John Amos

Actor


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About
About this interview

In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, John Amos recalls his early years as a football player and making the transition into acting and writing. He talks about becoming a writer for The Leslie Uggams Show, which led to him being cast as "Gordy the Weatherman" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He describes his role of "Henry Evans" on Maude, which led to him playing family patriarch "James Evans" on Good Times. He talks in-depth about the character of "James Evans," his clashes with series creator Norman Lear, and his departure from the show. Amos also outlines his role as "Kunta Kinte" on the groundbreaking ABC miniseries Roots. He discusses his Roots co-stars, as well as the program's effect on the way African Americans were seen and portrayed on television. He speaks of his role as "Percy Fitzwallace," chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on The West Wing, and several other acting roles including his one-man show, Halley's Comet. Nancy Harrington conducted the interview on December 2, 2014 in Woodland Hills, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"Television can be a wonderful training ground, or it can be a wonderful career. It has been for me. It's all been one hell of a ride."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
John Amos on being cast as "Gordy the Weatherman" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
02:44
John Amos on his problems with the scripts of Good Times and being dismissed from Good Times
02:40
John Amos on getting the role of "Kunta Kinte" on Roots
05:55
John Amos on appearing in the feature film "Coming to America," starring Eddie Murphy
08:05
John Amos on advice to an aspiring actor
01:43
John Amos on playing "Henry Evans" on Maude
02:11
Full Interview

Play Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on an early encounter with Good Times artist Ernie Barnes
On his football career and becoming a writer; on being "discovered" for "Gordy the Weatherman" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show; on some of his early television appearances with Tim Conway
On being cast as "Gordy the Weatherman" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show; on the character of "Gordy the Weatherman" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show; on the atmosphere on the set and his favorite episodes
On playing "Henry Evans" on Maude; on the character of "James Evans" on Good Times; on acting on Good Times
On being cast as "Kunta Kinte" on Roots

Chapter 2

On his experience playing "Kunta Kinte" on Roots and how his background prepared him for it; on the effect of Roots on his personal self-esteem
On his Roots character, "Kunta Kinte"; on Roots author Alex Haley; on LeVar Burton's performance as young "Kunta Kinte" on Roots; on working with Louis Gossett, Jr. on Roots
On working with Madge Sinclair on Roots; on working with Robert Reed as "Dr. William Reynolds" on Roots; on Leslie Uggams as "Kizzy" on Roots; on working with the producers of the show
On public reaction to Roots; on the Roots reunion on the TV Land Awards; on appearing in the feature films "Coming to America" and "Die Hard 2"

Chapter 3

On working with Jimmie Walker on Good Times; on starring on 704 Hauser and Norman Lear's legacy; on appearing in a Broadway play directed by Carl Reiner
On the audience's relationship with Good Times and his one-man show, "Halley's Comet"; on his feelings about classic television
On the then-current state of television; on appearing on The West Wing
On appearing on Men in Trees; on guest-starring on Two and a Half Men; on his then-current projects

Chapter 4

On his Halley's Comet Foundation; on his favorite thing about acting
On celebrity and how roles for African-Americans have changed over the years; on career achievements and regrets; on advice to an aspiring actor and how he'd like to be remembered
Shows

704 Hauser

View Show Page
John Amos on starring on 704 Hauser and Norman Lear's legacy
06:00

Good Times

View Show Page
John Amos on an early encounter with Good Times artist Ernie Barnes
02:54
John Amos on being cast as "James Evans" on Good Times
02:29
John Amos on the character of "James Evans" on Good Times
02:44
John Amos on the premise of Good Times
01:09
John Amos on his problems with the scripts of Good Times and being dismissed from Good Times
02:40
John Amos on working with Jimmie Walker and the rest of the cast of Good Times
03:03

Hunter

View Show Page
John Amos on playing "Captain Dolan" on the series Hunter
04:13

Leslie Uggams Show, The

View Show Page
John Amos on writing for The Leslie Uggams Show, and being "discovered" for "Gordy the Weatherman" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
01:32

