John Amos Was a ‘Disruptive Element’

As a seasoned actor who has navigated the tumultuous waters of Hollywood and beyond, I can certainly empathize with the experiences shared by Jimmie Walker and Esther Rolle. Their stories are a testament to resilience, growth, and the power of forgiveness.

As a devoted cinephile, I’m re-sharing an interview I originally posted back in 2015, which has now been updated with a heartfelt introduction, following the passing of the esteemed John Amos, at the age of 84.

John Amos was an actor who had the good fortune to play several memorable roles throughout his career. Among his most significant performances were as James Evans Sr. on “Good Times” and Kunta Kinte in the miniseries “Roots.” However, even minor roles that he took on left a lasting impression – such as Cleo McDowell in both “Coming to America” films, Admiral Fitzwallace on “The West Wing,” or Gordy the weatherman who first gained him fame on CBS’s “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” Amos appeared approximately a dozen times during the show’s initial three seasons before departing for the regular role on “Good Times.” Yet, his character was significant enough that he returned for a special spotlight episode during “Mary Tyler Moore’s” final season.

Born in New Jersey, Amos passed away peacefully on August 21 at the age of 84 in Los Angeles. His demise was only officially confirmed by his representative today. Despite a family drama that created unfavorable headlines last year, Amos’s legendary status as a television icon from the 1970s and one of the most adored small-screen fathers remained unscathed. His road to fame was unconventional; he was almost 30 when he landed his first significant role in Hollywood in 1969, writing for a variety show featuring future “Roots” cast member Leslie Uggams. Prior to this, Amos had spent a decade pursuing a career in professional football, including a brief training period with the Kansas City Chiefs. While he didn’t find success as a writer, this experience led him to a successful acting career that spanned decades.

2015 found me having a heart-to-heart chat with Amos over the phone, delving deeper into his illustrious Hollywood journey – from his stint on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and the challenging incident involving a racially prejudiced crew member, to his turbulent tenure on Good Times. I reminisced about my collaborations with Esther Rolle and Jimmie Walker during that period, and shared how I managed to reconcile with producer Norman Lear following our high-profile disagreement. Throughout our discussion, Amos emphasized that his time under the limelight during Good Times was more than just a quest for fame or financial gain – it was a heavy burden as the first African American father of a complete family on television. He carried this responsibility with utmost sincerity and refused to present anything less than honorable.

Initially, you were fortunate to be involved in the industry at all, given your dual roles as a writer and an actor. It was unconventional for someone to aspire to perform on top of writing back then, which was considered too advanced an idea by the producers. They weren’t open to the idea of someone who wanted to act and write simultaneously. I had to bide my time until it was appropriate for me to step into a performing role.

In response to your question, it seems like it was a combination of factors. First, I was relatively new to the network writing scene, as it was my first job at this level. However, prior to this, I had written and performed on a local television show called “Lohman & Barkley,” which won an Emmy. The entire writing staff, including Craig T. Nelson, Barry Levinson, and the late McLean Stevenson, were all newcomers in the industry at that time. This experience was valuable training for us all.

How did you eventually transition into acting and land on MTM? Well, one day over lunch, I was with two writers from the Uggams show, Lorenzo Music and Dave Davis. They said, “John, we believe you’ve got what it takes when you perform these sketches for our guests. We’re working on a project called The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and we think you’d be perfect for one of the roles.” I took it with a pinch of salt, thinking it was too good to be true. But they kept their promise. When The Mary Tyler Moore Show was approved for a series, they reached out to me.

As a cinema devotee, I put myself on the line, auditioning before Mary, Grant Tinker, and the higher-ups, ultimately landing the role of the recurring character, Gordy the weatherman.

From what I understand, Mary Moore (not to be confused with The Dick Van Dyke Show’s Dick Van Dyke) was already a TV icon before she starred in her own series – The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Can you share your experience working alongside this talented lady?

What a fantastic chance it must have been for someone aiming to start in TV acting! It was an unparalleled learning experience. The diverse cast is a testament to the quality of training. Each actor demonstrated exceptional skill, having honed their craft on stage, and they all went on to star in their own successful series.

Do any other memories of the cast members stand out? Ted Knight’s portrayal of Ted Baxter was truly remarkable. He was so passionate about his role that he modeled it after George Putnam, a conservative news personality from that era. His performance was exceptional, so much so that one day he told us about a letter he had received from a woman who hated Ted Baxter with a passion! She wrote, “Ted, you are the most arrogant and self-absorbed newsman I’ve ever seen in my life.” The woman believed his character was real, and Knight was thrilled to share this. It was a testament to his acting skills that he could immerse himself so fully into the role.

How did the character role of Gordy transition from a one-time appearance to a recurring one?

One way to rephrase the given text is:

As a dedicated film enthusiast, I must admit not everyone around the set always embodied progressive thinking. Rarely, there were instances where someone on the crew would make insensitive comments, disguised as jokes, which I found inappropriate and offensive. One such occasion stands out vividly. We were rehearsing a scene, and the photographer was asked to capture some great stills. In an unfortunate turn of events, this individual, whom I’ll refer to as “misguided,” said something like, “John, smile so we can see your teeth and know where you are.” The set fell silent, and I chose not to respond or react. I felt his comment was out of the blue, coming from someone who seemed a bit unstable, so I decided not to engage. To my relief, that person was no longer on the show the next day, vanishing without a trace. He had been part of the team since the beginning, but his racial views became intolerable, and his words cost him his job. The production crew maintained a strong stance against any disruptive elements on their set.

