John Amos, the Emmy-nominated actor and former TV writer, known for his role as the stern father on Good Times, has passed away at the age of 84. Amos died of natural causes on August 21 in Los Angeles, as announced by his son, K.C. Amos. “It is with heartfelt sadness that I share that my father has transitioned,” K.C. said in a statement. “He had the kindest heart and was loved the world over. Many fans considered him their TV father. He lived a good life, and his legacy will live on through his incredible work in television and film.”

Amos, who played football at Colorado State University and had brief tryouts with the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs, found success in showbiz after being cast as Gordy Howard, the weatherman on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. The New Jersey native earned an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Toby, the elder Kunta Kinte, in the acclaimed 1977 ABC miniseries Roots. He also had a recurring role as Admiral Percy Fitzwallace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on NBC’s The West Wing.

Amos’s big-screen debut came with Melvin Van Peebles’ blaxploitation classic Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971). He later appeared as the manager of a fast-food restaurant in the hit film Coming to America (1988), alongside Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall. Interestingly, Amos had previously worked in McDonald’s training program and starred in a popular 1971 McDonald’s commercial, which he said helped fund his children’s college education.

After appearing as Gordy in a dozen episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Amos was cast as James Evans Sr., the father on Good Times, a new CBS sitcom created by Eric Monte, Mike Evans, and developed by Norman Lear. Good Times, a spinoff of Maude, became the first sitcom to focus on an African-American family, set in a Chicago housing project.

In a 2014 interview, Amos recalled his audition with co-star Esther Rolle, saying, “When we finished the reading, Norman [Lear] looked at Esther, and she looked at me and said, ‘He’ll do just fine.’”

Amos starred on Good Times for three seasons but became critical of the show’s stereotypical portrayal of its eldest son, J.J. (played by Jimmie Walker). Amos publicly voiced his frustration, stating that J.J.’s character was overly emphasized, while the aspirations of his other on-screen children were overlooked. However, his outspoken nature and conflicts with producers led to his dismissal from the show. His character, James Evans Sr., was written out as a victim of a car accident at the beginning of season four in 1976.

Despite this, Amos left a lasting impact on television and film, with his work continuing to inspire audiences.