his hat in hand, looking both apprehensive and composed. “You’re sure he’ll talk to us?”
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“No,” I admitted, pulling on my coat. “But we have to try.”
On the way to the cinema office, I found myself opening up to Edward, perhaps to calm my nerves.
“My mom had Alzheimer’s,” I explained, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. “It started while she was pregnant with me. Her memory was… unpredictable. Some days, she’d know exactly who I was. Other days, she’d look at me like I was a stranger.”
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Edward nodded solemnly. “That must have been hard for you.”
“It was,” I said. “Especially because my Dad, I call him Thomas, decided to put her in a care facility. I understand why, but over time, he just stopped visiting her. And when my grandmother passed, all the responsibility fell on me. He helped financially, but he was… absent. That’s the best way to describe him. Distant. Always distant.”
Edward didn’t say much, but his presence was grounding. When we reached the cinema, I hesitated before opening the door to Thomas’s office.
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Inside, he sat at his desk, papers meticulously arranged in front of him. His sharp, calculating eyes flicked to me, then to Edward. “What’s this about?”
“Hi, Dad. This is my friend, Edward,” I stammered.
“Go on.” His face didn’t change.
“I need to ask you about someone who worked here years ago. A woman named Evelyn.”
He froze for a fraction of a second, then leaned back in his chair. “I don’t discuss former employees.”
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“You need to make an exception,” I pressed. “Edward has been searching for her for decades. We deserve answers.”
Thomas’s gaze shifted to Edward, narrowing slightly. “I don’t owe him anything. Or you, for that matter.”
Edward spoke for the first time. “I loved her. She was everything to me.”
Thomas’s jaw tightened. “Her name wasn’t Evelyn.”
“What?” I blinked.
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“She called herself Evelyn, but her real name was Margaret,” he admitted, his words cutting through the air. “Your mother. She made up that name because she was having an affair with him,” he gestured toward Edward, “and thought I wouldn’t find out.”
The room went silent.
Edward’s face paled. “Margaret?”
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“She was pregnant when I found out,” Thomas continued bitterly. “With you, as it turned out.” He looked at me then, his cold expression faltering for the first time. “I thought cutting her off from him would make her rely on me. But it didn’t. And when you were born…”
Thomas sighed heavily. “I knew I wasn’t your father.”
My head spun, disbelief washing over me in waves. “You knew all this time?”
“I provided for her,” he said, avoiding my gaze. “For you. But I couldn’t stay.”
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Edward’s voice broke the silence. “Margaret is Evelyn?”
“She was Margaret to me,” Thomas replied stiffly. “But clearly, she wanted to be someone else with you.”
Edward sank into a chair, his hands trembling. “She never told me. I… I had no idea.”
I looked between them, my heart pounding. Thomas was not my father at all.
“I think,” I said, “we need to visit her. Together.” I glanced at Edward, then turned to Thomas, holding his gaze. “All three of us. Christmas is a time for forgiveness, and if there’s ever a moment to set things right, it’s now.”
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For a moment, I thought Thomas would scoff or dismiss the idea altogether. But to my surprise, he hesitated, his stern expression softening. Without a word, he stood, reached for his overcoat, and nodded.
“Let’s do this,” he said gruffly, slipping his arms into the coat.
***
We drove to the care facility in silence. Edward sat beside me, his hands folded tightly in his lap. Thomas was in the back seat, his posture rigid, his eyes staring out the window.
When we arrived, the holiday wreath on the facility’s door seemed oddly out of place against the surroundings.
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Mom was in her usual spot by the lounge window, her frail figure draped in a cozy cardigan. She was staring outside, her face distant, as though lost in a world far away. Her hands rested motionless in her lap even as we approached.
“Mom,” I called gently, but there was no reaction.
Edward stepped forward, his movements slow and deliberate. He looked at her.
“Evelyn.”
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The change was instant. Her head turned toward him, her eyes sharpening with recognition. It was as if a light had been switched on inside her. Slowly, she rose to her feet.
“Edward?” she whispered.
He nodded. “It’s me, Evelyn. It’s me.”
Tears welled in her eyes, and she took a shaky step forward. “You’re here.”
“I never stopped waiting,” he replied, his own eyes glistening.
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Watching them, my heart swelled with emotions I couldn’t fully name. This was their moment, but it was also mine.
I turned to Thomas, who stood a few steps behind, his hands in his pockets. His usual sternness was gone, replaced by something almost vulnerable.
“You did the right thing coming here,” I said softly.
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He gave a slight nod but said nothing. His gaze lingered on Mom and Edward, and for the first time, I saw something that looked like regret.
The snow began to fall gently outside, blanketing the world in a soft, peaceful hush.
“Let’s not end it here,” I said, breaking the quiet. “It’s Christmas. How about we go get some hot cocoa and watch a holiday movie? Together.”
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Edward’s eyes lit up. Thomas hesitated.
“That sounds… nice,” he said gruffly, but his voice softer than I’d ever heard it.
That day, four lives intertwined in ways none of us had imagined. Together, we walked into a story that had taken years to find its ending—and its new beginning.
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If you enjoyed this story, read this one: The day before Christmas, everything seemed perfect until it wasn’t. I found a receipt for a stunning necklace, signed by my husband, hidden in my sister’s coat. Was it a gift or something far worse?
This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.
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