What was the total number of episodes you appeared in? I’d estimate around 10-14 throughout the series. It could have been as many as 14, but I’m not certain. The experience was fantastic – truly terrific! Every time they called me to work, I felt like I couldn’t wait. I lived nearby, in Topanga Canyon, and it happened at a perfect time for me, as I was just starting my family. Looking back, I deeply regretted leaving the show, more than I initially realized. I didn’t anticipate this regret when I accepted the offer for Good Times, because Good Times originally only had a pilot episode. Since nobody knew if it would be successful, I had to make a choice – I couldn’t do both shows. Ultimately, I chose to take the role in Good Times due to the better compensation, but the working conditions weren’t as satisfying as they were on the other show.

As a fan, I’ve always wondered if, when you landed the role in Good Times, there were any discussions about a spinoff or making you a series regular alongside MTM and Mr. Tinker. But I was content with my recurring character, knowing how talented the cast was, I felt it was important to share that talent around. No one ever offered me the role as a regular, but given the trajectory of my character, it’s possible such a conversation may have happened if I hadn’t joined the Good Times series. The character was gradually being developed, and by my second or third episode, I had a last name and there were mentions of a wife or family. I would have happily continued with them for the duration of the show, or until they said “Gordy had a heart attack” or got struck by lightning since he was a meteorologist. [Laughs] Ultimately, it was an amazing experience. There wasn’t a single day on that set where I didn’t spend it laughing, or at least preparing myself to laugh.

What remains etched in my memory four decades later is the groundbreaking work of Norman, a fearless figure in television as a producer, writer, and director. I felt privileged to be part of his team, as we delved into topics considered taboo today, such as seniors being forced to eat pet food due to financial hardship or J.J.’s character getting shot by a gang member. Topics that are still relevant in today’s news. Working with Norman was a blessing, and I felt the weight of being the first Black father on screen, representing an entire community. I took this responsibility seriously, as I knew millions of Black people were watching, along with my own family.

You expressed concerns when the show’s plot began to heavily emphasize Jimmie Walker’s character, J.J., over the other characters, specifically Bern Nadette Stanis as Thelma and Ralph Carter as Michael. I believed that their potential storylines, given their aspirations for a Supreme Court justice and a surgeon respectively, could have offered more depth to the show. Instead, the writers opted for a more comedic approach, which I felt was overshadowing the other characters and potentially misrepresenting young people. It wasn’t about envy towards Jimmie Walker; I admire comedians and anyone who can make people laugh. However, I felt that the focus on J.J.’s antics was neglecting the development of my other two children in the show, and I thought it was unfair to them and to young viewers.

It seems like you were seen as a source of disruption on the show, didn’t you? Norman explained to me that I was labeled as such not only by him but also by the entire cast and the production team. They perceived me as a disruptive influence, which is why they chose to write off my character.

It’s clear that you weren’t the only one who had reservations about the show’s direction. As I’ve learned, Esther Rolle, too, felt strongly about maintaining an authentic portrayal for the audience. Given her humble upbringing – she didn’t receive a new pair of shoes until her teenage years – Esther could relate to hardship and deprivation. Her performance as the character was grounded in reality, much like mine. We both believed that we were the best judges of the characters’ dialogue and situations, acting as a gauge for their authenticity. I recall discussing this with her, emphasizing our need to stand together and preserve the family’s integrity through our performances. Fortunately, Esther was on board with this idea.

The role for James Evans was largely established due to a character played by Esther Rolle in “All in the Family”. From what I’ve learned, she was passionate about having another robust adult character on the show, one she could act alongside. In her own words, she expressed, “I want a husband. I want a husband who works. And I don’t want him to be an alcoholic or druggie. I want a husband who’s going to be a family man.” It was during a reading with Esther and the show creator, Norman, that I landed the job as J.J.’s father. To this day, I remain grateful to Esther Rolle for giving me this opportunity.

As a former cast member, it’s been intriguing to reflect on my departure from the show. One silver lining was undoubtedly the powerful moment Ms. Rolle had, which became one of her most memorable scenes – the emotional breakdown in the kitchen after my character’s demise, exclaiming “Damn, damn, damn!” I often ponder if I ever watched that episode. It would have been quite surreal to see myself mourned in such a poignant way!

It’s been mentioned that LeVar Burton is involved as a co-executive producer, and Lawrence Fishburne has been cast in the role of Alex Haley for the upcoming remake of “Roots” next year. I’m intrigued about how they plan to approach this story anew. Will it be a rehash of the original or an entirely new script? Given that it’s a Wolper project, I have high hopes that it will be handled with care and skill as it was a monumental success in the past. David’s son, Mark, had the unique opportunity to learn from his father about what it takes to make a masterpiece like “Roots.” What are your thoughts on this remake?

As far as I know, Ms. Rolle didn’t discuss her reasons for leaving the show with me directly. However, it seemed clear that she departed after my character was written out of the series. It appears that she felt the show was veering into a more comedic direction, which contradicted her original vision. The show struggled in ratings, leading to her return for another season before eventually being canceled.

It sounds like you’ve moved past the conflict with Mr. Lear, and I believe this resolution came about as you grew older and gained more understanding about the effects of the post-traumatic stress syndrome caused by playing football and boxing. As you matured, you began to see your errors in handling disagreements over scripts. At the time, everything felt confrontational to you due to your youthful anger and frustration with the world. You wanted to correct every wrong, but it took its toll on those around you. During an event honoring him, you even admitted to Norman that if you were in his position, you would have dismissed yourself. After all, life is too short to endure unhappiness when one is earning a substantial salary and enjoying widespread acclaim.

What’s your current connection with Walker? Well, I don’t hold any grudges. Jimmy is an industrious comedian, and he’s proven his skill through his long career. Any past disagreements we had are resolved now. I prefer focusing on the future. He’s always welcome for dinner at my place whenever it suits him.

2024-10-02 00:54

John Amos Was a ‘Disruptive Element’

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