I was returning home after spending six glorious days in the Dominican Republic with a group of friends (who are like my family) that I’ve known since we met in the 1980s at Spelman College and Morehouse College. I was sitting at my gate at New York’s JFK airport, awaiting the boarding call and saving two seats for my travelling companions when I decided to pass the time on Twitter. The first post I saw was the announcement of the passing of John Amos at the age of 84.

You’d have thought, from my reaction, that it was my own father that I’d lost.

John Amos was known for such roles as Gordy on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Admiral Percy Fitzwallace (how’s that for a name?) on The West Wing, Kunta Kinte on the 1970s mini-series Roots, and Cleo McDowell in Coming to America, but for me, he was and will always be James Evans on Good Times.

As I wrote when I first started this blog, I love Good Times. I own the series on DVD, I still watch the show daily, and I plan to eventually cover every episode on the pages of this blog. But I can’t deny that I generally focus my daily viewing on the first three seasons – and that’s solely because John Amos left the show at the end of season three. It goes without saying that Good Times wasn’t the same without him.

James Evans could be stubborn as a mule and inflexible as a wooden ruler, but he was a loving husband and a caring father who learned from his mistakes and wasn’t averse to admitting when he was wrong. He was compassionate and hardworking, sensitive and wise. He was affectionate, but he wouldn’t hestitate to go for his belt if the circumstance warranted it.

He was the kind of dad I wish I could have had.

As the actor who brought James to life and made him so beloved, John Amos was perfectly cast. He was equally adept at being funny, touching, and fearsome, and projected a natural authenticity that made him unforgettable as a father figure.

I am celebrating John Amos and James Evans today by watching my top five favorite Good Times episodes in which he’s featured. Here’s a bit about each of these, and why I love them so.

Sex and the Evans Family

As I wrote in a previous blog post, “Sex and the Evans Family” is my all-time favorite episode. It centers on the discovery of a book in the Evans household, titled “Sexual Behavior in the Ghetto.” Florida is appalled to find the publication in her home and blames J.J. for bringing it into the house; when he believes this contention, James is unconcerned and almost proud (“You dog, you,” he amusingly labels his son). But it’s a whole ‘nother story when James learns that Thelma is the responsible party.

John Amos’s abrupt transformation in this episode from delight to dismay is masterful. He also does a lovely job in conveying the special kind of love that fathers have for their daughters, injecting his performance with both poignancy and relatability.

The Check-Up

Because of his frequent headaches and hair-trigger temper, James’s family is concerned that he may be suffering from hypertension (“Or,” Florida translates, “as we plain folks say, ‘high blood pressure.'”). When James is finally convinced to get a check-up, he learns that he’s in good health, but he gets some important tips from the doctor.

Amos does a superb job in depicting James’s frustration and anger in this episode, especially in the scene where he insists that he’s not “nervous, sick, or upset.” He emphasizes this declaration by throwing a chair against the wall, demolishing it, then slamming the door to his bedroom with such force that it’s a wonder it stayed on the hinges. I’ve watched this scene countless times, and I still feel like I’m holding my breath, waiting for the worst to be over.

Thelma’s Young Man

Thelma has been receiving calls and going out on dates, but no one has met the young man who’s the object of her interest. When they finally do meet him, James is none too pleased to learn that Thelma’s “young man” is 42 years old.

Once again, Amos exhibits his versatility, showing his skill in comedy as well as dramatics. His reaction to learning the age of Thelma’s boyfriend is hilarious, as is his questioning Thelma about her reasons for wanting a quick wedding. And when he sits down with the boyfriend for a serious one-on-one, he makes us feel every bit of his combined vexation and concern.

J.J. and the Gang: Part 2

J.J. is reluctantly recruited into a gang run by a tough neighborhood dude by the name of “Mad Dog.” Although he tries everything to get out of participating in a rumble with a rival gang, J.J. is forced to go along and he’s shot by Mad Dog after the gang members encounter James and Florida in the street. The conclusion of the two-parter centers on James’s determination to see Mad Dog brought to justice for his crime.

Most of James’s actions and behaviors in this “very special episode” aren’t really played for laughs, although he does tote around a pocket full of prezels meant to represent Mad Dog’s trigger finger, and generates a giggle every time he snaps one in two. Instead, we’re treated to James’s struggle between his desire to avenge his son and his compassion for the fatherless young man who fired the gun. Amos himself considered this episode to be one of his most impactful.

The Weekend

To celebrate their 20-year wedding anniversary, James surprises Florida with a weekend in a mountain cabin. There’s not much of a plot; the action mainly deals with Florida’s worrying about leaving the children alone, and the sexy calendar girl, Gloria, who shows up at the cabin, having mistaken the date of her planned rendezvous with the owner.

Amos really shows his comedy chops here; he’s particularly funny after Gloria arrives – her seductive aura briefly throws him for a loop – and he’s even more nonplussed when Florida returns to the cabin after making a phone call, literally stuttering and stumbling over his words. And he balances this hilarity at the end of the episode, when his tender, romantic side emerges and we know, beyond question, what Florida sees in James.

It has always been a pleasure and a privilege to watch John Amos on Good Times. He brought so much to the show – so much humor, so much warmth, so much love. It’s no wonder that his absence was felt so acutely when he left the show. Fortunately for us, we can insert a DVD or turn on a cable channel, and see Amos’s James Evans whenever we want a laugh, or a cry, or even just an enthusiastic “right on!”

And for that, I’ll always be grateful.

What are some of your favorite John Amos episodes on Good Times? Let me know in the comments below!