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Getting fired from Good Times is one of the best things that could have ever happened to John Amos.
After three seasons of fighting with executive producer Norman Lear and the CBS sitcom’s white writers about the stereotypical Black portrayals and dialogue the show perpetuated, particularly when it came to star Jimmie Walker, Amos’ contract to play patriarch James Evans wasn’t renewed at the end of Season 3 in 1976 and his character was killed off.
Fascinatingly enough, Good Times Season 4B premiered mere weeks before the Roots miniseries debuted in January 1977 on competing network ABC and changed television as we know it forever because of the grippingly personalized way it portrayed enslaved Black Americans. Looking back on both experiences, just before Black History Month comes to a close, Amos says he’s proud he was a part of both small-screen offerings because their historical impacts can still be felt today.
“The truth of it is, when I started acting, I never thought I would live this long, much less be an actor,” the 82-year-old tells TVLine with a chuckle. “I’ve had a blessed career, and I attribute that to my faith in God and the fact that I was raised right. I had the chance to portray a father on a situational comedy that so many Black fathers and men of all races could identify with and appreciate.”
Amos adds that “up until that point, there had never been a complete Black family portrayed on television. And with Roots, I don’t think any of us involved in the production, particularly the network, were aware audiences would tune in to the extent that they did.”
Roots, inspired by late author Alex Haley’s novel of the same name, drew a record 36.4 million viewers and remains one of the most watched television events of all time. In that way, Amos observes, Good Times and Roots had more in common than him.
“America and the world got to see what life could be like within a Black family on Good Times,” Amos shares. “It was the sort of family white viewers had read about in their own magazines with their slanted perceptions. But Good Times corrected that imagery with its crazy teenage kids, a studious son Michael, as portrayed by Ralph Carter, and a beautiful young daughter with unlimited mental potential, as portrayed by BernNadette Stanis as Thelma.”
While Amos doesn’t mention Walker or his character JJ, his fond recollections do include the late Esther Rolle. She played his wife, matriarch Florida Evans, despite being 20 years his senior in real life.
“Florida was the glue that kept the family together,” Amos joyfully recalls. “It showed a Black family that had the same trials and tribulations as the rest of America, especially those who were financially challenged. Good Times was a form of Roots, except it told the story of who we are on a comedic basis. And I’ve always contended, as some of my mentors taught me, the best way to get a message across to people is through humor.”
The acting veteran, whose credits also include Future Cop, Die Hard 2 and Two and a Half Men, says he feels relieved and proud that modern sitcoms such as black-ish, The Neighborhood and The Last O.G. (on which he guest-starred) have Black writers and showrunners. But Amos adds that he wants the course correction to keep going.
“I hope that this phenomenon continues until we are totally in absolute control of our own imagery,” the Newark, New Jersey native divulges while comparing Good Times to its television descendants.
“When you allow other people to perpetuate your imagery, they will do so out of their own perceptions and minds, and it’s not always an accurate view,” he continues. “It seldomly is. I had innumerable arguments with the writers on the set in regards to my character’s demeanor, or what he would say in certain given situations. It was too often for Norman and the other writers to accept. We have a low bulls–t threshold in New Jersey. So when I was being fed a line that was bulls–t, I wasn’t apprehensive at all about saying, ‘Uh-uh. This is not gonna work.’ I just didn’t do it in the most diplomatic terms.”
Amos and Lear have since made amends, and Amos appeared in Lear’s 2019 special Live in Front of a Studio Audience: All in the Family and Good Times. He also adds that two of his favorite comedians — Eddie Murphy and Dave Chappelle — are able to use humor to communicate in a way he wishes he could have at their age. Amos worked with Murphy on the 1988 classic Coming to America, in which he played Cleo McDowell, a businessman who owned a fast-food restaurant that too hilariously and closely resembled McDonald’s. The movie also reunited him with his Roots costar, the late Madge Sinclair, who played Bell, the wife of his character, adult Kunta Kinte.
“Dave Chappelle gets his message across but doesn’t offend people who don’t need to be offended,” Amos opines. “Some folks need bracing, as my uncle used to say. To work with Eddie Murphy on Coming to America was a paid vacation for me because I’m an Eddie Murphy fan. I’m an Eddie Murphy fanatic. I love everything he does, and to work with him day after day, for such an extended period of time, was a blessing. I reflect back on that with very, very fond memories.”
One of Amos’ favorite moments from the movie is when he ad-libbed the line, “I don’t give a damn who you are. This is America, Jack. Now you say one more word about Lisa, and I’ll break my foot off in your royal ass.”
“I have to take credit for that. I ad-libbed quite a bit, and John Landis, the director, was very receptive to my ad-libs,” Amos concludes proudly. “I initially ad-libbed the line at a reading of the script, and when Eddie Murphy dropped the script, hollered, and released that signature laugh that he has, I knew my line had gotten the laughing approval of a master comedian.”
What’s your favorite John Amos role? Drop your thoughts in the comments — and click here to check out all of our special “Shades of Funny” coverage dedicated to Black comedy trailblazers and rising stars.
What an amazing career he’s had. He was such a part of my growing up.
