John Amos, the celebrated actor best known for his roles in the groundbreaking 1970s television series “Good Times” and the epic miniseries “Roots,” passed away at the age of 84 on August 21, leaving behind a legacy of impactful performances. While his publicist cited congestive heart failure as the cause of death on October 1, the circumstances surrounding his final months have become the subject of investigation, initiated by his daughter, Shannon Amos. This development adds a layer of complexity to the actor’s passing, unfolding against a backdrop of ongoing familial discord.
Shannon Amos, 58, co-trustee of her father’s estate, alongside five other family members and two close associates, expressed shock and dismay at learning of John Amos’s death through media reports. They stated they were not informed directly, a claim that contrasts sharply with the account of Shannon’s brother, K.C. Amos, 54. K.C. asserted that their father had explicitly wished for his sister and other family members not to be immediately notified of his passing, a request he claimed to have honored.
The rift between the siblings has deepened with Shannon Amos’s recent actions. She has formally retained lawyer James H. Davis III to probe the events leading up to her father’s death. Shannon has publicly stated that she has made multiple requests to Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles for John Amos’s medical records, where he died, but has yet to receive a response, citing patient privacy laws as the reason for non-disclosure from hospital officials.
Davis, in a news release issued on December 24, emphasized the family’s right to understand the “full circumstances surrounding Mr. Amos’ care and the events that led to his passing.” He affirmed a commitment to explore all avenues to uncover these answers, signaling a determined pursuit for clarity and potentially accountability.
This legal move is the latest escalation in a public dispute between John Amos’s children. Shannon Amos alleges a strained relationship with her brother, K.C., stating that communication has ceased due to disagreements that originated with the care of their mother, Noel Mickelson, who died in 2016 from sepsis and a malignant tumor, according to Shannon.
While the siblings had reportedly reconciled after their mother’s death, Shannon asserts that K.C.’s alleged struggles with “addiction and financial mismanagement” led to a renewed separation in August 2020, after which he moved in with their father. This living arrangement, according to Shannon, made it increasingly difficult for other family, friends, business associates, and caregivers to reach John Amos.
K.C. Amos vehemently refutes these claims, dismissing allegations of addiction and financial mismanagement as “baseless.” He maintains that he is dedicated to a balanced and healthy life, honoring his parents’ memory with dignity and strength.
John Amos in his iconic role as Kunta Kinte in Roots miniseries, highlighting his impactful acting career and legacy after his death.
Prior to his death, the discord within the Amos family became publicly visible when Shannon Amos posted on Instagram in June 2023, claiming her father was a victim of elder abuse. She launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for his “care, legal fees, and aftercare,” stating his life was “hanging by a thread.” However, the GoFundMe campaign was later removed by the platform. A GoFundMe spokesperson stated the removal followed concerns about Mr. Amos declining the funds, leading to a review and subsequent refund to donors.
Following Shannon’s elder abuse allegations, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the Custer County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation in June 2023. John Amos was residing in Westcliffe, Colorado, at the time. Sheriff Lloyd Smith confirmed a criminal investigation was conducted, evidence collected and analyzed, but the district attorney ultimately concluded there was insufficient evidence to press charges.
Adding another layer to the complex narrative, a video surfaced in June 2023 where John Amos stated he had “ongoing issues” with Shannon and believed she was exploiting him, directly attributing “elderly abuse” to her actions. He did not provide specifics in the video. Kevin Faler, a private investigator hired by John Amos, characterized the alleged abuse as “financial elder abuse” in a December interview, without elaborating further. Shannon countered, stating that when Amy Goudy, a Facebook user, questioned John Amos about these allegations against Shannon, he reportedly claimed, “I have no recollection of that.”
Shannon argues that her father was in a “vulnerable state” when the video was recorded, hospitalized with congestive heart failure, on pain medication, and suffering from dementia, rendering him susceptible to manipulation by K.C. She has not provided formal documentation of a dementia diagnosis. Publicist Belinda Foster disputes the dementia claim, asserting John Amos was of sound mind, actively working on projects and writing scripts until his final months.
In July 2023, K.C. Amos was arrested in West Orange, New Jersey, after Shannon reported alleged death threats to the police. The criminal complaint detailed Shannon’s “imminent fear of death” based on text messages containing firearm images. Shannon described these threats as part of a pattern of “escalating harassment and intimidation” aimed at isolating her from her father. Faler dismissed these allegations as having “no merit,” stating a legal defense team was working with law enforcement on their own investigation. Ultimately, no charges were filed, and the case was closed in December 2023.
The Los Angeles Police Department also initiated an elder abuse investigation in February 2024 following another complaint from Shannon Amos. However, the LAPD reportedly found no evidence of wrongdoing.
While Shannon and other family members claim John Amos was “isolated” by K.C. Amos and Foster in his final months, Foster refutes this, stating Shannon and others had not attempted contact in over a year because John Amos allegedly did not want to communicate with them. K.C. Amos also denies any form of elder abuse, stating unequivocally that he did not commit “physical, financial, emotional, psychological elder abuse or neglect” against his father.
As the investigation into John Amos’s death proceeds, the conflicting narratives from his children and close associates paint a picture of a family deeply fractured. The probe initiated by Shannon Amos seeks to unravel the truth surrounding the veteran actor’s final days, adding a poignant chapter to the legacy of a man remembered for his powerful performances and enduring impact on television.
