Reflecting on the remarkable life of Jimmie Walker, one cannot help but be moved by his extraordinary journey. Born and raised in the Bronx, he rose to fame as J.J., the lovable, bumbling yet wise character from the iconic sitcom “Good Times.” However, it was off-screen where he truly shone, touching the lives of countless individuals who saw him not just as an actor, but as a father figure.
John Amos, a former screenwriter who later became an Emmy-nominated actor famously known for portraying the stern father on Good Times, passed away at the age of 84. Notably, he was dismissed from the groundbreaking sitcom due to his temper, which on occasion, got the better of him.
Amos died Aug. 21 in Los Angeles of natural causes, his son Kelly Christopher Amos announced.
With deep sorrow, I want to inform you all that my beloved father has passed away,” he expressed in a statement. “He was not only a man with the gentlest soul but also one of pure gold… and he was cherished globally. Many viewers saw him as their on-screen dad. He lived a fulfilling life. His memory will continue to shine brightly through his exceptional acting roles in TV and movies.
As a former football player at Colorado State University, who even had trials at the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs training camps, I never imagined my path would veer away from the gridiron. But little did I know, fate had other plans – it was my role as weatherman Gordy Howard on The Mary Tyler Moore Show that propelled me into the limelight and kickstarted my successful career in showbiz.
Originally from New Jersey, this individual earned an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of the older Toby (the character equivalent to Kunta Kinte) in the renowned 1977 ABC miniseries ‘Roots’. Additionally, he had a recurring role as Admiral Percy Fitzwallace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on NBC’s hit series ‘The West Wing’.
His acting career kicked off with the groundbreaking blaxploitation film “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song” by Melvin Van Peebles in 1971, and he later starred as the manager of a restaurant similar to McDonald’s in the movie “Coming to America” (1988), where he hired an African prince (portrayed by Eddie Murphy) and his assistant (Arsenio Hall).
Decades ago, Amos was part of the McDonald’s training program before becoming their employee, a role which later landed him in a popular 1971 commercial (“Get a bucket and mop, clean the base and the top!”). This experience, he claimed, supported his children’s college education.
Following a dozen appearances as the kind-hearted Gordy in the initial four seasons of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”, the robust Amos was offered a chance to audition for the role of James Evans Sr., the spouse of Esther Rolle’s Florida Evans and father of their three children, on a fresh CBS series titled “Good Times”.
The television series “Good Times,” which originally aired from 1974 to 1979, was produced by Eric Monte and Mike Evans, under the guidance of Norman Lear. This show was based in a Chicago apartment complex within the projects, similar to Cabrini-Green. A spinoff from the show “Maude,” which had its roots in “All in the Family,” “Good Times” was pioneering as it focused on an African-American family, marking the first time such a family was at the center of a sitcom.
In a 2014 interview for the Archive of American Television, Amos remarked that everyone was familiar with Norman Lear. He had watched the first episode of All in the Family, and his initial thought was, ‘There’s no chance this will ever air on TV.’ However, it turned out to be a huge success.
I entered the office where I read alongside Miss Rolle for Norman Lear, with only the three of us present. Upon concluding our reading, Norman turned to Esther, who then glanced at me before looking back at Norman. Esther then affirmed, ‘He’s perfectly suitable.’
For three seasons, Amos was the leading star of the show, but he grew increasingly uncomfortable with the over-the-top, stereotypical storylines concerning their eldest son, portrayed by comedian Jimmie Walker. Unable to keep quiet any longer, he voiced his criticism publicly.
He mentioned that there were several points where we differed. Specifically, he thought too much attention was given to J.J., especially when he wore his chicken hat and exclaimed “Dy-no-mite!” so frequently. In contrast, he believed equal focus could have been given to my other two children – one who aimed to become a Supreme Court justice, portrayed by Ralph Carter, and the other, BernNadette Stanis, who aspired to be a surgeon.
In those days, I wasn’t exactly known for my diplomatic skills, and it seems the producers were growing weary of their lives being jeopardized due to my jokes. They came to me one day and suggested, “Why don’t we take an unusual turn? Let’s write your character off. It’ll give us a fresh start!” That moment served as a valuable lesson for me – I realized that perhaps I overestimated my significance to the show and to Norman Lear’s vision.
In September 1976, during the premiere of season four, James Evans Sr. tragically met with an automobile accident, as depicted in a two-episode storyline.
John Alan Amos Jr., born on the 27th of December in 1939, hailed from Newark, New Jersey. His dad operated a tractor-trailer and worked as a mechanic, while his mom, Annabelle, handled household chores but later pursued further education to become a nutritionist.
Growing up, I lived near a cartoonist who created for the iconic Archie comics, and his clean home often served as our playground. This unique connection paved the way for an unforgettable experience – attending a live recording of “The Archie Show” at the legendary Radio City Music Hall in New York City. That day, my imagination soared to unprecedented heights.
I felt a bit let down since none of them resembled Archie, Jughead, or Veronica. A touch of enchantment seemed to fade away, yet I found myself appreciating the scientific aspects of the industry more clearly.
At East Orange High School, Amos created cartoons and penned articles for our school’s paper, acted as a prison inmate in a play titled “The Man Who Came to Dinner“, and excelled as a leading football runner.