Thank you for interviewing him! And thanks to John Amos for sharing his remarkable talent with us.
You didn’t see John Amos but u saw the main character and how he dealt with the loneliness and lack of dignity of slavery but he didn’t let it break him.
Love John Amos. One of my favorite actors of all time. My favorite roles of his has to be of course James Evans and then Cleo McDowell from Coming to America. But just so many roles to choose from. He’s always so good in everything he’s in.
His character as the older Konta Kinta.
He was amazing in that character. His other roles were comedy. A lot of blacks could only get that type of roll. Roots show cased him as a serious actor.
Love John Amos in whatever he does (Beastmaster!).
I grew up watching him. This was a great article. Thank you for doing it.
82!? Wow! I love when he pops up unexpectedly. He is always great and you never know what to expect. Is he the good guy, the bad guy, the sage?
Mr. John Amos a great actor & role model… Loved his Father’s role in Good Times!! My favorite show as 14 yr old teenager !!
Didnt miss many episodes!!
I was 16 years old when roots came out. to ask my mother about her family history. Especially her father. She got so mad at me for asking. The unresoved trauma she must have suffered all those years . Sadly 6454q
Great story about and interview with a fantastic actor.
Love John Amos a consummate actor and professional. He is awesome in everything he does and brings class to everything with his commanding presence and voice.
30+ years later, I, an annulled marriage woman, named my First child, JJ, trying to teach N. CA about the culture history.
I Loved JJ Walker, but my son is JJ O’Brien! (smile)
Naw, naw naw naw! Of course that ain’t Florida!!!! Jr, close the blinds.
The Wiggler episode!!!! OMG
OMG !!! I absolutely LOVE John Amos !!!! He is one of the greatest actors ever!! He never got his credit due !!!! That’s a shame!!! He was amazing in Roots, I can’t say enough about his roll in Good Times!! That was the best show !!! I grew up watching it and now three generations of my family watches it all together and my grandchildren especially love it!!! They love the dynamic of the family and how beautiful they are!! I was in Love with John Amos then and I still am now!!! And I’m a white lady!!! Not that that matters, I just thought I’d let you know!!! Love and Peace to all ❤️
that was funny but (real) he’s just that amazing strong bold black man♡ MY sister & I would fight over what t.v. show to watch we grew up with only 2 T.V ‘s in the home but WE ended up voting each time & YES GOOD TIMES WON WE SAT DOWN WITH SNACKS & KLEENEX. I REALLY LOVED THAT show back then & now.
General Grant
He is a very good actor from “Roots to other movies he stared in”.
Watching good time on my whole family sat down and watch it together John Amos bought the show out.Think You for everything.
From Good Times: “Mad Dog, if you don’t get your finger outta my wife’s face, imma slap a muzzle on you!”
Exactly what American people needed to see a strong intelligent black man standing up for what is correct in relation to others attempting to portray another nationality whom others have no idea of nor our struggle day to day. Thank you sincerely Mr Amos for doing so.
Amen to that!! You are so right!! Thank you honey ❤️☮️🙏
I’m glad he leave his life and was proud of his self and the parts he acted end. he was a great actor and thank John Amos thank you for Good Times.
I was 10 yrs old when Roots came out and I thought it was really good but years later, that I didn’t see John Amos but I saw Kunte Knute and that is the mark of a great actor! It was also amazing that after he got fired from Good Times, he continued to work in all areas and he was exceptional in all of them.
I could never choose a favorite from John Amos’s performances, I love everything he does, I hope to see him in more things. ❤️❤❤
I really don’t have a ” favorite” line by John, I just simply love and adore the man. I’m 66 years young and have following him for a long time, I only wish I could meet him in person!
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John was great on the Mary Tyler Moore show as Gordy, the weatherman. He left MTM to star on Good Times. I loved when they brought him back and Gordy was a successful talk show host and poor Ted Baxter was envy
My favorite was when j j got shot by mad dog and James showed his love for his son when he asked judge what about the dog that shot my son
Damn! Damn! Damn! What a wonderful article. I’d love to see more interviews like this from TV legends. I loved Amos in every role he has played. I cried when James Evans died on Good Times and when Admiral Fitzwallace was killed on the West Wing. I hope Mr. Amos still has a few performances left for us. He is one of the greats.
Man I really enjoyed this read💯
Good Times will be my all time favorite character role of John Amos. He played a strong Black family man who despite life’s economic struggles he hung in there and kept his family psychologically intact.
As Admiral Fitzwallace on West Wing, he had the great line “I got some real honest-to-god battles to fight, Leo. I don’t have time for the cosmetic ones.”
Too much time is spent fighting cosmetic battles at the expense of solving real problems. Because cosmetic is easy.
I have always loved John Amos in anything, and especially as James Evans and Cleo McDowell!! I also love the fact that he stood up for how black people would really act, as opposed to how white writers THINK that we act! When a black person on a TV show says or does something that just isn’t natural, believe me, other black folks KNOW it, and it doesn’t come across as believable! Thank you John Amos for staying true to who you are, and for giving us great performancesthroughout your career! Bravo!!