John Amos died of congestive heart failure at a hospital in Inglewood, California, according to a death certificate obtained by People.
No autopsy was performed and the certificate stated that the actor’s remains were cremated on Aug. 30, nine days after he died. Amos’ son Kelly Christopher reported his death to Los Angeles County, per the outlet.
On Tuesday, Christopher announced Amos’ death at the age of 84 and said that he had died on Aug. 21 of natural causes. “He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold… and he was loved the world over,” K.C. Amos said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “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.”
During the first three seasons of CBS’s groundbreaking show Good Times, Amos played James Evans Sr. He also starred as adult Kunta Kinte in Roots, which earned him an Emmy nomination. Throughout his prolific career, Amos also featured in films such as Coming to America and its 2021 sequel Coming 2 America, 1989’s Lock Up, 1990’s Die Hard 2, 1993’s Night Trap, 1998’s The Players Club, and 1982’s The Beastmaster.
On Tuesday, Amos’ daughter said that she learned about her father’s death at the same time as the public. “I am without words… Our family has received the heartbreaking news that my Dad, John Allen Amos, Jr., transitioned on August 21st,” Shannon Amos shared on social media, hours after her father’s death was publicly announced by her brother K.C. “We are devastated and left with many questions about how this happened 45 days ago, learning about it through the media like so many of you.”
Prior to Amos’ death, a rift began between his children as they publicly fought over his care and legacy. A 2023 feature by The Hollywood Reporter stated that Shannon accused K.C. of elder abuse, mishandling finances, and impersonating his own father. K.C. has denied all the allegations.
In her statement Tuesday, Shannon wrote: “This should be a time of honoring and celebrating his life, yet we are struggling to navigate the wave of emotions and uncertainties surrounding his passing. Still, there is some semblance of peace in knowing my father is finally free.”
