Sad news out of Hollywood today, as one of TV’s most beloved father figures has passed away. John Amos, the actor best known for his work on the iconic ’70s sitcom Good Times has died at the age of 84. News of Amos’ death came courtesy of an announcement from his son, K.
C. Amos. “It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned,” he said in a statement.
“He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold...
and he was loved the world over. Many fans consider him their TV father. He lived a good life.
His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.” John Amos and the Era of the Challenging Sitcom Amos and Good Times were both representative of a bygone era in the world of television. The actor portrayed a hard-nosed character on a show that commonly dealt with difficult subject matter — until it didn’t.
Amos was only eight years older than Jimmie “J.J.” Walker, who played his eldest son on the show, but there was no confusion among viewers as to which star represented serious-minded authority in the household.
A spinoff of Maude, which was itself a spinoff of All in the Family, Good Times was the first American sitcom to portray a two-parent Black family. The series was intended to focus on serious social issues in the vein of previous Norman Lear sitcoms. But as Walker and his catchphrase (“dy-no-mite!”) skyrocketed in popularity, Good Times began to focus more on his lighthe.