John Amos’ Marriage to His First Wife Was Forbidden — What Did the Pretty Lady, with Whom He Welcomed Two Kids, Look Like?
John Amos and Noel J. Mickelson tied the knot at a time when interracial marriages were banned. They were married for a decade and had two children together.
John Amos was a successful actor with a career spanning over five decades, including many acting credits. His notable projects include the sitcom “Good Times,” the drama series “Roots,” where he won an Emmy Award for playing Kunta Kinte, and the film franchise, “Coming to America.”
John Amos at the Chiller Theatre Expo on April 26, 2013, in Parsippany, New Jersey | Source: Getty Images
While he maintained a constant presence in the Hollywood scene, the star kept his life private. Even though little is known about John’s personal life, he was married twice and has two children from his first marriage to Noel J. Mickelson.
John Amos, Noel J. Mickelson, K.C. Amos, Shannon Amos, and a fifth child in a photo uploaded on June 22, 2023 | Source: Instagram/k.c.amos
Like his relationships, the talented actor kept his children out of the spotlight for most of their lives. They are now older and have shared more about their family on social media.
Losing the Mother of His Kids
Noel was the mother of John’s only children, Shannon and K.C. Amos. She was a well-known equestrian, architect, environmentalist, and artist, with a deep love and respect for nature.
Shannon credited her late mother for teaching her and K.C. to express themselves creatively. Her brother occasionally shares throwback photos of their mother, whom they call “Noni,” and the sweet moments they shared.
In one of his Instagram posts uploaded in 2023, he reflected on how their mother raised them. One thing he revealed was that she made them have dinner by 6:00 p.m.
John Amos, Noel J. Mickelson, and their family in a post uploaded on March 23, 2023 | Source: Instagram/k.c.amos
John Amos‘ first wife passed away in December 2016, surrounded by her family. In her last moments, she expressed regret that she could not travel to see the world.
Noel J. Mickelson in a post uploaded on September 18, 2023 | Source: Instagram/k.c.amos
Shannon then vowed to take her ashes around the world to fulfill her last wish and began doing so in January 2017. What stood out about John’s marriage to Noel was that it occurred when interracial couples were looked down upon.
K.C. Amos and Noel J. Mickelson in a post uploaded on September 18, 2023 | Source: Instagram/k.c.amos
A Forbidden Love
According to Shannon, John and Noel’s love story began in college. The actor was playing football while studying sociology at Colorado State University when he met her, and it was love at first sight.
But the pair had many differences. They were from different countries; she was an Ashkenazi Jew and a descendant of Eastern Europeans, while his ancestors were Ghanaian. Despite their differences, they shared a strong connection that eventually became a long-lasting love.
K.C. Amos and Noel J. Mickelson in a post uploaded on September 18, 2023 | Source: Instagram/k.c.amos
Their love overcame their inhibitions about race, but unfortunately not society’s. They lived during the civil rights movement when Black people were actively fighting against segregation and racial discrimination in the country.
Noel J. Mickelson and K.C. Amos in a post uploaded on September 18, 2023 | Source: Instagram/k.c.amos
By 1965, interracial marriage was illegal in about 16 states. Yet, the two lovebirds went ahead and tied the knot. Whether their respective families approved of the union remains unclear.
Noel J. Mickelson and her family members in a post uploaded on March 23, 2023 | Source: Instagram/k.c.amos
Their courage was rewarded in 1967 when the United States Supreme Court overturned legislation banning interracial marriages. This made John and Noel’s marriage legally recognized nationwide. The couple’s union came with children.
What We Know about Noel and John’s Children
John and Noel welcomed their first child, Shannon Amos, a year before being legally recognized as a married couple. Shannon also works in the entertainment industry, but mainly behind the scenes. She served as a writer and producer for media giants like BET and MTV.
Noel J. Mickelson and K.C. Amos in a post uploaded on September 18, 2023 | Source: Instagram/k.c.amos
The former couple welcomed their second child, son Kelly Christopher “K.C.” Amos — nicknamed for John’s time playing football for the Kansas City Chiefs — in 1970. Like his father and sister, he is in the industry and works as a director, producer, and video editor.
He has had a hand in films such as “The Watermelon Heist,” “Tamales and Gumbo,” and “Hauntsville.” John and the children’s mother did their best to raise them in an environment that racism could not penetrate, but society’s prejudice eventually caught up with them.
Fortunately, Shannon and K.C. still maintained a strong bond with their parents and considered their famous father as one of their biggest inspirations.
Shannon Amos once revealed on Instagram that her family faced an armed racist who aimed a gun at her father. It was her first encounter with their harsh reality, and the incident prompted her parents to explain it to her.
John and his first wife separated in 1975. Unfortunately, a year later, he was fired from “Good Times.” They let him go after repeated conflicts with the show’s writers resulted in his character being eliminated.
John Amos and Esther Rolle in a scene from the television show “Good Times,” in Los Angeles, California, 1975 | Source: Getty Images
The actor later married a second time. He and actress Lillian Lehman secretly tied the knot, but by 1979, their union had ended, and they separated.
A Legend Is Gone
On October 1, 2024, reports revealed that John had died on August 21, 2024, at age 84. The late actor’s son, K.C., revealed that the star passed away from natural causes in Los Angeles. In a touching statement, K.C. announced, “It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned.”
John Amos during the Florida Film Festival in Maitland on March 4, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Honoring the actor who played the weatherman Gordy on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” he said, “He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold … and he was loved the world over.” Shannon’s younger sibling added, “Many fans consider him their TV father.”
K.C. also shared, “He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.” The late star was born John Alan Amos Jr. on December 27, 1939. The Newark, New Jersey-born actor’s father worked as a mechanic and drove a tractor-trailer.
His mother, Annabelle, worked as a housekeeper but eventually furthered her education and later became a nutritionist. the celebrity’s mother once cleaned the house of the cartoonist who worked on the Archie comics and this led John into the world of entertainment.
John Amos at the Doe Fund “sweet: New York” event on May 7, 2015, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
He and a friend went to New York City to watch a taping of radio’s “The Archie Show” at Radio City Music Hall, with the actor stating, “It blew my imagination wide open.” At school, John drew cartoons and wrote pieces for the newspaper.
He also got to play the role of a convict in a production of “The Man Who Came to Dinner” and played football as the running back. The star did stand-up comedy, became a television writer and a performer on a TV variety show, and the rest is history.
May John’s family find strength as they continue grieving their loss.