ICONIC actor John Amos, known for the 1970s sitcom Good Times, died recently aged 84.
During his successful life, the Coming To America star was married twice, first to camera-shy Noel J. Mickelson – here’s what we know about her.
Meet Noel J. Mickelson
Mickelson was born in Iowa and grew up to be a carpenter and equestrian.
Her daughter Shannon shared on Instagram that she was of “Danish & Ashkenazi Jewish” descent.
She and John met while attending college at Colorado State University when she was majoring in fine arts, which Shannon says was “love at first sight”.
As a child I didn’t know my parents were different colors. I only saw them as my parents – the two people who loved me. All I knew was their love
Shannon Amos
John and Noel’s marriage and divorce
The lovebirds married in 1965 – two years before the Supreme Court’s landmark decision which rules against laws banning interracial marriage.
Their daughter Shannon spoke of their interracial marriage on social media, calling it “a tumultuous time in the world around them”.
She said: “I was born a year before my parents would be recognized as a legal couple in 16 states.
“As a child I didn’t know my parents were different colors. I only saw them as my parents – the two people who loved me. All I knew was their love.”
After they graduated, the couple moved to Amos’ home-place of New Jersey and began working as social workers.
Noel reportedly encouraged John’s dream of being a pro football player.
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The actor then entered the Greenwich Village stand-up comedy scene before entering the entertainment sector – all with Mickelson by his side.
John said to The Hollywood Reporter: “Being an artist herself, she understood my reluctance to accept the 9-to-5 world.”
The pair’s first child, Shannon, was born in New Jersey in 1966 but they soon moved to Los Angeles when John booked TV commercials.
This soon turned into many sitcoms including his role as weatherman Gordy Howard on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and James Evans Sr. on Good Times.
She was my rock, offering a safe space to be with my emotions. I miss the warmth of her embrace so much
Shannon Amos
The Amos family then raised Shannon and their youngest child K.C. in Sylmar after he was born in 1970.
With Noel being an avid equestrian, the couple raised the kids on a property with horses.
Daughter Shannon was nine years old when her parents separated in 1975, and recalls Noel having “a nervous breakdown”.
Noel even had a restraining order against John, Hollywood Reporter claims.
Details of their divorce have never been shared publicly.
Noel J. Mickelson’s life after the divorce
Little was known of Noel’s life after the divorce, with her kids Shannon and K.C. sharing various pics on social media.
Daughter Shannon told The Hollywood Reporter that Noel remarried to a Disney special-effects engineer.
But, when living on a California ranch with her new husband, she experienced medical complications during a hysterectomy.
This tragically led to her becoming blind and a quadriplegic.
In 2014, K.C. posted a photo of himself and Shannon with a sadly unwell Noel.
Noel’s second husband cared for her until she sadly died in 2016.
The children have continued to keep her in their memories by posting various photos with heartwarming captions.
Sharon said in February this year on Instagram: “She was my rock, offering a safe space to be with my emotions. I miss the warmth of her embrace so much.”
