John Amos

, the hardworking head of the family on "Good Times" (CBS, 1974-79). He departed the show in 1976 after clashing with the producers over its scripts, and spent much of the next few decades essaying stern and dependable men - usually in a branch of the military or law enforcement - in projects ranging from "Roots" (1976) and "Die Hard 2" (1990), to "The West Wing" (NBC, 1999-2006) and "Men in Trees" (ABC, 2006- ).

Born John A. Amos Jr. on Dec. …