John Amos, veteran actor of 'Roots' and 'Good Times' fame, dies at 84

Actor John Amos, whose long career included a wide range of iconic roles in works such as "Roots," "Good Times" and "The West Wing," died last month, his family said Tuesday.

He was 84 when he passed away from natural causes in Los Angeles on Aug. 21.

The actor's agent, Belinda Foster, confirmed the news of his death Tuesday to the Associated Press but offered no immediate additional details.

“It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned,” son Kelly Christopher Amos said in a statement to Variety. “He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold … and he was loved the world over. Many fans consider him their TV father. He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.” 

John Amos in 'Good Times'. CBS / Everett Collection

Between 1974 and 1976, Amos was the stoic father James Evans on 61 episodes of "Good Times," the Norman Lear sitcom about a hardworking family trying to keep their heads above water in a Chicago housing project.

Amos then went on to play Toby in the groundbreaking 1977 TV miniseries "Roots," playing alongside several of that generation's greatest Black actors, such as Ben Vereen, LeVar Burton, Louis Gossett Jr. and Leslie Uggams.

Gen-X movie fans might best known him as fast food magnate Cleo McDowell from 1988's hit Eddie Murphy comedy "Coming to America," or as Bruce Willis' foil in the famed 1990 Christmas action classic, "Die Hard 2."

His television career was revitalized in 1999 when he was cast on acclaimed White House drama "The West Wing," where he appeared for five seasons as Admiral Percy “Fitz” Fitzwallace.

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