---
name: "John Amos"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/john-amos"
fi1m_id: "john-amos"
imdb_id: "nm0025309"
tmdb_id: 22384
wikidata_id: "Q498820"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "27 December 1939"
died: "21 August 2024"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 78
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-09-26T17:23:48.605389+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# John Amos

## Identity

John Amos

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/john-amos
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** john-amos
- **IMDb ID:** nm0025309
- **TMDB ID:** 22384
- **Wikidata ID:** Q498820
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Amos, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q498820, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0025309/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/22384

Actor. Born 27 December 1939 in Newark, New Jersey, USA. Died 21 August 2024.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 27 December 1939, Newark, New Jersey, USA
- **Died:** 21 August 2024
- **Active:** 1970–1990
- **Also known as:** Jon Amos, Johnny Amos, John A. Amos Jr., John Allen Amos Jr.
- **Average Fi1m score:** 78, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 81 (3), 1980s 76 (1), 1990s 70 (1)
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Action 2, Comedy 2, Drama 2, Thriller 2, Crime 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 6 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $544m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Amos, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q498820, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0025309/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/22384

## Streaming the US now

- **AMC+:** [*Coming to America*](https://film.one/film/coming-to-america.md) (76)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

John Amos (1939–2024) was an American actor. He played Cleo McDowell in the 1988 film *Coming to America* and reprised the role in the 2021 sequel *Coming 2 America*. He appeared in other films including *Lock Up* (1989), *Die Hard 2* (1990) and *Uncut Gems* (2019).

Amos was born in Newark, New Jersey, and played college football at Colorado State University before brief professional tryouts with the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs. He began his acting career in the late 1960s and became best known for portraying James Evans Sr. on the television series *Good Times* (1974–1976) and the adult Kunta Kinte in the 1977 miniseries *Roots*, for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, themoviedb.org, nydailynews.com.*

## On Fi1m (5)

- *Die Hard 2* (1990), Fi1m 70, as Major Grant — [page](https://film.one/film/die-hard-2.md)
- *Coming to America* (1988), Fi1m 76, as Cleo McDowell — [page](https://film.one/film/coming-to-america.md)
- *Roots* (1977), Fi1m 83, as Kunta Kinte — [page](https://film.one/tv/roots.md)
- *Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song* (1971), Fi1m 72, as Biker — [page](https://film.one/film/sweet-sweetbacks-baadasssss-song.md)
- *The Mary Tyler Moore Show* (1970), Fi1m 88, as Gordy Howard — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mary-tyler-moore-show.md)

