John Amos' Son and Other Loved Ones Honor Late Actor at Celebration of Life Ceremony amid Ongoing Family Drama

Mar. 15, 2025

From left: Najee Ali and K.C. Amos at John Amos' Celebration of Life on Nov. 21.Photo:Ed White, Najee Ali, Aiden Romero

Ed White, Najee Ali, Aiden Romero

Friends and family ofJohn Amosare remembering his legacy.

“For many young African-American boys who grew up as I did, John Amos was the father figure that we didn’t have,” Ali said in a press release for the ceremony. “His role onGood Timesportrayed him as a loving husband and father, who was a provider and protector for his family. The greatest honor of my life was meeting him in Leimert Park and telling him that I watched him onGood Timesevery week and wished I had grown up with a father like him.”

During the service, actorRodney Allen Ripply gave a speechabout what Amos meant to him, honoring theRootsalum for his widespread impact.

“I ain’t going to take up much time, but I just want to say, God bless John,” Ripply said as he got choked up. “I know he’s in heaven. He was a good man. I remember him all the way back to his one-man show,Halley’s Comet. I remember that, and I remember going to see him do his one-man act, and I was like, this man — what for like, an hour and a half — I said, ‘Man, how much content does this guy have in his hand?’ And I was like, ‘Wow.’ He was an actor of actors, and I stand on his shoulders because of people like him, who’s amazing.”

Front row (from left): Najee Ali (Community Activist), Robert Sausedo (President and Founder of Community Build, LLC), K.C. Amos (John’s son), Maria Avila Dr. Eddie White (CEO of Storm Protection Services) and Dr. Cherilyn Lee (Holistic Healer) Back row (from left): Andre Parvenue, Rodney Allen Rippy (Actor/Producer) and Zollie Stevens (Professional Basketball Player/Real Estate Investor) at John Amos' Celebration of Life on Nov. 21.Aiden Romero

Aiden Romero

“Through Belinda Foster, I was able to get in contact with John,” Rippy shared. “And John and [his son] K.C. came to my show, and I was able to interview John, and I was so honored because I grew up, you know, I was proud of the 70s and all of that, and I saw John, and John was my biggest interview on my show.”

“I was so honored to have John be there,” he added.

“We’re honoring my father, John Amos, in L.A. with those he loved and especially with the community that he cherished and cared about. I’m carrying out my father’s wishes, and there are more details coming soon as to the real truth,” he shared in a statement, seemingly referring to the ongoing drama with his sister Shannon.

Shannon was not present at the service as she announced in an Instagramposton Oct. 23 that sheplanned a memorial and celebration of lifefor theGood Timesstar on Nov. 23 as a means of “sending my dad’s spirit home” and to “celebrate his extraordinary life and legacy.”

From left: KC Amos and Rodney Allen Rippy (Celebrity Actor, Community Leader, Producer) at John Amos' Celebration of Life on Nov. 21.Ed White, Najee Ali, Aiden Romero

K.C. announced his dad’s passing in a statement on Oct. 1.

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

“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.”

From left: Kevin Faler (Private Investigator), Najee Ali (Community Advocate) and K.C. Amos (John Amos' Son).Ed White, Najee Ali, Aiden Romero

Shannon and Amos’ goddaughter Amy Goudy later released their own statement claiming they found out about Amos’ death through the media.On Facebook, Shannon called out her brother for the mistreatment of their father in his final days, noting that his failure to notify them about the death was suspicious.

Shortly after the message made headlines, Foster, who was also named in Goudy’s statement, refuted those claims in an exclusive statement shared with PEOPLE.

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“Shannon’s claims that John was abused are false,” Foster continued. “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.”

PEOPLE previously reached out to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department, who said there “are no updates or statements” in regards to reopening John’s elder abuse case at this time.

source: people.com