Many will remember him from the film “A Prince in New York” (1988). Others in “Airport Heist” (1990) with Bruce Willis. But it was in the iconic American television series “Roots” or “Good Times” where he rose to fame as an actor: John Amos died today at the age of 84, after a long career and unforgettable roles that made him a charismatic figure in cinema. and society. The news is provided by the Associated Press.
Amos, who was born on December 27, 1939 in Newark, New Jersey, did not even start out as an actor. His career should have been in sports. He played American football before dedicating himself to the career in which he would become famous. His fame would come in 1974 when he played James Evans Sr. in the comedy “Good Times,” becoming one of the first black heads of family portrayed in a strong and positive way on American television. His character, who was experiencing economic difficulties in the Chicago ghettos, ended up being acclaimed for the authenticity and social impact he ended up having, and the series is still remembered today for addressing social issues such as racism, poverty and social identity. He received an Emmy nomination for this performance.
[Já saiu o primeiro episódio de “A Grande Provocadora”, o novo podcast Plus do Observador que conta a história de Vera Lagoa, a mulher que afrontou Salazar, desafiou os militares de Abril e ridicularizou os que se achavam donos do país. Pode ouvir aqui, no Observador, e também na Apple Podcasts, no Spotify e no Youtube]
Another milestone in his career followed. The historical miniseries “Roots,” released in 1977, in which Amos plays the adult version of Kunta Kinte, an enslaved African struggling to maintain his identity and dignity. Amos’s role was crucial to the success of the series, which helped raise public awareness about the brutality of slavery and African-American heritage. “Roots” became one of the most watched miniseries in the history of American television and remains a cultural reference.
In film, John Amos also had several highly applauded performances. In “A Prince in New York” (1988) she played Cleo McDowell, owner of a restaurant and father of the character Shari Headley, demonstrating her talent for comedy, contrasting with the more dramatic roles she had been playing throughout her career. He then appeared in action films such as “Airport Heist” (1990), alongside Bruce Willis.
John Amos was also known for defending causes of racial equality and for his work as an advocate for the rights of the African-American community. He often spoke about the importance of fair and realistic representation of black characters in the media.
Source: Observadora
