John Amos, star of “Coming to America,” dies at 84

• John Amos has died at the age of 84.
• He was known for his acting work on television and in films.
• His credits include “Roots,” “Good Times” and “Coming to America.”

John Amos, a beloved actor who starred in classic TV shows such as “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Good Times” and had a memorable supporting role in “Coming to America,” is, according to numerous reports, a natural at age 84 died of death.

Amos was born and raised in New Jersey. He played football at Colorado State University. After briefly trying to make it into a professional career in the mid-1906s, trying out for the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs, he turned to acting. In 1970, he landed the role of WJN-TV weatherman Gordy Howard on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and his career took off from there.

Having never lost “the New Jersey in me,” as he described it to Business Insider in a 2021 interview, Amos’ commanding presence and booming voice made him perfect for a variety of roles.

He starred in the acclaimed 1977 miniseries “Roots,” for which he received an Emmy nomination, and played James Evans Sr. on “Good Times” from 1974 to 1976. In the 1980s he had made the leap to the big screen with memorable roles in 1982’s The Beastmaster and 1990’s Die Hard 2, although his role as Cleo McDowell in the classic Eddie Murphy comedy Coming to America “ from 1988 will perhaps be remembered most.