John Amos and Noel J. Mickelson tied the knot when interracial marriages were banned. The pair were married for ten years and welcomed two children as part of their romantic story.
John Amos is a successful actor whose career has spanned over five decades and includes a multitude of acting credits.
Some of his notable projects include the sitcom "Good Times," the drama series "Roots," in which he won an Emmy, 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
He has maintained a constant presence in the Hollywood scene for more than five decades and has kept his life private during all those years. Even though less is known about John's personal life, he has been married twice and has two children from his first marriage to Noel J. Mickelson.
But, like his relationships, the talented actor kept his children from the spotlight for most of their lives. They are older now and have been sharing more about their family on social media.
Noel 'Noni' J. Mickelson Was John Amos' First Wife Who Passed Away
Noel J. Mickelson was John Amos' first wife and the mother of his only two children, Shannon and K.C Amos. Mickelson was a famous equestrian, architect, environmentalist, and artist who harbored deep love and respect for nature.
Shannon credited her late mother for instilling in her and K.C. the ability to express themselves through creativity. K.C. occasionally shares throwback photos of his mother, whom they call 'Noni,' and the sweet moments shared. In one of his Instagram posts, he reflected on how their mom raised them and revealed she made them have dinner by 6.00 p.m.
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, so Shannon vowed to take her ashes around the world to fulfill her last wish. She started in January 2017.
Noel J. Mickelson and John Amos Were Forbidden to Marry Since Interracial Marriages Were Illegal
According to Shannon, John and Noel's story began in college. John was playing football while studying sociology at Colorado State University when he met her; it was love at first sight. The two had many differences; they were from different countries; she was an Ashkenazi Jew and a descendant of Eastern Europe, and his ancestors were Ghanaian.
Shannon once revealed in an Instagram post that her family faced down an armed racist who had a gun leveled at her father.
Despite their differences, there were sparks between them, and slowly it became an ember that burned brightly. So brightly that it took away their inhibitions about race but not society's.
Moreover, they lived in a time when the civil rights movement was at its strongest; black folk was shaking off the shackles of slavery as they fought against segregation and institutionalized racial discrimination in the country.
By 1965, interracial marriage had been made illegal in about 16 states; however, the two lovebirds went right ahead and got married. Whether their respective families had a say in the matter remains under speculation.
Their boldness was rewarded in 1967 when the United States Supreme Court overturned legislation barring interracial marriage, essentially making John and Mickelson's wedding legal nationwide.
Noel J. Mickelson and John Amos Welcomed Two Children Together
John Amos and Mickelson welcomed their first child, daughter Shannon, a year before being recognized as a legal couple. Shannon works mainly behind the cameras and has also served as a writer and producer for media giants like BET and MTV.
Mickelson and John welcomed their second child, son Kelly Christopher (K.C.), in 1970. He is a director, producer, and video editor. He has worked on films such as "The Watermelon Heist," "Tamales and Gumbo," and "Hauntsville."
John and Mickelson did their best to raise their children in a bubble that racism could not penetrate, but the corrupted society quickly caught up with them. Shannon and K.C. enjoy a strong bond with John and consider him one of their biggest inspirations.
Shannon once revealed in an Instagram post that her family faced down an armed racist who had a gun leveled at her father. It was her first experience with reality, and it had her parents explaining it to her.
John and Mickelson went their separate ways in 1975— he would get fired a year later when the constant friction between him and the writers of "Good Times" resulted in his character being eliminated.
The actor did marry a second time. He and actress Lillian Lehman secretly tied the knot, however, by 1979, their union had landed on the rocks and they separated.
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