Veteran Hollywood actor, John Amos has passed away at the age of 84.
The death of the actor, best known for his role in the 1988 romantic comedy film Coming to America, was announced by his son, Kelly Christopher Amos, in a statement on Tuesday.
According to the statement, Amos died of natural causes on 21 August 2024.
In the tribute, Kelly expressed deep sorrow over his father’s passing, emphasising his generous nature and the significant impact he had on fans around the world.
The statement reads, “It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned. He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold and he was loved world over.
“Many fans consider him as their TV father. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.”
Amos’ film career began with Melvin Van Peebles’ 1971 classic Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song. He later appeared in Coming to America (1988), portraying the manager of a McDonald’s-like restaurant who hires Eddie Murphy’s character. Interestingly, before this role, Amos had worked in McDonald’s training and appeared in a popular 1970s commercial for the chain.
He gained wider recognition as Gordy Howard, the weatherman on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
A New Jersey native, Amos earned an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of the older Kunta Kinte in the acclaimed 1977 miniseries, Roots. He also had a recurring role as Admiral Percy Fitzwallace in NBC’s, The West Wing.
Before his entertainment career, Amos played football at Colorado State University and had training camp stints with the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs, before successfully transitioning into show business.
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