John Amos

Played professional football for the Norfolk Neptunes in the late 1960's

Quit the show "Good Times" (1974) over complaints directed at him by fans and friends that the show was not a pleasant portrait of African-American life and somewhat insulting. To explain his absence from the show, his character on "Good Times" (1974) was killed in a car accident, ensuring his choice to leave was permanent.

Was cast as the Evans father in "Good Times" (1974) despite being only eight years older than Jimmie Walker (who played J.J., the oldest son) and nearly nineteen years younger than Esther Rolle, who played his wife, Florida.

Although he played Leslie Uggams's father in "Roots" (1977), he is only three years her senior in real life.