ROOTS actor John Amos died in August 2024, at the age of 84.
His son K.C. shared the news that his father had passed away of natural causes.
Amos often starred as a father in TV hits including the 1970s sitcom Good Times – but he also had two off-screen children.
Meet Shannon Amos
Shannon is the daughter of John Amos and Noel J. Mickelson, who welcomed her into the world in New Jersey in 1966.
John reportedly discouraged his kids from following in his actor footsteps, but Shannon became a producer and worked on shows like Yo! MTV Raps and America’s Most Wanted.
As a child, I just saw what he did as a job, but as I got older, I began to see how many lives he impacted through his role as a strong Black man and father
Shannon Amos
The executive became a mom in 1991, welcoming her daughter Queira Noelle.
After 20 years of working in the film industry, she had a career change and launched her own wellness travel company, dubbed Sumanah.
The major switch reportedly came after her mom’s death in December 2016 and she went travelling.
According to Shannon, her dad John was unlike most of his characters shared similar traits with his Good Times persona.
She told AmoMama in 2021: “He was always strict, but he was also very funny and super adventurous.
“As a child, I just saw what he did as a job, but as I got older, I began to see how many lives he impacted through his role as a strong Black man and father.”
Shannon and John’s relationship became more turbulent regarding the actor’s medical care as years went on.
In June 2023, Shannon accused an “unnamed caregiver” of “elder abuse”, launching a GoFundMe in his name after she says she received a distressing call from her dad, People reported.
The claims made by Shannon led to an investigation by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
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But dad John accused Shannon of the same crime a month after in an Instagram video posted by brother K.C.
Shannon also claims she only found out about her father’s death through reports online – 45 days after his death.
She said on Instagram: “I am without words. Our family has received the heartbreaking news that my Dad, John Allen Amos, Jr., transitioned on August 21st.
“We are devastated and left with many questions about how this happened 45 days ago, learning about it through the media like so many of you.”
Despite the troubles, Shannon has always showed love to her dad and spoke of him affectionately.
In 2021 she settled down in Mexico, telling AmoMama that her “dad always encouraged [her] to live [her] best life”.
Meet Kelly Christopher ‘K.C.’ Amos
K.C. was John and Noel’s second child, born in 1970.
The son grew up with the family in the Sylmar neighborhood of Los Angeles and, like his sister, followed in their dad’s footsteps of film and TV.
In 1996 K.C. worked on James McMurtry’s music video Where You Hide the Body which was nominated for a Grammy and even collaborated with artists such as Lil Wayne and Rick Ross.
In 2003, Shannon and K.C. worked on a project together The Watermelon Heist.
John and K.C. were reportedly very close, teaming up with his famous father on various projects including 2015’s Mercy for Angels which K.C. co-produced and directed while John starred in it.
Before his death, John had been working on a docuseries called America’s Dad which he and K.C. had been working on for a few years.
John told PEOPLE in 2024: “Having my own son working with me as a filmmaker, it’s a blessing because we can capture these moments of inspiration.
“It covers my career, his career, our joint careers. And it’s something that I think every father and son will want to see.”
But K.C. and Shannon’s relationship had a rocky relationship.
K.C. was arrested in 2023 for allegedly making threats against his sister’s life – the same month John accused Shannon of elder abuse.
He confirmed the death of his father on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, in a heartfelt statement.
He said: “My father loved working as an actor throughout his entire life.
“He was my dad, my best friend, and my hero. Thank you for your prayers and support at this time.”
