The late John Amos had a daughter and son who followed in his entertainment path

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

John Amos, who died on Aug. 21, 2024, played America’s dad in his role as James Evans Sr. on Good 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 his Good Times persona. “My Dad was no joke when I was young,” she told AmoMama in 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.”

In later years, the family dealt with differences over John’s medical care. In June 2023, Shannon accused “an unnamed caregiver” of “elder abuse” and started a GoFundMe in his name after receiving what she called a “distressing” call from her dad. The claims led to an investigation by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

John accused Shannon of the same crime the following month in an Instagram video posted in July 2023 by K.C., who was arrested for allegedly making threats against his sister’s life that same month.

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.”

The Roots star 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

Most recently, the Los Angeles Police Department launched an investigation into the allegations of neglect of care but closed it one month later in April 2024, PEOPLE confirmed. According to TMZ, 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, 58John Amos and his daughter Shannon Amos during Cure Autism Now Celebrates Third Annual “Acts of Love” After Party.

J.Sciulli/WireImage

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

According to The 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 told AmoMama. “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.”

Though The Hollywood Reporter reports that the Roots star discouraged his 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren from following in his footsteps, Shannon grew up to become a producer, working on shows like Yo! MTV Raps and America’s Most Wanted. She also handled marketing for I Am Legend and Blood Diamond.

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 the Out Front with Vince Noble podcast.

The television executive also became a mom, welcoming daughter Queira Noelle on Nov. 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

She spoke of her decision to leave producing on Out 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.”

The wellness guru was inspired by her travels around the world, which she embarked upon after Mickelson’s death in December 2016.

“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 what The Hollywood Reporter states 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 a TikTok video of 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, 55John Amos and son K.C. Amos attend the Norby Walters 25th annual night of 100 stars Oscar viewing gala on February 22, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.

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.

K.C. credits John for his career, writing in a 2014 blog, “I think that his advice in my life has helped me discover who I am and my passion for directing and production work. After watching him work in front of the camera on a live TV show or a film shoot, I became fascinated with cameras and directing.”

In 1996, K.C.’s work on James McMurtry’s “Where You Hide the Body” music video was nominated for a Grammy. He went on to collaborate with other top artists, including Lil Wayne, Rick Ross and Fat 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

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

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

He teamed up with his famous father on several occasions before his death, including 2015’s Mercy 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 viral 2021 video that showed the acting legend and his son listening to Gladys Knight’s “Midnight Train to Georgia” together, John and K.C. also traveled the country together in a journey which K.C. documented on TikTok.

“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 discussing America’s Dad, a docuseries the Coming to America actor 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 in Suits LA playing 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.”