With John Amos' Death, the 'Last' ofThe Mary Tyler Moore ShowCast 'Has Passed,' Notes Ed Asner's Son

Mar. 15, 2025

The cast of ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ in 2004.Photo:Albert L. Ortega/WireImage

Albert L. Ortega/WireImage

Hollywood is mourning the death of Emmy-nominated actorJohn Amos, who died of natural causes at the age of 84 on Aug. 21, his son Kelly Christopher “K.C.” Amos confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE on Oct. 1.

While Amos was best known for his roles inGood Times,RootsandComing to America, he was also an original cast member ofThe Mary Tyler MooreShow, and as costarEd Asner’s son Matt Asner noted in an Oct. 1 X post, he was the last remaining star of the classic sitcom to die.

In early seasons ofThe Mary Tyler Moore Show, Amos appeared in the recurring role of Gordon “Gordy” Howard, WJM’s weather reporter and a level-headed foil for Knight’s egotistical and dim-witted anchorman Ted Baxter. Amos left the show in 1973 after being cast in the lead role of James Evans Sr. onGood Times.

Knight was the first member ofThe Mary Tyler Moore Show’s cast to go. TheCaddyshackactor died in 1986 at the age of 62 due to complications following a surgery to treat his colorectal cancer.

Moore died in 2017at the age of 80.

Mary Tyler Moore and John Amos in ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ in 1973.CBS via Getty

CBS via Getty

In 2019, bothGeorgia Engel, who played Ted’s girlfriend and later wife Georgette, andValerie Harper, who played Mary’s best friend Rhoda and later got her own spin-off series, died.

And 2021 saw the deaths of four more cast members:Cloris Leachman,Betty White,Gavin MacLeodandAsner.

Valerie Harper, John Amos, Ed Asner, Ted Knight, Mary Tyler Moore and Gavin MacLeod in ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ in 1973.CBS via Getty

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The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which aired on CBS from 1970 to 1977, is now considered a groundbreaking series for its portrayal of Moore’s character Mary Richards, an unmarried, independent career woman.

source: people.com