John Amos’ 2 Children: All About Shannon and K.C. Amos

Mar. 15, 2025

John Amos with his children, Shannon Amos and K.C. Amos, at the 1st Annual “A Celebration of Heroes” Power Heroes Gala on December 3, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.Photo:Brian To/FilmMagic

Brian To/FilmMagic

John Amos, whodied on Aug. 21, 2024, played America’s dad in his role as James Evans Sr. onGood Times, but in real life, he was the father of two children: Shannon and K.C. Amos.

The Emmy nominee first became a father when he and his ex-wife, Noel Mickelson, welcomed their daughter, Shannon, in 1966. Their family expanded again with the addition of son K.C. in 1970.

According to Shannon, John was more complex than the dad viewers saw on television but had similarities to hisGood Timespersona. “My Dad was no joke when I was young,” she toldAmoMamain 2021. “He was always strict, but he was also very funny and super adventurous.”

K.C. echoed this sentiment on John’s parenting style to PEOPLE in February 2024. “I don’t think James Evans was quite as fun as my father. Pop really, really liked to have fun,” he said. “But then again, there was the tough-love part. … He never babied me.”

However, as John told PEOPLE exclusively in December 2023, he believed his family would come to a “harmonious relationship at some point.”

“That is my daughter, my first child. I love her,” he explained. “We just have … what might be best described [as] an acrimonious relationship, but everything heals in time, and the love is still there.”

TheRootsstar added, “All families go through trials and tribulations of some sort … We are still family … that’s the bottom line.”

John Amos with his son K.C. Amos in 2005. ; John Amos and his daughter Shannon Amos.Gregg DeGuire/WireImage ; Shannon Amos Instagram

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage ; Shannon Amos Instagram

Most recently, the Los Angeles Police Department launched an investigation into the allegations of neglect of care butclosed it one month laterin April 2024, PEOPLE confirmed. According toTMZ, the LAPD found no evidence of wrongdoing and concluded it was a matter of a family dispute.

In October 2024, K.C. confirmed his father’s death in a statement to PEOPLE.

“It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned,” Kelly wrote. “He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold… and he was loved the world over."

Here’s everything to know about the late John Amos’ children: Shannon and K.C. Amos.

Shannon Amos, 58

John Amos and his daughter Shannon Amos during Cure Autism Now Celebrates Third Annual “Acts of Love” After Party.J.Sciulli/WireImage

J.Sciulli/WireImage

Shannon was born to John and Mickelson in New Jersey on Aug. 5, 1966.

According toThe Hollywood Reporter, Mickelson moved Shannon to the Sylmar neighborhood of Los Angeles at a young age to support John’s acting career. She and K.C., who was born four years after his sister, grew up there on a property with horses.

In her early years, Shannon saw her dad as a regular father. “For me, my dad was just my dad,” she toldAmoMama. “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.”

In 2003, she produced K.C.’s first indie feature,The Watermelon Heist.“[I] chose to do what I thought was what I was supposed to do, which would be … to honor … my family’s legacy,” Shannon explained on theOut Front with Vince Noblepodcast.

The television executive also became a mom, welcoming daughter Queira Noelle onNov. 30, 1991.

Shannon worked in the film industry for more than 20 years before changing her career path. In 2020, she launched her own wellness travel company,Sumanah.

John Amos with his daughter Shannon Amos.Shannon Amos Instagram

Shannon Amos Instagram

She spoke of her decision to leave producing onOut Front with Vince Noble, saying, “I wasn’t feeling as fulfilled as I thought I would … even in the pinnacle of my career. I became disenchanted.”

“Before she passed, I asked her if she had any regrets,” Shannon told AmoMama of her mother, who had become blind and a quadriplegic after whatThe Hollywood Reporterstates was a hysterectomy gone wrong.

“My mom said only that she didn’t get to travel,” she recalled. “I asked her, ‘What if I take your ashes with me and I travel around the world?’ My mom’s eyes lit up.”

Shannon spent the next year traveling to 14 different countries, including Malaysia, Vietnam, India, Bali, Cambodia, Thailand and the Philippines.

In the years that followed, she also posted about sweet moments with John. In October 2022, the entrepreneur shared aTikTok videoof her and the actor dancing in an open field. “Enjoy your parents while they’re here. So grateful for this moment with my dad,” she captioned it.

In 2021, Shannon settled down in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, in 2021. “My Dad always encouraged me to live my best life,” Shannon told AmoMama. “And so I do that.”

Kelly Christopher “K.C.” Amos, 55

Tibrina Hobson/WireImage

K.C. was born to John and Mickelson on Oct. 18, 1970.

The budding filmmaker grew up with his father, mother and his older sibling in the Sylmar neighborhood of L.A.

Like his big sister, K.C. followed his dad into show business. After appearing in several roles on the big and small screen, he tried his hand at directing.

In 1996, K.C.’s work on James McMurtry’s “Where You Hide the Body” music video was nominated for aGrammy. He went on to collaborate with other top artists, includingLil Wayne,Rick RossandFat Joe.

John Amos and son K.C. Amos arrive at the 2015 Voice Arts Awards on November 15, 2015 in West Hollywood, California.Leon Bennett/Getty

Leon Bennett/Getty

The following year, he received accolades at the Sundance Music Festival for his movieSyphon Gun, which earned an honorable mention for the short filmmaking award.

“A big high point” for the filmmaker came with 2003’sThe Watermelon Heist, which he collaborated on with Shannon.

He teamed up with his famous father on several occasions before his death, including 2015’sMercy for Angels, which he co-produced and directed and in which John played God.

The pair also captured their real-life moments on film. On the heels of a viral2021 videothat showed the acting legend and his son listening toGladys Knight’s “Midnight Train to Georgia” together, John and K.C. also traveled the country together in a journey which K.C. documented onTikTok.

“Having my own son working with me as a filmmaker, it’s a blessing because we can capture these moments of inspiration,” John explained to PEOPLE in 2024 while discussingAmerica’s Dad, a docuseries theComing to Americaactor had been working on with his son for a few years.

He added, “It covers my career, his career, our joint careers. And it’s something that I think every father and son will want to see.”

Later in the year, K.C. confirmed his father had died in a statement, sharing that he had “lived a good life” and his “legacy will live on.”

“My father loved working as an actor throughout his entire life,” he added. “Most recently inSuits LAplaying himself and our documentary about his life journey as an actor,America’s Dad. He was my dad, my best friend, and my hero. Thank you for your prayers and support at this time.”

source: people.com