## Complete filmography (99)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Suits LA* (2025), series, as John Amos · In Memory Of
- *The Last Rifleman* (2023), as Lincoln Jefferson Adams
- *Me Time* (2022), as Gil
- *Block Party* (2022), as Dennis
- *Christmas in Miami* (2021), as Chief Host
- *Because of Charley* (2021), as Grandpa
- *Coming 2 America* (2021), as Cleo McDowell
- *The Truth About Santa Claus* (2020), as Bob
- *Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"* (2019), as Fred Davis
- *Christmas Belles* (2019), as Pop Pop
- *Uncut Gems* (2019), as Neighbor 33F — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/uncut-gems.md)
- *The Last O.G.* (2018), series, as Uncle D
- *The Ranch* (2016), series, as Ed
- *Tamales and Gumbo* (2015), as The Patron
- *Ballers* (2015), series, as Deacon Eller
- *Mercy for Angels* (2015), as God
- *Bad Asses on the Bayou* (2015), as Earl
- *Althea* (2014), Executive Producer
- *Act of Faith* (2014), as Mr. Brady
- *American Lowrider* (2013), as Slick
- *Madea's Witness Protection* (2012), as Pastor Nelson
- *NYC 22* (2012), series, as Pappy Science
- *Zombie Hamlet* (2012), as Edgar Mortimer
- *Royal Pains* (2009), series, as Harrison Phillips
- *Lie to Me* (2009), series, as Jim Weaver
- *All Over Again* (2007), as Coach Zeller
- *Ascension Day* (2007), as Henry
- *30 Rock* (2006), series, as John Amos — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/30-rock.md)
- *Men in Trees* (2006), series, as Buzz Washington
- *Psych* (2006), series, as Uncle Burton
- *Voodoo Moon* (2006), as Dutch
- *Dr. Dolittle 3* (2006), as Jud
- *My Name Is Earl* (2005), series, as Joe — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/my-name-is-earl.md)
- *Shadowboxing* (2005), as Хилл
- *Countdown* (2004), as Admiral Melory
- *My Baby's Daddy* (2004), as Uncle Virgil
- *TV in Black: The First Fifty Years* (2004), as (archive footage)
- *Two and a Half Men* (2003), series, as Ed — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/tv/two-and-a-half-men.md)
- *All About the Andersons* (2003), series, as Joe Anderson
- *The Watermelon Heist* (2003), as Old Man Amos
- *Disappearing Acts* (2000), as Mr. Swift
- *The District* (2000), series, as Ethan Baker
- *Something to Sing About* (2000), as Rev. Washington
- *The West Wing* (1999), series, as Percy Fitzwallace — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-west-wing.md)
- *The Players Club* (1998), as Freeman
- *The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda* (1997), as Booker Hutch
- *King of the Hill* (1997), series, as Glen Johnson (voice) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/king-of-the-hill-1997.md)
- *Hologram Man* (1995), as Wes Strickland
- *In the House* (1995), series, Actor
- *The Outer Limits* (1995), series, as Peter 'Yas' Yastrzemski
- *For Better or Worse* (1995), as Gray
- *Touched by an Angel* (1994), series, as James Mackey
- *704 Hauser* (1994), series, as Ernie Cumberbatch
- *Night Trap* (1993), as Capt. Hodges
- *Walker, Texas Ranger* (1993), series, as Pastor Roscoe Jones
- *Mac* (1992), as Nat
- *Martin* (1992), series, as Sgt. Strawn
- *Ricochet* (1991), as Reverend Styles
- *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air* (1990), series, as Fred Wilkes
- *Die Hard 2* (1990), as Major Grant — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/die-hard-2.md)
- *Two Evil Eyes* (1990), as Det. Legrand
- *Lock Up* (1989), as Captain Meissner
- *Coming to America* (1988), as Cleo McDowell — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/coming-to-america.md)
- *Bonanza: The Next Generation* (1988), as Mr. Mack
- *Beauty and the Beast* (1987), series, as Farrell
- *Shark's Paradise* (1986), as Taxi Driver
- *American Flyers* (1985), as Dr. Conrad
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Doc Penrose
- *The Cosby Show* (1984), series, as Dr. Herbert
- *Hunter* (1984), series, as Captain Dolan
- *Hardcastle and McCormick* (1983), series, as Albie Meadows
- *Dance of the Dwarfs* (1983), as Esteban
- *The A-Team* (1983), series, as Rev. Taylor
- *The Beastmaster* (1982), as Seth
- *Here's Boomer* (1981), series, Actor
- *Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story* (1980), as Bumpy Johnson
- *Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story* (1980), series, as Bumpy Johnson
- *Touched by Love* (1980), as Tony
- *Willa* (1979), as Virgil
- *Cops and Robin* (1978), as Officer Bill Bundy
- *The Love Boat* (1977), series, as Duke Taylor
- *Future Cop* (1977), series, as Bill Bundy
- *Roots* (1977), series, as Toby, Kunta Kinte — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/roots.md)
- *Roots: The Complete Miniseries* (1977), series, as Older Kunta Kinte
- *Future Cop* (1976), as Officer Bill Bundy
- *Let's Do It Again* (1975), as Kansas City Mack
- *Good Times* (1974), series, as James Evans Sr.
- *The President's Plane Is Missing* (1973), as Marine Corporal
- *Police Story* (1973), series, as Walt Kyles
- *The World's Greatest Athlete* (1973), as Coach Sam Archer
- *Sanford and Son* (1972), series, Actor
- *The New Dick Van Dyke Show* (1971), series, as Mark Cooper
- *The Funny Side* (1971), series, as Minority Husband
- *Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song* (1971), as Biker — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/sweet-sweetbacks-baadasssss-song.md)
- *Vanishing Point* (1971), as Super Soul's Engineer (uncredited)
- *The Mary Tyler Moore Show* (1970), series, as Gordy Howard — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mary-tyler-moore-show.md)
- *Love, American Style* (1969), series, as Bell Captain
- *Devotion*, as Roger
- *Future Cop: Cops and Robin*, as Officer Bundy

## Gallery

- ![March 10, 2011 - Their Voices, Their Stories African-American Veterans Who Served on Iwo Jima. Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero and Actor/Produc](https://film.one/media/person/119485/gallery-ca23ef6b9573.jpg) March 10, 2011 - Their Voices, Their Stories African-American Veterans Who Served on Iwo Jima. Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero and Actor/Produc — U.S. National Archives, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/David_S._Ferriero_and_John_Amos_2011.jpg/1280px-David_S._Ferriero_and_John_Amos_2011.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![John Amos](https://film.one/media/person/119485/gallery-8e47b0d4379f.jpg) John Amos — U.S. National Archives, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/John_Amos_2011.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Annapolis, MD (Aug. 8)--John Amos takes a moment to chat with crewmembers of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Cochito before the Coast Guard Band concert. Amos is gu (2001)](https://film.one/media/person/119485/gallery-b460c43505f9.jpg) Annapolis, MD (Aug. 8)--John Amos takes a moment to chat with crewmembers of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Cochito before the Coast Guard Band concert. Amos is gu (2001) — Telfair H. Brown, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/John_Amos_takes_a_moment_to_chat_with_crewmembers_of_the_U.S._Coast_Guard_Cutter_Cochito.jpg/1280px-John_Amos_takes_a_moment_to_chat_with_crewmembers_of_the_U.S._Coast_Guard_Cutter_Cochito.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![American actor John Amos, a big advocate of the Coast Guard, is interviewed by local and national media. He later boarded a Coast Guard Auxiliary boat along wit (2000)](https://film.one/media/person/119485/gallery-9f623269559c.jpg) American actor John Amos, a big advocate of the Coast Guard, is interviewed by local and national media. He later boarded a Coast Guard Auxiliary boat along wit (2000) — United States Coast Guard, PA1 Telfair H. Brown, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/John_Amos_with_USCG.jpg/1280px-John_Amos_with_USCG.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![John Amos](https://film.one/media/person/119485/gallery-b368a42c6d69.jpg) John Amos — Image via TMDB
- ![John Amos](https://film.one/media/person/119485/gallery-440a2fb82178.jpg) John Amos — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won

- New Jersey Hall of Fame 2019: New Jersey Hall of Fame (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/john-amos