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Roots star John Amos has passed away at the age of 84.
The star died on August 21 in Los Angeles from natural causes, per The Hollywood Reporter.
The actor was best known for his role as Kunta Kinte in the landmark mini series Roots about the African-American experience of slavery.
Based on a real-life ancestor of author Alex Haley, it tells the story of a young man taken from Gambia and sold as a slave.
John scored an Emmy nomination for his role in the ABC-TV series which was based on the book by author Alex Haley.
The show became one of America’s most watched show in the late 1970s and received 37 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, nine of which it won.
Roots star John Amos has died aged 84 as his son pays tribute to his dad as a ‘man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold’
The actor was best known for his role as Kunta Kinte in the landmark mini series Roots about the African-American experience of slavery
Announcing his father’s death, John’s son Chris said in a statement: ‘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 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.’
A reference to Roots hit Coronation Street back in 2016 after Ofcom launched an investigation into an episode after the soap was accused of racism for a comment a character made about her hair.
The episode saw Eva Price, played by Catherine Tyldesley, visit Audrey’s hair salon, where she remarked: ‘I have more roots than Kunta Kinte.
‘No idea who that is, by the way, just something my mum used to say.’
Aside from Roots, Amos famously portrayed patriarch James Evans in the first three seasons of CBS’ groundbreaking sitcom Good Times, which aired for a total six seasons between 1974-1979.
He also played Gordy the weatherman on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Kunta Kinte in the dramatic miniseries Roots, which earned him an Emmy nomination.
Amos went on to feature in over 200 TV shows and films, including The West Wing, Coming to America and Me Time.
John scored an Emmy nomination for his role in the ABC-TV series which was based on the book by author Alex Haley and became one of America’s most watched show in the late 1970s
The star died on August 21 in Los Angeles from natural causes, per The Hollywood Reporter
John also famously portrayed patriarch James Evans in the first three seasons of CBS’ groundbreaking sitcom Good Times, which aired for a total six seasons spanning 1974-1979
Amos is seen with his son Christopher on July 24
The actor infamously left Good Times after three seasons over disagreements with the writing, which he felt leaned into stereotypes of African Americans.
Amos once said: ‘I wasn’t the most diplomatic guy in those days, and the show’s producers got tired of having their lives threatened over jokes.
‘So they said, «Tell you what, why don’t we kill him off? We can get on with our lives!» That taught me a lesson — I wasn’t as important as I thought I was to the show or to Norman Lear’s plans.’
Earlier this year the LAPD closed an investigation into claims that Amos’ son was abusing him.
Amos’ daughter Shannon Amos had repeatedly accused his caretaker son K.C. Amos of ‘impersonating him in communications, disregarding his medical needs, and mishandling his finances.’
Adult Protective Services forwarded Shannon’s allegations to the LAPD, who discovered ‘there’s nothing seriously wrong’ with the 84-year-old Emmy nominee’s health.
It came shortly after Amos told People he was ‘feeling well and working diligently on various projects, including the docuseries that my son and I are producing, along with a music release.’
John welcomed both Shannon and K.C. during his decade-long marriage to his late ex-wife Noel ‘Noni’ Mickelson, which ended in 1975.
