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John Amos

Highest Rated: 86% Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You (2016)

Lowest Rated: 6% My Baby's Daddy (2004)

Birthday: Dec 27, 1939

Birthplace: Newark, New Jersey, USA

An imposing veteran actor of stage and screen, John Amos earned his greatest claim to fame as the hardworking but prideful James Evans, Sr. on the hit Norman Lear sitcom "Good Times" (CBS, 1974-79). Though only on the series for its first three seasons - the actor clashed repeatedly with producers and eventually departed - Amos earned a spot in the cultural zeitgeist with what was hailed as one of the most realistic portrayals of an African-American father at the time. In fact, his characterization set the template for other black actors to follow, most notably Bill Cosby in the next decade. Meanwhile, Amos went on to shine in a variety of projects that included the landmark miniseries "Roots" (ABC, 1977), a recurring role as a police captain on the first season of the drama "Hunter" (NBC, 1984-1991), and another recurring role as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on "The West Wing" (NBC, 1999-2006). Of course, he had a number of memorable big screen performances, playing a social climbing restaurateur in "Coming to America" (1988) and a rare villain in "Die Hard 2" (1990). Whether playing military commanders, curmudgeonly father figures or even the occasional terrorist, Amos always brought authority and gravitas to every project in which he appeared.

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Highest rated movies

86% 67% Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You Watchlist
74% 52% Ricochet
Watchlist
73% 48% Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
Watchlist
73% 85% Coming to America Watchlist
70% 90% American Flyers
Watchlist
69% 70% Die Hard 2 Watchlist
67% 62% Mac
Watchlist
67% 89% The Last Rifleman Watchlist
60% 86% Let's Do It Again
Watchlist
60% 85% Disappearing Acts
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
67% 89% The Last Rifleman Lincoln Jefferson Adams (Character) - 2023
No Score Yet 88% Block Party Unknown (Character) - 2022
No Score Yet No Score Yet Because of Charley Grandpa (Character) - 2021
49% 38% Coming 2 America Cleo McDowell (Character) - 2021
No Score Yet No Score Yet Christmas in Miami Unknown (Character) - 2021
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Truth About Santa Claus Unknown (Character) - 2019
No Score Yet No Score Yet Christmas Belles Pop Pop (Character) - 2019
86% 67% Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You Self $70.1K 2016
No Score Yet No Score Yet Tamales and Gumbo The Patron (Character) - 2015
No Score Yet 27% Bad Asses on the Bayou Earl (Character) - 2015
No Score Yet No Score Yet Act of Faith Unknown (Character) - 2014
No Score Yet 33% Althea Executive Producer - 2014
No Score Yet No Score Yet American Lowrider Slick (Character) - 2013
No Score Yet 95% Zombie Hamlet Edgar Mortimer (Character),
Producer
- 2012
19% 66% Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection Pastor Nelson (Character) $65.6M 2012
No Score Yet 45% Dr. Dolittle 3 Jud Jones (Character) - 2006
No Score Yet No Score Yet Shadowboxing Elaydzha (Character) - 2005
No Score Yet 17% Voodoo Moon Dutch (Character) - 2005
6% 50% My Baby's Daddy Uncle Virgil (Character) $17.3M 2004
No Score Yet 62% The Watermelon Heist Old Man Amos (Character) - 2003
No Score Yet No Score Yet Ralph Ellison: An American Journey Unknown (Character) - 2002
60% 85% Disappearing Acts Mr. Swift (Character) - 2000
No Score Yet 88% Something to Sing About Rev. Washington (Character) - 2000
No Score Yet 12% All Over Again Coach Zeller (Character) - 2000
35% 85% The Players Club Freeman (Character) $23.0M 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet A Woman Like That Unknown (Character) - 1997
No Score Yet No Score Yet Walker, Texas Ranger: Sons of Thunder Pastor Roscoe Jones (Character) - 1997
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Rockford Files: Murder and Misdemeanors Booker Hutch (Character) - 1997
No Score Yet 12% For Better or Worse Gray (Character) $25.9K 1996
No Score Yet 29% Hologram Man Wes Strickland (Character) - 1995
No Score Yet 0% Mardi Gras for the Devil Capt. Hodges (Character) - 1993
67% 62% Mac Nat (Character) $466.8K 1992
74% 52% Ricochet Reverend Styles (Character) $20.6M 1991
69% 70% Die Hard 2 Maj. Grant (Character) $115.3M 1990
31% 50% Lock Up Captain Meissner (Character) $20.3M 1989
73% 85% Coming to America Cleo McDowell (Character) $128.1M 1988
No Score Yet 20% Bonanza: The Next Generation Mr. Mack (Character) - 1988
70% 90% American Flyers Dr. Conrad (Character) - 1985
No Score Yet No Score Yet Dance of the Dwarfs Esteban (Character) - 1983
46% 54% The BeastMaster Seth (Character) - 1982
No Score Yet 81% Touched by Love Tony (Character) - 1980
No Score Yet No Score Yet Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story Bumpy Johnson (Character) - 1980
No Score Yet No Score Yet Cops and Robin Officer Bill Bundy (Character) - 1978
No Score Yet No Score Yet Future Cop Officer Bill Bundy (Character) - 1976
60% 86% Let's Do It Again Kansas City Mack (Character) - 1975
No Score Yet 35% The World's Greatest Athlete Coach Sam Archer (Character) - 1973
73% 48% Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song Biker (Character) - 1971

