Louis Gossett Jr. & John Amos Interview: Roots 45th Anniversary
The historical television mini-series, Roots celebrates its 45th anniversary and Screen Rant had the honor of speaking with cinema legends Louis Gossett Jr. and John Amos about their experience in the ground-breaking series.
Louis Gossett Jr. opens up about how an improved line came from one of the most powerful moments of the Academy Award winners career on the set of Roots and John Amos talks about how he wasn’t originally cast in the iconic role of Kunta Kinte.
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Screen Rant: First of all, guys, it is a pleasure, honor to speak with you two icons about probably the greatest mini series ever created. It's so impactful and important to our culture.
First question I have for you, gentlemen. Louis, for you. Originally, I heard that you were angry that you were cast as the role of Fiddler. Can you talk about that a little bit? And what changed your perspective on that? Can you talk about the research you did for the role?
Louis Gossett Jr.: All my favorite actors and actresses were in that, and they had choices, including OJ Simpson who got a role. You know? I had to run too, so it's okay. But anyway, there was all kinds of wonderful actors and actresses, Cecily Tyson, Maya Angelou.
I said, «Well, how come they saved the Uncle Tom, for me?» I hide the insult that hit me in the pit of my stomach. Then I said, «Well, I'm not going to turn this down, because I want to be part of this thing.
In my research in Stepin Fetchit and Mantan Moreland and Willie Best, I found artists. I started to get it. That's why they wanted me to do this part. It's a challenge to bring that resurrection character as a survivor in America, who does not remember being a slave, for him to
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