John Amos, beloved TV actor known for Good Times, Roots, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and The West Wing, has died at 84. He passed away from natural causes at his Los Angeles home on August 21.

Born in 1939 in Newark, New Jersey, Amos began as a football player before breaking out as weatherman Gordy Howard on The Mary Tyler Moore Show(1970–73). He gained fame as James Evans, the hardworking father on Good Times, a role that tackled issues of poverty and raci sm. Despite clashes with producers, Amos left a lasting impact.

He earned an Emmy nomination for playing Kunta Kinte in Roots, and was known for roles in The West Wing, Two and a Half Men, and films like Die Hard 2and Coming to America.

His son praised his kindness and lifelong passion for acting, calling him a hero and thanking fans for their support.