October 2024 has already been a tough month. As soon as the month, loved by Halloween fans, started, there was a lot of sad news. Broadway fans learned that two stars, Ken Page and Gavin Creel, had passed away, and just hours later, more heartbreak came with reports of John Amos’ death.
The month of October started off with a lot of sad news, leaving fans in shock. Just days after Dame Maggie Smith passed away, news of three heartbreaking deaths followed. John Amos’ death was especially upsetting for many fans, as he had long been seen as America’s “TV dad” from Good Times.
John Amos was 84 when he passed away on October 1st. He was still active in his acting career, with his last role in the 2023 film The Last Rifleman. No one knew he had any health problems, so his death came as a big shock, leaving people wondering what caused the loss of this legendary actor.
How did John Amos die?
Even if you’re not a fan of Good Times, the 1970s show that made Amos famous, or if you haven’t seen Roots, where he played Toby/Kunta Kinte, don’t worry — you’ve probably seen him in something else. If you’re like me, you might remember him from Die Hard 2: Die Harder, which is the second movie in the Die Hard series. But more likely, you recognize him from one of his classic TV shows.
He often appeared on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and also made guest appearances on popular shows like The New Dick Van Dyke Show and The Bill Cosby Show. His first big movie role was in 1973’s The World’s Greatest Athlete. After that, he appeared in many beloved films and shows, including Coming to America, Dr. Doolittle, Die Hard, and Madea.
Even though he often played supporting roles, Amos received many nominations and awards, including an Emmy nomination for Roots. In 2020, he was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. His legacy will live on, which is comforting for fans who are heartbroken over his unexpected death.
While his death was surprising, it doesn’t seem like it was caused by an accident or injury. He wasn’t dealing with any hidden illness, like some stars do — he passed away from natural causes.
Amos’ son, Kelly Christopher Amos, confirmed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that his father passed away on August 21, 2024, though the news wasn’t shared until more than a month later. He described his father as “a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold” and said he was loved by people all over the world. “Many fans saw him as their TV father,” he added. “He lived a good life, and his legacy will continue through his amazing work in TV and film.”
Child’s New Friend Has a Secret—Mom’s Heart Stops When She Finds Out
Lisa’s son, Mike, wouldn’t stop talking about his new friend, Sophie. Every day after school, all she heard was Sophie this, Sophie that. Lisa was happy Mike had made a friend so quickly after they moved to the new town. But she was also curious. She wanted to meet Sophie’s mom and connect with other parents. So, when Mike asked if Sophie could come over one day, Lisa agreed.
The day finally came. Lisa drove slowly toward the school to pick up Mike. As she glanced in the rearview mirror, she saw Mike staring out of the window quietly. The silence between them felt heavy, filled with memories of their recent struggles. Moving to this town was supposed to be a fresh start, but everything still felt strange and unfamiliar. New streets, new people—it all made Lisa feel like an outsider.
Lisa hoped that moving to a new town would help her and her son, Mike, heal after his father’s death. But she worried about Mike. He had been so quiet and distant since the loss. She wondered if he would make new friends or feel comfortable in this unfamiliar place.
As Mike got out of the car for school, Lisa called out, “Have a good day, sweetie! Be brave!”
Later that day, when she picked him up, Mike’s eyes were shining, and he practically bounced to the car. “Mom! I made a new friend! Her name is Sophie!”
Lisa felt a wave of relief. Maybe this move would be good for both of them. From that day on, Sophie was all Mike talked about.
One afternoon, Lisa picked Mike up again. He ran to her with a big grin and hugged her tightly.
“Hey, buddy! You seem happy,” Lisa said as they walked to the car.
“Yeah! It was awesome!” Mike replied, beaming.
“Really? What happened?” Lisa asked.
“Sophie invited me to her house to play tomorrow!” Mike said, excitedly.
“Oh? When?” Lisa asked, glancing at him as she started the car.
“Tomorrow!” Mike replied, bouncing in his seat.
Lisa smiled. “I’ll need to talk to her mom first to make sure it’s okay,” she said.
Mike rummaged through his bag and handed her a crumpled piece of paper. “Here, Sophie gave me her mom’s number.”
Later, at home, Lisa texted the number. “Hi, I’m Lisa, Mike’s mom. He said Sophie invited him over tomorrow. Is that okay?”
A few minutes later, a reply came: “Yes, Sophie already told me. We’d love to have him over.”
Lisa felt relieved. She wanted everything to go smoothly. She texted back, “That’s great! Is there anything I should bring?”
The response came quickly: “Maybe some wine, so we moms don’t get bored!”
Lisa laughed. It seemed like Sophie’s mom had a sense of humor. She replied, “Sounds good! See you tomorrow.”
The next day, Lisa and Mike walked up to Sophie’s house. Lisa held a bottle of wine and smiled at Mike, who knocked on the door excitedly. Sophie opened it, and the two kids ran off laughing.
Lisa stood at the door, waiting. A moment later, Sophie’s mom appeared—and Lisa’s heart sank. Standing before her was Alice, her enemy from high school.
Alice’s smile was cold. “Lisa,” she said.
“Alice,” Lisa replied, her stomach dropping.
Alice crossed her arms. “You haven’t changed,” she sneered.
Lisa shot back, “And you’re still showing off in short skirts.”
The tension between them was thick as Lisa stepped inside, clutching the bottle of wine. They sat down, but barely exchanged any words. The memories of high school rushed back—Alice had always been the popular girl who humiliated Lisa. The worst memory was prom night when Alice had stolen Lisa’s date.
The bitterness lingered, and Lisa avoided Alice after that, even though Mike and Sophie stayed friends. But one day, Lisa got a call from the school. Mike had been accused of bullying Sophie. Lisa couldn’t believe it. When she arrived at the school, she saw Alice sitting there.
“What’s going on?” Lisa asked.
“Mike has been bullying Sophie,” the teacher said.
“That’s impossible!” Lisa replied, shocked.
Alice sighed dramatically. “Sophie’s told me about it several times. I had to involve the teacher.”
Lisa was furious. “Why am I only hearing this now?”
Alice’s sneer returned. “Maybe you’re not paying enough attention to your son.”
Lisa’s anger flared. “How dare you? Don’t speak about my child like that!”
The teacher tried to calm things down, but the tension was high. By the end of the meeting, Lisa stormed out, furious. She couldn’t believe Alice was causing problems again, just like in high school.
A few days later, Lisa was surprised by a knock at her door. Alice stood there, looking different.
“What do you want now?” Lisa asked, crossing her arms.
“I came to apologize,” Alice said quietly.
Lisa was shocked. “Really?”
Alice nodded. “Sophie misses Mike. I hate seeing her so upset. I lied, Lisa. Mike wasn’t bullying her.”
Lisa was stunned. “Why would you lie?”
Alice sighed. “I was jealous of you. I always have been. Even in high school.”
Lisa couldn’t believe it. “Jealous of me?”
Alice explained, “At least you had a husband who loved you. I married Scott, the guy I took from you, but he wasn’t a good man. Sophie and I left him two years ago.”
Lisa raised an eyebrow. “So, I should thank you for stealing him?”
Alice laughed sadly. “You were always better than me, Lisa. I couldn’t handle it.”
There was a long pause. Then Alice asked, “Can you forgive me?”
Lisa looked at her for a moment, then said, “Come inside. Let’s have some wine and talk.”
As Alice stepped in, she hugged Lisa, and for the first time, Lisa felt the years of anger begin to fade. They both had their struggles, but maybe now they could finally understand each other.
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