In the days following the death of legendary actor John Amos, known for his roles in Good Times and Roots, questions have emerged about the circumstances of his passing. Amos, 84, died on August 21, 2023, of natural causes, according to a statement released by his son, Kelly Christopher "K.C." Amos. However, a different narrative has surfaced, leading some family members and friends to suggest possible elder abuse and foul play surrounding the veteran actor's death.
Amos' daughter, Shannon Amos, along with other family members and close friends, released a statement expressing concerns over how her father's final days were handled, hinting at potential misconduct by those closest to him. The family said they refused to rule out "the possibility of foul play." This statement came just hours after a separate statement from Belinda Foster, identified as Amos' publicist, confirmed his death. Foster's statement, provided on behalf of K.C., described Amos as "a man with the kindest heart," and remembered by fans as their "TV father."
Despite Foster's confirmation that Amos died of congestive heart failure, which was corroborated by the Los Angeles County death certificate, Shannon Amos took to social media to question the timeline and details surrounding her father's death. She revealed that she only learned of her father's death through media reports, 45 days after it had happened. In an Instagram post, Shannon claimed that an unknown individual was present with her father in the emergency room on the night of his passing, pretending to be his daughter. "I'm his only daughter," Shannon clarified, accusing Foster of being the imposter.
Further complicating matters, Amos' goddaughter, Amy Goudy, shared a joint statement on Facebook with several family members, accusing Foster, K.C., and another man, Eugene Brummet, of isolating Amos from his loved ones in the last year of his life. The statement suggested that Amos may have been cremated hastily to prevent any further investigation into his death. "We fear he was likely cremated to avoid any potential investigation into the conditions surrounding his final days," the family said, adding that they were not directly informed of his death by K.C.
This claim is supported by an earlier family feud between Shannon and K.C., which came to light when Shannon reported her suspicions of elder abuse to the police in 2022. The investigation was closed earlier this year due to insufficient evidence, but tensions within the family remained high. Shannon had previously spoken to The Hollywood Reporter, acknowledging the bizarre nature of their family's public dispute. "Seventies sitcom star in trouble when his bipolar, drug-addicted son exploits him on TikTok and his ayahuasca shaman daughter comes to the rescue," she said, summarizing the perception. "It's crazy."
The family's statement further alleged that K.C. had controlled Amos' communications, cutting off contact with Shannon and other family members. Meanwhile, K.C. portrayed a more idyllic image of his relationship with his father on social media. He often shared light-hearted videos on TikTok featuring the pair traveling across the country, creating a "buddy comedy" dynamic. However, the family contends this carefully crafted image was far from the truth. "Our father suffered from dementia, and K.C. often gave John verbal prompts to create a narrative on social media that was not reflective of the truth," the statement said.
While the family points to potential financial motivations, including altering wills and collecting life insurance benefits, the allegations remain unproven. K.C. has not publicly responded to the latest accusations, and Belinda Foster did not return requests for comment.
John Amos, whose acting career spanned over five decades, was a beloved figure in Hollywood and beyond. Known for his role as the hardworking father on Good Times and as the older Kunta Kinte in the groundbreaking miniseries Roots, Amos was a trailblazer for African American actors in television and film.
