John Amos (December 27, 1939 – August 21, 2024) was an American actor and retired football player. He is best known for his role as the adult Kunta Kinte in the landmark miniseries "Roots" and for portraying James Evans Sr. on the CBS television series "Good Times." He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and an NAACP Image Award. On film, he played numerous supporting roles in movies such as "The Beastmaster" (1982), "Coming to America" (1988), "Lock Up" (1989), "Die Hard 2" (1990) and "Coming 2 America" (2021).
Prior to acting, he played on the Colorado State Rams football team and in 1964, he signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's Denver Broncos and in 1967 signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs. Both of these contracts did not land him a spot on the teams and played a final season in the Continental Football League with the Victoria Steelers before pursuing acting.
Tommy "Tiny" Lister (born Thomas Lister, Jr.; June 24, 1958 – December 10, 2020) was a character actor and former wrestler best known for his role as the neighborhood bully Deebo in the Friday series of movies. He also had a short-lived professional wrestling career, wrestling Hulk Hogan in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) after appearing as "Zeus" in Hogan's movie No Holds Barred. Lister was blind in his right eye. Lister had numerous guest appearances in TV series, including playing Klaang (the first Klingon ever to make contact with humans, not counting Worf in Star Trek: First Contact) in the pilot episode of Star Trek: Enterprise. He also co-starred in an episode of the courtroom series Matlock as Mr. Matlock's in-prison bodyguard. Lister also appeared as Sancho in the music video for Sublime's song "Santeria". He was also in the video for Michael Jackson's song "Remember the Time". He also made a guest appearance in Austin Powers in Goldmember, as a prisoner in the Hard Knock Life spoof.
Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs is an American actor and singer. He has appeared in a number of films and television programs, including Claudine (1974), Cooley High (1975), Roots (1977), Welcome Back, Kotter (1975), Bangers and Mash (1983), and The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992).
Lawrence's name, at least as shown in the credits of Welcome Back Kotter, was Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs.
Lawrence was born in New York City, New York, United States, the fifth child of nine to West Indian parents Hilton Jacobs (deceased 2009) and Clothilda Jacobs (deceased c. 2000). He attended Wilkes University for a short time before his acting career took off. He began his acting career in the summer of 1969 and graduated from the High School of Art and Design in 1971. Afterward, he studied acting with the world famous Negro Ensemble Company and the Al Fann Theatrical Ensemble. In 1975, he won the part of Freddie "Boom Boom" Washington on the ABC hit comedy series, Welcome Back, Kotter. Hilton-Jacobs starred in a few commercials over the years, including an early 1970s commercial for The United Negro College Fund.
Crystle Lightning, an Indigenous Actress from the Enoch Cree Nation, began her show business journey at a young age. The Lightning Family moved from Canada to Los Angeles where Crystle landed her first lead role in the feature: "3 Ninjas", at 9 years old. Crystle went on to study at the Beverly Hills Playhouse under Milton Katselas and Richard Lawson.
Crystle's Film and Television appearances include: "American Pie: Band Camp", "Days of Our Lives", "Southland", and most recently "Yellowstone" (Most Watched Show of 2018) and "Outlander" (Peoples Choice Award for Best TV Show 2017).
When Crystle Lightning is not in front of the camera, she loves being on stage, & tours internationally as part of Hip Hop Supergroup "LightningCloud" (alongside MC RedCloud). LightningCloud is the 2014 Indigenous Music Award Winner for Best New Artist, 2015 Indigenous Music Award Winner for Best Rap Album and Power 106FM's "Battle For The Best" Champions.
LightningCloud has shared the stage with Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, The Game, Tech N9ne and Cypress Hill. Crystle Lightning will debut her solo album in 2020 (Titled: "Hummingbird Slang"). Most recently, the Adult Coloring Book industry has been catapulted by Crystle Lightning's books: "Indigenous Legends: Extraordinary Natives", "Indigenous Legends: Extraordinary Women" and "Moosebumpz: Scary Stories from the Rez". Crystle formed 1491 Publishing as an outlet to release original, native content to the world. The Indigenous Legends Series are now a #1 Amazon New Release!
Crystle is also a professional DJ, and has played at venues and nightclubs across the country. Ms. Lightning loves inspiring youth through motivational speaking and travels across the country speaking at colleges, schools and universities.
Crystle's most recent endeavor is booking the series lead of Maggie in "The Trickster" for CBC. This has been a dream for her to bring this character to life.
Carl Washington was born in Los Angeles, California on December 18, 1978 in the Hollywood area. He attended and graduated from Westchester High School in Los Angeles in June of 1997. He is an only child but has one step brother and one step sister. Carl started out as an extra at the age of 16, and got into acting and writing at the age of 17. In 2000, both his acting and writing career took off.