TV

Credit
No Score Yet 96% Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell Unknown (Guest Star) 2019
No Score Yet No Score Yet 20/20 Guest 2018
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Wendy Williams Show Guest 2017
43% No Score Yet NYC 22 Unknown (Guest Star) 2012
No Score Yet 86% Lie to Me Jim Weaver (Guest Star) 2010
78% 92% 30 Rock John Amos (Guest Star) 2010
94% 78% Royal Pains Harrison Phillips (Guest Star) 2010
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Mo'Nique Show Guest 2010
65% 66% Two and a Half Men Ed (Guest Star) 2010
82% 88% My Name Is Earl Joe (Guest Star) 2008
56% No Score Yet Men in Trees Buzz Washington (Character) 2006-2008
81% 95% The West Wing Percy Fitzwallace (Character),
Unknown (Guest Star)
1999-2000 2002-2004
64% No Score Yet All About the Andersons Joe Anderson (Character) 2003-2004
No Score Yet No Score Yet The District Unknown (Guest Star) 2000-2001
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Outer Limits Peter 'Yas' Yastrzemski (Guest Star) 2000
No Score Yet 77% King of the Hill Glen Johnson (Guest Voice) 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet In the House Unknown (Character),
Unknown (Guest Star)
1995-1997
No Score Yet No Score Yet Walker, Texas Ranger Unknown (Guest Star) 1997
No Score Yet 93% Martin Unknown (Guest Star) 1997
No Score Yet 91% The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Unknown (Guest Star) 1994-1995
No Score Yet No Score Yet Touched by an Angel Unknown (Guest Star) 1995
33% No Score Yet 704 Hauser Ernie Cumberbatch (Character) 1994
No Score Yet 68% The Cosby Show Unknown (Guest Star) 1988
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hunter Captain Dolan (Guest Star) 1984-1985
No Score Yet No Score Yet Trapper John, M.D. Unknown (Guest Star) 1984
No Score Yet No Score Yet Future Cop Officer Bill Bundy (Character) 1976-1977
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Mary Tyler Moore Show Gordy Howard (Guest Star) 1970-1973 1977
76% 64% Roots Older Kunta Kinte / Toby (Character) 1977
No Score Yet No Score Yet Good Times James Evans (Character) 1974-1976
No Score Yet No Score Yet Maude Henry Evans (Character) 1973-1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet Sanford and Son Unknown (Guest Star) 1973
No Score Yet No Score Yet The New Dick Van Dyke Show Unknown (Guest Star) 1972