Mary Tyler Moore Show, The

View Show Page
John Amos on being "discovered" for "Gordy the Weatherman" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
01:32
John Amos on being cast as "Gordy the Weatherman" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
02:44
John Amos on the character of "Gordy the Weatherman" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
02:26
John Amos on the atmosphere on the set of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
02:04
John Amos on his favorite episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
01:36
John Amos on reuniting with the cast of The Mary Tyler Moore Show on the TV Land Awards
00:44

Maude

View Show Page
John Amos on playing "Henry Evans" on Maude
02:11

Roots

View Show Page
John Amos on getting the role of "Kunta Kinte" on Roots
05:55
John Amos on the accent he wanted to use for "Kunta Kinte" on Roots
03:39
John Amos on his experience playing "Kunta Kinte" on Roots and how his background prepared him for it
12:14
John Amos on the effect of Roots on his personal self-esteem
01:00
John Amos on his Roots character, "Kunta Kinte"
03:52
John Amos on Roots author Alex Haley 
01:21
John Amos on LeVar Burton's performance as young "Kunta Kinte" on Roots
01:47
John Amos on working with Louis Gossett, Jr. as "Fiddler" on Roots
03:02
John Amos on working with Madge Sinclair as "Bell Reynolds" on Roots
03:38
John Amos on working with Robert Reed as "Dr. William Reynolds" on Roots
02:38
John Amos on Leslie Uggams as "Kizzy Reynolds" on Roots
01:34
John Amos on Roots producers David L. Wolper and Stan Margulies 
04:57
John Amos on the public reaction to Roots
02:34
John Amos on reuniting with the cast of Roots on the TV Land Awards
00:37

TV Land Awards

View Show Page
John Amos on reuniting with the cast of The Mary Tyler Moore Show  on the TV Land Awards
00:44
John Amos on reuniting with the cast of Roots on the TV Land Awards
00:37

Two and a Half Men

View Show Page
John Amos on guest-starring on Two and a Half Men
03:36

West Wing, The

View Show Page
John Amos on appearing as "Percy Fitzwallace" on The West Wing
02:09
John Amos on his character of "Percy Fitzwallace" on The West Wing
02:51
John Amos on working with Martin Sheen on The West Wing
02:03
John Amos on working with John Spencer on The West Wing
04:18
John Amos on rehearsing for The West Wing
02:08
John Amos on the end of his character on The West Wing
01:24
John Amos on the legacy of The West Wing
01:02
Topics

Advice

View Topic
John Amos on advice to an aspiring actor
01:42

Characters & Catchphrases

View Topic
John Amos on the character of "James Evans" on Good Times
02:44
John Amos on his Roots character, "Kunta Kinte"
03:52
John Amos on his character of "Percy Fitzwallace" on The West Wing
02:51

Fame and Celebrity

View Topic
John Amos on celebrity
06:14

Historic Events and Social Change

View Topic
John Amos on the public reaction to Roots
02:34
John Amos on his experience playing "Kunta Kinte" on Roots and how his background prepared him for it
12:12
John Amos on the effect of Roots on his personal self-esteem
01:00
John Amos on guest-starring on Two and a Half Men
03:36
John Amos on how roles for African-Americans have changed since he started acting
01:39

LGBTQIA+

View Topic
John Amos on guest-starring on Two and a Half Men
03:36

Pivotal Career Moments

View Topic
John Amos on getting the role of "Kunta Kinte" on Roots
05:55

Pop Culture

View Topic
John Amos on the character of "James Evans" on Good Times
02:44
John Amos on his Roots character, "Kunta Kinte"
03:52
John Amos on his character of "Percy Fitzwallace" on The West Wing
02:51

