Veteran Hollywood actor, John Amos, well known and celebrated for his iconic role in “Coming to America” had passed away at the age of 84.
His death was announced in a statement released by his son, Kelly Christopher Amos, on Tuesday 1st October 2024, noting that his father died a natural death.
In his tribute, Kelly expressed deep sorrow over his father’s passing, highlighting the actor’s generous spirit and the profound impact he had on fans worldwide.
“It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned. He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold and he was loved world over.
“Many fans consider him as their TV father. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor,” he announced.
The late actor was a former football player at Colorado State University with training camp stints for the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs before his transition into a successful showbiz career.
He gained recognition as Gordy Howard, the weatherman on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and also earned an Emmy nomination for portraying the older version of Kunta Kinte in the acclaimed 1977 miniseries Roots.
Amos’ film career began with Melvin Van Peebles’ 1971 classic Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song and later starred in Coming to America in (1988), where he played the role of a manager at McDonald’s restaurant who hired Eddie Murphy.
What most people don’t know about the actor and his role in ‘Coming to America’ was that he had previously worked in a McDonald’s training before appearing in the popular 1970s commercial for the movie.
