John Amos’ Cause of Death Revealed as Feud Between ‘Good Times’ Star’s Children Continues

Good Times star John Amos, whose final months before his death were beset by a battle over his care between his two adult children, died of congestive heart failure at an Inglewood, California hospital more than six weeks ago, according to reports from multiple news outlets that viewed his death certificate. The family drama also led the star to request a delay in announcing his death, his publicist announced on Friday.

People and TMZ report that Amos’ death certificate states that he died on Aug. 21 at 5:18 p.m. and there were no other significant medical conditions that contributed to his death; no autopsy was performed on Amos, the certificate states.

The star of the 1970s hit sitcom’s remains were cremated nine days after his death, on Aug. 30. His son, Kelly Christopher “K.C.” Amos is listed as the informant who reported his death to Los Angeles County and his address is listed as the late actor’s “place of disposition.” 

“He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold … and he was loved the world over,” KC Amos said of his father in a statement following his death, in part. “Many fans consider him their TV father. He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.”

The public only learned of the elder Amos’ death earlier this week, when the news surfaced on Tuesday. His daughter, Shannon Amos, revealed she learned about her father’s death through the media: “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,” she wrote in a caption to a post on her official Instagram account.

An acrimonious battle between Amos’ children defined the family in Amos’ final years as they fought each other over their father’s care and his legacy, with Shannon publicly accusing her brother, K.C., of elder abuse. She claimed in filings with authorities in New Jersey and Colorado that, over time, her brother consolidated authority over their father’s life and affairs, isolating him from members of his inner circle — grandchildren, nieces and decades-long friends, she claimed. Amos’ daughter also claimed that her brother had impersonated their dad in communications, disregarded his medical needs, mishandled his finances and exploited and eroded his legacy.

A case was also opened by police in Los Angeles regarding Shannon’s claims, but it was closed in April.

K.C. denies all of these claims and told The Hollywood Reporter that his sister had engaged in a baroque crusade of character assassination in the hope of making him seem, as he puts it, “unfit.” The elder Amos, meanwhile, said in a statement shared with People earlier this year that the claims of elder abuse are “false and unmerited” and that his son is “a caring, thoughtful human being who respects me.” In thanking Los Angeles police, the Good Times star indicated that he and K.C. were working on a documentary that will “shed light on the real truth as to the motives of those who have painted a false narrative about me.”

Belinda Foster, the actor’s longtime publicist, released a statement this week refuting claims K.C. was abusing his father. Foster was also named in a statement posted to Facebook by multiple family members regarding their suspicions around Amos’ son.

“I represented John Amos for over 30 years as his publicist of record,” Foster said in a statement sent to People. “The media knows this along with John’s agencies of record. Over the years we grew close to one another to the point of a familial relationship. In the last few years, he often referred to me as his ‘daughter.’ This was not a fraud by John, K.C., or myself. He was like a father to me. I deeply mourn his passing.”

“Shannon’s claims that John was abused are false,” she stated. “K.C., Eugene and I, along with numerous others, cared for him. On several occasions when Shannon claimed that he was abused, law enforcement authorities sat with John and confirmed his well-being.”

Foster also addressed the claims that K.C. failed to notify Shannon about their father’s death, referencing a restraining order.

“At the time of John’s passing, K.C. was under a strict no-contact order from the Superior Court of New Jersey based on the Complaint that his sister Shannon brought against him in 2023,” she wrote. “As a condition of his Pretrial Release, K.C. is precluded from making any contact with Shannon directly or indirectly by phone, social media, or any method of communication. At the time of his death, John was concerned that Shannon might turn his death and interment into a circus as she had done with other aspects of his life.”

“It was John who requested the delay in announcing his death to Shannon and the rest of the world,” Foster added.