I knew that millions of Black people were watching.
I carried that responsibility seriously.
Maybe too much so.
Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
This interview with John Amos was originally published in 2015.
Were republishing it now with an expanded intro following the actors death at 84.
John Amos was one of those actors fortunate enough to have more than one iconic role on his resume.
His two biggest parts were as patriarch James Evans Sr. onGood Timesand the elder Kunta Kinte on epic miniseriesRoots.
I was not going to portray something that was less than redeeming.
Why was that?Back then you were lucky to be in the business in any working capacity.
The idea that I would be in there as a writer, and then want to perform, too?
That was just an abstract concept to the producers at that time.
They werent ready for somebody who thought they could actandwrite.
I had to wait until my turn came.
I was just getting started, and that was my first internet writing job.
We were all just getting started, and that was wonderful training for us.
But they said, No, you could only do one.
I just took it with a grain of salt.
It sounded too good to be true.
But later they stayed true to their word.
WhenThe Mary Tyler Moore Showwas picked up to series, they called me.
It became a recurring character.
It was a harmonious set.
As soon as they got to the set, the conversation would start.
So they had a nice little group going.
And they all got along great.
It was a wonderful atmosphere.
I felt, for the first time, that I was part of a real, meaningful ensemble.
But I was gratified to have been involved.
The ensemble cast speaks for itself.
Everybody was stage-trained and extremely competent, and they all spun off into their own shows successfully.
Any other memories of the cast stand out?Ted Knight was an absolute comedic genius.
And he loved his part so much.
Hed fashioned him after George Putnam, who was a very right-wing news personality at that time.
She thought that he was real.
He couldnt wait to share it with us.
This woman had bought into his character 100 percent, and he loved that.
Well see you soon.
No commitments, no promises.
But then one day he came over and gave me a compliment.
And he said, This guys astarker.
And I said, Astarker?
What the hell does that mean?
I thought Id been called everything in the books.
I had to get that explained to me by Gavin MacLeod, or it might have been Ed Asner.
I saw it as a badge of honor.
I was being accepted.
What was sort of great about Gordy is that he was a weatherman and not a sportscaster.
They did not pander to the lowest common denominator in terms of stereotypes or cheap humor.
And those were the only faces you saw in any prominence on the TV screen in those days.
So they played against that.
They had her make that assumption, when in fact Gordie was a meteorologist, which blew Phylliss mind.
But I loved it!
It was going against the grain, and it showed their sensitivity.
They capitalized on the stereotypical thinking.
How many episodes did you end up ultimately doing?All told?
Id say I did maybe ten, 12 episodes over the course of the show.
It might have been as high as 14.
I just remember it was a wonderful experience terrific.
I couldnt wait to get to work every time they called me.
And nobody knew if it was going to fly.
I had to make a commitment; I couldnt do both shows.
So I opted to take theGood Timesoffer and contract.
It meant more money, but the working conditions were not as …
I wasnt as happy.
Ill leave that way.
And I knew they had so much talent on the show, they had to spread it around.
I was never offered the role as a regular.
They had slowly been developing the character.
But bottom line is: It was a great experience.
I was very fortunate to get to work for him.
J.J. getting shot by a gang member.
You cant pop kick open the paper today without seeing some subject we covered 40 years ago.
I knew I was in a blessed situation.
Maybe too much so.
Norman thought I was taking on too much of a burden with it.
But it was my responsibility.
I knew that millions of Black people were watching.
I knew that my own father was watching.
My own children were watching.
And I was not going to portray something that was less than redeeming.
They chose to go for the obvious and the comedic.
It started to dissipate into something I wasnt terribly proud of.
I thought there was a little too much buffoonery.
And it wasnt a matter of being jealous of [Jimmie Walker].
I love comedians; I love anyone who could make somebody laugh.
Were more interested in seeing J.J. with a chicken hat on.
At least thats the way I saw it.
So they killed me off.
I think Esther didnt get her first pair of new shoes until she was 13 or 14 years old.
She knew deprivation, and she knew hardship.
So her reaction to playing that character was based in truth, as mine was.
And she had no problem with that.
She insisted that she have a husband on the show.
She did not want to perpetuate the negative stereotype of another matriarchal family.
She told Norman, I want a husband.
I want a husband who works.
And I dont want him to be an alcoholic or druggie.
I want a husband whos going to be a family man.
And thats how I got the job as J.J.s daddy.
I thank Esther to this day for the opportunity.
It wouldve been strange to see your character mourned like that!Its a very rare experience.
Not too many people get to see their own funeral.
I saw the episode years and years ago.
Its still a mystery to me how my character died.
Its a matter of conjecture.
Some people say he died on the Alaskan pipeline.
Some say he died in a truck crash.
All I know is that I died.
And hopefully there was some insurance for the family.
Your departure fromGood Timesalso made you available forRoots.
Its being remade for next year, and LeVar Burton is associated with it.
Im curious about how theyre going to do the story this time.
I have faith its going to be done right, though, because its a Wolper project.
But it was obvious.
She thought it was going downhill into an area of buffoonery and away from what her intentions were initially.
Youve put the whole experience behind you and made up with Mr. Lear, right?I certainly did.
Once Id matured, Id realized the mistakes Id made in addressing my grievances about scripts.
Everything to me at the time was confrontational.
I was younger, I was angry, I was mad at the world.
I wanted to right every wrong with every line.
And they got tired of it.
How is your relationship with Walker?Im not angry at anybody.
In regards to any personal differences we had at the time, thats over and thats behind me.
I attempt to look forward.
Hes a welcome guest for dinner in my home any time he decides to stop by.
