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John Amos’ 2nd Wife Always Had a Response to Strange Women Telling Her How Much They Loved Her Husband

Junie Sihlangu
Mar 29, 2022
10:00 P.M.

John Amos' second wife, Lillian Lehman, was so confident that she wasn't affected by women telling her they loved him. She and John found humor in it, and her response quickly shut down any further interactions.

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John Amos's second love and the last woman he ever married was fellow actress Lillian Lehman. She's famous for having starred in several movies and series, including "E.R.," "JAG," "Seinfeld," "21 Jump Street," "Sister, Sister," and more.

One of the many shows she starred in included "Tenafly," a short-lived series that aired from 1973 to 1974. In the series, she played the role of Ruth Tenafly, James McEachin's character, Harry Tenafly, a private detective's onscreen wife.

John Amos at the Chiller Theatre Expo on October 24, 2014, in Parsippany, New Jersey, and him on the set of "Roots" with Madge Sinclair in January 1977. | Source: Bobby Bank/WireImage & ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images

John Amos at the Chiller Theatre Expo on October 24, 2014, in Parsippany, New Jersey, and him on the set of "Roots" with Madge Sinclair in January 1977. | Source: Bobby Bank/WireImage & ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images

Lehman only got to star in three episodes of the show in 1973, where her onscreen family was a middle-class Black family. Her husband also made a name in Hollywood with unforgettable roles like in the 1970 sitcom "Good Times."

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In it, he featured as James Evans Sr. while other people might recognize him from the original "Roots" miniseries and the "Coming to America" sequels. John had a son, K.C. Amos, from his first marriage.

His boy followed in his footsteps by joining him in the film industry. In 2014, K.C. co-directed and produced the feature film "Mercy for Angels," where his father made a cameo appearance.

JOHN AND LILLIAN'S MARRIAGE - OTHER WOMEN WERE INTERESTED IN HIM

John Amos posing in an image taken in 1975. | Source: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

John Amos posing in an image taken in 1975. | Source: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

John and Lehman's relationship became public knowledge in 1975 after they traveled together to Africa. The actor was on the continent at the time to discuss the terms of a movie he was going to star in.

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The actress was also seen by his side at a celebrity tennis tournament organized by Jet magazine. Then after dating for three years, the couple got married in secret and later opened up about it to Jet magazine.

Lillian Lehman and Mark James as extras on "ABC Afterschool Specials" on February 13, 1979. | Source: Gene Stein/American Broadcasting Companies/Getty Images

Lillian Lehman and Mark James as extras on "ABC Afterschool Specials" on February 13, 1979. | Source: Gene Stein/American Broadcasting Companies/Getty Images

The two stars revealed that they were married in Los Angeles by Lehman's father, Reverend John Harvey. The reverend helped the couple tie the knot during a candlelit ceremony at his St. Paul Lutheran Church.

After the duo had been married for a year, Lehman opened up about how she handled other women sharing their love for her husband. In a 1979 Ebony magazine article, the "General Hospital" actress revealed that she had self-security in her marriage, stating:

"Women often come up to me and say, 'Oh, I just love your husband.' I simply reply, 'I do too.' Because I am secure in myself I don't let it bother me."

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John Amos on "Roots" with an airdate of January 23, 1977. | Source: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images

John Amos on "Roots" with an airdate of January 23, 1977. | Source: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images

However, she also shared that her husband wasn't the only one who was propositioned in the relationship, as it also happened to her too. Lehman said she handled it by being flattered, saying thank you, and moving on.

She and her husband would laugh about these incidences. The actress also once confessed that she knew before getting married to John that other women would be attracted to him.

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Lehman was quite honest with herself by noting that her husband attracted other women because of his looks and psychologically because of who he was. Besides working together on their marriage, they also met onstage.

In an October 1978 Ebony magazine article, John revealed that he and his wife were planning a production of "Sorry, Wrong Number." He also proudly described his wife as a "very competent actress."

THE DIVORCE AND STARRING TOGETHER AS HUSBAND AND WIFE

Lillian Lehman as Miss Rawls and Gary Coleman as Arnold Jackson on an episode of "Diff'rent Strokes" on January 23, 1981. | Source: Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images

Lillian Lehman as Miss Rawls and Gary Coleman as Arnold Jackson on an episode of "Diff'rent Strokes" on January 23, 1981. | Source: Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images

Sadly, Lehman and John's marriage ended in divorce and no children. After nineteen months together, Jet magazine reported on September 6, 1979, that the couple's marriage was on the rocks, and they'd separated.

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When asked about it, the actress told the media that she and John were private people and that separation happened in marriages. After the former couple had been divorced, they were pulled back together for work.

Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards, and John Amos as Gordy the Weatherman, on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" on October 26, 1973. | Source: CBS/Getty Images

Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards, and John Amos as Gordy the Weatherman, on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" on October 26, 1973. | Source: CBS/Getty Images

John and Lehman starred together in 1993's "Night Trap." A year before, she told The Montgomery Advertiser that it was "strange" for her to play John's wife, but it wasn't hard for them.

The actress explained how their divorce was seemingly an amicable one as they both didn't harbor any hatred toward each other. Lehman also shared that they still respected one another as actors.

LEHMAN'S LIFE AFTER THEIR MARRIAGE

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According to Lehman's website, she's now a Professor Emerita of Theatre at California State University, Northridge, after graduating from the institution with a B.A. in theater. She's taught acting for the theater and the camera, including improvisational techniques.

The actress has since retired from teaching but hasn't stopped acting and has starred in movies like "Defending Your Life" and "Evan Almighty." On February 12, 2022, the star turned 75 and appeared to have never married again or had any children.

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AMOS' FIRST MARRIAGE AND KIDS

On the other hand, John also never remarried, but his first wife was a white woman, Noel Mickelson, They tied the knot during a time when marriage between those two races was illegal in 16 states, and a year before their marriage was made legal in those states; the couple welcomed a daughter, Shannon Amos.

Shannon [Amos] also described [Noel] Mickelson as a free spirit, a feminist, an artist, and so much more.

Besides Shannon, born in New Jersey, the couple also welcomed K.C. In January 2017, John's son shared a video of his mother posing with a snowman in the 1960s and revealed that everything she did was always larger than life.

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K.C. and his sister frequently shared posts about their parents on Instagram, like the ones he uploaded with Mickelson on her birthday in 2013 and 2015. John's son celebrated his mother for Mother's Day with a family photo the year before.

During 2021's Mother's Day, Shannon shared that Mickelson's primary role in her life was showing her what it meant to be a great parent. She showed this by being nurturing, tender, and patient, adding:

"She was an artistic woman who taught my brother and me to express ourselves through our creativity."

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Shannon also described Mickelson as a free spirit, a feminist, an artist, etc. John's daughter said her mother didn't allow men or women to define who she was and taught her that women could do anything they set their minds to.

The actor who played Gordy the weatherman on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" has kept busy over the years, and in 2015 he took part in a PBS tribute to Mary Tyler Moore. In 2019, John was in the Live in Front of a Studio Audience installment, where he took on his old role from "Good Times."

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