As a gamer, I bagged football scholarships for Long Beach City College in sunny California and later, Colorado State University, home of the Rams who were on a massive losing streak across the country back then.
He shared that a consistent message from above was ‘No football for you,'” he explained. “Instead, the guidance suggested a career in performing or writing, two areas where I excelled naturally.
Nevertheless, Amos persisted in his ambition to play professional football, securing his first contract as a free agent with the Broncos. (During training camp, one of his teammates was Ernie Barnes, whose artwork, “Sugar Shack,” graced the opening credits of “Good Times” TV show.)
Amos had a go at joining multiple football teams, such as the Norfolk Neptunes from the Continental Football League and the British Columbia Lions within the Canadian Football League.
Following his dismissal by the Chiefs for the second time, Coach Hank Stram permitted him to recite a poem about broken aspirations to the team – and he was met with a standing ovation. “This was the first indication I received from my colleagues that I could produce writing capable of stirring emotions,” he stated. “It was extremely rewarding, far more so than running past the line or attempting to dodge a block.
Amos portrays an ex-NFL player grappling with old injuries on the HBO show, “Ballers”.
In Vancouver, Amos performed stand-up comedy and encountered a writer for television who motivated him to move to Los Angeles. Upon arrival, he secured a role in writing and acting on a popular TV variety show hosted by radio figures Al Lohman and Roger Barkley. Notably, McLean Stevenson, Craig T. Nelson, and Barry Levinson also began their careers on this same program.
This subsequently resulted in him engaging in scriptwriting and acting in skits on the 1969 CBS variety program “The Leslie Uggams Show.” Two producers at this show, Lorenzo Music and Dave Davis, were involved in creating a series for Mary Tyler Moore and believed he would be an excellent fit.
Instead of stating directly, ‘Gordy could become a sports announcer,’ he might have simply suggested it, which would have been an effortless observation for me,” he reminisced. “What I appreciated about him being a meteorologist was that it hinted at his intellectual abilities.
Back in the early ’70s, I found myself starring in a few episodes of Maude, playing her husband. Little did I know that these appearances would pave the way for my next big role on Good Times!
Despite facing challenges in securing a permanent job, James Evans made ends meet by taking on whatever work came his way. Somehow, we scraped by, echoing the experiences of many Americans during that era. The series resonated with people due to its authentic portrayal of life during those times.
During an interview on television in 2014, Amos became emotional when he mentioned that “men from their thirties and forties, belonging to various ethnic backgrounds, would approach him and express, ‘You’ve been like a father figure to me who I never had.’
Following his departure from “Good Times”, the company of Lear took him on board to portray a congressman in the initial episode of a fresh series titled “Onward and Upward”. However, he also chose to resign from this endeavor.
Amos often visited Africa multiple times, even residing for extended periods in Liberia as a means to immerse himself in the continent’s culture, which he considered his ancestral heritage. It was during this time that he was asked to feature in the production of “Roots“.
He commented, “It was exactly what I had been seeking.” It managed to erase the bitter aftertaste of ‘Good Times’, not that ‘Good Times’ itself was entirely bad. However, the manner in which I departed and the discord between Norman Lear and myself left a sour note. I acknowledge that much of it was my own doing. I wasn’t always easy to work with or direct. But ‘Roots’ served as a validation, a profound sense of fulfillment.
After they reconciled, Amos found success as an actor, playing the lead role in a brief television series titled “704 Hauser” that aired in 1994. This sitcom centered around a progressive family who inhabited Archie Bunker’s old residence in Queens.
As a gamer, I’ve got quite the impressive resume when it comes to acting too. I’ve popped up on various TV shows, including playing Will Smith’s stepdad in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” taking on roles in “Hunter,” “The District,” “Men in Trees,” and being Anthony Anderson’s old man in “All About the Andersons.” And let’s not forget my part in the Netflix drama, “The Ranch.” It’s been a wild ride!
His list of films also features “The World’s Greatest Athlete” from 1973, “Let’s Do It Again” in 1975, “The Beastmaster” in 1982, “Die Hard 2” from 1990, “Ricochet” and “Mac” both in 1991, “Night Trap” from 1993, “For Better or Worse” from 1995, “The Players Club” from 1998, the sequel to “Coming to America” in 2021, and “Because of Charley” also in 2021.
In 1972, he appeared on Broadway in Tough to Get Help, directed by Carl Reiner.
During the 1990s, when Amos struggled to secure employment, he penned and performed in a one-man play titled “Halley’s Comet“. This play revolved around an elderly man of 87 years old, who contemplated the state of the world while waiting in a forest for the arrival of “the comet”. For over two decades, Amos traveled extensively across the United States and several international cities, showcasing this production.
Among the survivors are his son K.C., affectionately known as “Amos’ Chiefs buddy,” and daughter Shannon, both from his previous marriage to Noel “Noni” Mickelson. According to THR’s Gary Baum, their relationship was strained, as reported in November of 2023.
Additionally, Amos had a brief marriage with actress Lillian Lehman, famously known for portraying Andre Braugher’s mother in the TV series “Men of a Certain Age“.
Duane Byrge contributed to this report.
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2024-10-01 20:55