John Amos, a renowned actor recognized for his performances in ABC’s influential miniseries “Roots” and the sitcom “Good Times,” has passed away at the age of 84.

Amos portrayed the elder Kunta Kinte in the highly regarded 1977 miniseries and played James Evans Sr. in the classic 1970s CBS sitcom “Good Times.” He died of natural causes on August 21 in Los Angeles, as confirmed by his representative on Tuesday.

“With great sadness, I announce that my father has passed away,” said his son, Kelly Christopher Amos. “He was a man with a kind heart and he was dearly loved by many.”

“He embodied the role of a TV father for countless fans. He lived a fulfilling life. His remarkable legacy in television and film will endure. My dad cherished acting throughout his life, most recently appearing as himself in ‘Suits: LA’ and in our documentary ‘America’s Dad,’ detailing his journey as an actor. He was my father, my closest friend, and my hero. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers during this time.” (The “Suits: LA” spinoff is set to release next year.)

John Amos also featured in ‘Mary Tyler Moore Show,’ ‘The West Wing’

Amos was born in Newark, New Jersey, and his breakthrough role came in 1970 when he played weatherman Gordy Howard on CBS’ “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” Shortly afterward, Amos landed one of his most significant roles as James Evans Sr. in the groundbreaking sitcom “Good Times,” which ran from 1974 to 1979 and was a spinoff of “Maude.”

After three seasons, Amos was let go from “Good Times,” with his character being killed off. In a 2020 interview with VladTV, he shared that he had concerns about the scripts, feeling that he understood better how a Black family and father should be portrayed compared to the writers, none of whom were Black.

“I wasn’t the most tactful person,” he remarked, adding that he was dismissed after the writers expressed, ‘We can’t handle this anymore.’

Amos showcased his dramatic talent in the 1977 miniseries “Roots,” a performance that earned him an Emmy nomination.

In a 2015 discussion with the Archive of American Television, Amos expressed his pride in participating in a project that shifted opinions on slavery and changed how people viewed their ancestry. He admitted to feeling overwhelmed when he learned he was being considered for the role. “I felt as though I had won the lottery,” he stated.

Throughout his five-decade career, Amos delivered numerous memorable performances, including Major Grant in “Die Hard 2” and Cleo McDowell in Eddie Murphy’s “Coming to America,” a character he reprised in the sequel, “Coming 2 America,” released in 2021.

Amos also had a significant role as Admiral Percy Fitzwallace on NBC’s “The West Wing” and in recent years appeared in CBS’ “Two and a Half Men,” Netflix’s “The Ranch,” and HBO’s “The Righteous Gemstones.” There were reports that he joined the cast of the “Suits” spinoff “Suits L.A.” earlier this year, playing himself for the first time in his career.

In addition to his acting career, Amos served in the New Jersey State National Guard and had a background in sports, having played briefly for the Kansas City Chiefs and attended Colorado State University.

This story has been updated to include new information.