Representation on Television

View Topic
John Amos on the public reaction to Roots
02:34
John Amos on his experience playing "Kunta Kinte" on Roots and how his background prepared him for it
12:12
John Amos on the effect of Roots on his personal self-esteem
01:00
John Amos on guest-starring on Two and a Half Men
03:36
John Amos on how roles for African-Americans have changed since he started acting
01:39

Television Industry

View Topic
John Amos on celebrity
06:14
John Amos on advice to an aspiring actor
01:42

Underrepresented Voices

View Topic
John Amos on the public reaction to Roots
02:34
John Amos on his experience playing "Kunta Kinte" on Roots and how his background prepared him for it
12:12
John Amos on the effect of Roots on his personal self-esteem
01:00
John Amos on how roles for African-Americans have changed since he started acting
01:39
Professions

Actor

View Profession
John Amos on his favorite thing about acting
02:50
John Amos on advice to an aspiring actor
01:42

Performers

View Profession
John Amos on his favorite thing about acting
02:50
John Amos on advice to an aspiring actor
01:42
Genres

Comedy Series

View Genre
John Amos on playing "Gordy the Weatherman" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
06:50
John Amos on playing "James Evans" on Good Times  (Part 1)
06:44
John Amos on appearing as "James Evans" on Good Times (Part 2)
03:03
John Amos on starring on 704 Hauser and Norman Lear's legacy
06:00

Commercials

View Genre
John Amos on appearing in commercials 
05:55
John Amos on appearing in a well-known McDonalds commercial
04:36

Drama Series

View Genre
John Amos on appearing as "Percy Fitzwallace" on The West Wing
15:57

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

View Genre
John Amos on playing "Kunta Kinte" on Roots (Part 1)
05:55
John Amos on playing "Kunta Kinte" on Roots (Part 2)
44:34
People

Beatrice Arthur

View Interview Page
John Amos on playing "Henry Evans" and working with Beatrice Arthur on Maude
02:11

Ray Bradbury

View Person Page
John Amos on meeting Ray Bradbury
05:20

LeVar Burton

View Interview Page
John Amos on LeVar Burton's performance as young "Kunta Kinte" on Roots
01:41

Tim Conway

View Interview Page
John Amos on some of his early television appearances with Tim Conway
00:55

Louis Gossett, Jr.

View Interview Page
John Amos on working with Louis Gossett, Jr. as "Fiddler" on Roots
03:02

Alex Haley

View Person Page
John Amos on Roots author Alex Haley 
01:21

John Landis

View Person Page
John Amos on appearing in the feature film "Coming to America," directed by John Landis
08:05

Norman Lear

View Interview Page
John Amos on his problems with the scripts of Good Times and Norman Lear dismissing him from Good Times
02:40
John Amos on starring on 704 Hauser and Norman Lear's legacy
05:58
John Amos on repairing his relationship with Norman Lear and his thoughts on the then-current state of television
04:10

Stan Margulies

View Person Page
John Amos on Roots producers David L. Wolper and Stan Margulies
04:57

Eddie Murphy

View Person Page
John Amos on appearing in the feature film "Coming to America," starring Eddie Murphy
08:05

Robert Reed

View Person Page
John Amos on working with Robert Reed as "Dr. William Reynolds" on Roots
02:38

Esther Rolle

View Person Page
John Amos on being cast as "James Evans" and working with Esther Rolle on Good Times
02:29

Martin Sheen

View Person Page
John Amos on working with Martin Sheen on The West Wing
02:03

Madge Sinclair

View Person Page
John Amos on working with Madge Sinclair as "Bell Reynolds" on Roots
03:38

John Spencer

View Person Page
John Amos on working with John Spencer on The West Wing
04:18

Leslie Uggams

View Interview Page
John Amos on Leslie Uggams as "Kizzy Reynolds" on Roots
01:35

Jimmie Walker

View Interview Page
John Amos on working with Jimmie Walker and the rest of the cast of Good Times
03:03

David L. Wolper

View Interview Page
John Amos on Roots producers David L. Wolper and Stan Margulies
04:57

All Interviews

S