John Amos, the talented television actor recognized for his performances in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Good Times, The West Wing, and Roots, has passed away at the age of 84.
His family shared that Amos died of natural causes in his Los Angeles home on August 21, but the announcement was only made public today.
“With deep sadness, I announce that my father has transitioned,” his son, Kelly Christopher Amos, said in a statement to Deadline. “He was a man with an incredibly kind heart and a golden spirit… loved by people everywhere. Many fans regarded him as their TV father.”
Born on December 27, 1939, in Newark, New Jersey, Amos initially pursued a career in football, playing in the Continental Football League and the Atlantic Coast Football League. He was signed by the Denver Broncos in 1964 but was released before the season due to an injury.
His acting career, however, proved more successful. He gained recognition as weatherman Gordy Howard on the popular sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show, a role he held from 1970 to 1973.
Amos is best remembered for his portrayal of James Evans, the father in the classic sitcom Good Times. At just 34 years old when he was cast, he convincingly depicted a hardworking father of three living in a low-income housing project.
The show was lauded for its exploration of significant issues like poverty and racism. However, as the series progressed, Amos had disagreements with the writers and producers regarding the portrayal of Black families and the show’s shift toward broader comedic themes. After season 3, he was let go, and his character met his end in a car accident.
Shortly thereafter, Amos took on another defining role as the adult Kunta Kinte in the groundbreaking miniseries Roots, for which he received an Emmy nomination.
He is also known for his role as Admiral Percy Fitzwallace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in the political drama The West Wing. Additionally, he had recurring roles in Two and a Half Men and The Ranch.
Among his notable film credits are Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, Die Hard 2, Coming to America, and its sequel.
“He led a fulfilling life, and his legacy will endure through his remarkable contributions to television and film,” his son expressed in the statement. “My father cherished his work as an actor throughout his life.”
“He was my father, my closest friend, and my hero. I appreciate your prayers and support during this difficult time.”
Adam Sandler’s Wife Jackie Stuns on Red Carpet – Fans Can’t Believe Her Jennifer Aniston Lookalike Vibes
Adam and Jackie Sandler recently walked the red carpet for the comedian’s latest stand-up special, and fans couldn’t help but notice that his wife looks strikingly similar to one of his frequent co-stars.
Many online users admitted they had to look twice at the photos, thinking at first that Adam was with his on-screen wife, Jennifer Aniston.
Keep reading to see what people are saying about Jackie, who just celebrated her 50th birthday on September 24!
Adam Sandler, 58, has worked with some of Hollywood’s top leading ladies, but the one who won his heart was Jackie Titone, an extra in the 1999 film *Big Daddy*.
Jackie, a model from Florida, began her acting career with a small role as Sally in Rob Schneider’s 1999 movie *Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo*.
It was Jackie’s role as a sports bar waitress in *Big Daddy*, the film starring Adam Sandler alongside twins Cole and Dylan Sprouse, that changed her life.
“22 years ago today we locked eyes and fell deep,” the former *Saturday Night Live* star wrote in a Facebook post celebrating the early days of their relationship. The post, dated July 31, 2020, continued, “Look forward to the next 22, young lady. Love you my forever girl.”
Adam and Jackie got married on June 22, 2003, in a star-studded event with guests like Jennifer Aniston and the late Rodney Dangerfield.
The real star of the wedding ceremony, however, was Adam Sandler’s dog, Meatball, who stole the show by dressing up in a black tuxedo jacket.
In 2006, Adam and Jackie welcomed their first daughter, Sadie. Two years later, in 2008, Sadie became a big sister when Sunny was born.
Both daughters have made appearances in a few of their dad’s movies, including *Hubie Halloween*, *Hotel Transylvania*, and *Murder Mystery*. In 2023, they even starred in the Netflix comedy *You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah*.
Jackie Sandler has also appeared in several of Adam’s films, including *Grown Ups* (2010), *I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry* (2007), and *Just Go with It* (2011), which starred Jennifer Aniston.
She even had a small role in the 2020 film *Murder Mystery*, which also featured Aniston.
Adam and Aniston have worked together in several movies and have shared a supportive friendship that has lasted more than 20 years.
Adam explained that Jackie and Aniston are close too, and there’s no jealousy between them. In fact, Jackie encourages Adam to be more expressive with his on-screen kisses!
Adam Sandler humorously admitted that his film kisses never feel as good as they could. “It’s not just [Aniston],” he said. “I actually feel bad for whoever I have to kiss. I’m like, ‘They don’t want to be doing this.’ But I do it.”
Referring to his intimate scenes with Jennifer Aniston in *Murder Mystery* (2019 and 2023), he added, “Jennifer is one of my closest friends and Jackie’s closest friends. So, Jackie’s like, ‘Would you give Jennifer some sort of good time with that kiss, please?’”
Recently, fans did a double take when Sandler walked the red carpet with his stunning wife for the New York premiere of his stand-up special *Adam Sandler: Love You*. Adam wore a yellow polo shirt and red pants, while Jackie wowed in an elegant black mini-dress.
But it wasn’t Adam’s trademark casual style or his usual offbeat jokes that grabbed fans’ attention.
Instead, it was Jackie’s striking resemblance to Jennifer Aniston that sparked a wave of online conversations. Fans couldn’t help but comment on how similar the two looked, causing quite a buzz on social media.
“I thought it was Jennifer Aniston!” one fan wrote, while another added, “That’s what I thought! Had to look twice.”
A third chimed in, “She looks like Jennifer Aniston, beautiful.” Echoing the same sentiment, another commented, “Jackie looks eerily similar to Jennifer Aniston. Yes??”
What do you think about Jackie Sandler? Let us know your thoughts, and don’t forget to share this story so we can all wish her a very happy birthday!
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