John Amos, Patriarch on ‘Good Times’ and an Emmy Nominee for the Blockbuster ‘Roots,’ Dies at 84

LOS ANGELES (AP) — John Amos, who starred as the family patriarch on the hit 1970s sitcom “Good Times” and earned an Emmy nomination for his role in the seminal 1977 miniseries “Roots,” has died. He was 84.  Amos’ publicist, Belinda Foster, confirmed the news of his death Tuesday. He played James Evans Sr. on “Good Times,” which featured one of television’s first Black two-parent families. Produced by Norman Lear and co-created by actor Mike Evans, who co-starred on “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons,” it ran from 1974-79 on CBS. Amos was Emmy nominated for playing the adult Kunta Kinte, the centerpiece of “Roots,” based on Alex Haley’s novel set during and after the era of slavery in the U.S.

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