'Good Times' Star John Amos, Of East Orange, Died In August, Family Announces

John Amos, who played the father on the 1970s sitcom "Good Times" and grew up in East Orange and lived in Tewksbury, died in August at the age of 84, his family announced Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Sam Barron

10/01/2024 3:19 p.m.

Born in Newark, Amos attended East Orange High School. His parents divorced when he was two and Amos supported his family by working as a garbage collector and street cleaner, according to the Washington Post.

Amos attempted to play professional football but was cut from the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs and went into acting. He later appeared on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" before being cast as James Evans on "Good Times." Amos starred on the show for three seasons, leaving the show after clashing with producers over the tone and content of the show. Adams was memorably killed off-screen in the 4th season premiere.

Following "Good Times," Amos appeared in three episodes of the miniseries "Roots" and on such shows like "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air", "Men in Trees" and "The West Wings."

He also appeared in the movie, "Coming to America."

Amos was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2020.

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