John Amos’ Children in Legal Battle Over Late Actor’s Estate

The family of the late actor John Amos has been thrust into a bitter legal dispute, with his daughter filing a lawsuit accusing her brother of elder abuse, fraud, and wrongful death.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Shannon Amos has sued her brother, Kelly “K.C.” Christopher Amos, alleging that he manipulated their father during his final years into signing new wills, trusts, and powers of attorney.

The filings claim those documents gave K.C. near-total control of the estate while excluding other heirs and neglecting the actor’s medical needs.

The petition also names Amos’ former caretaker, Belinda Foster, his associate Eugene Brummett, and his production company, Step and One Half Productions—which K.C. claimed sole ownership of in 2020. Shannon is seeking a court order to freeze the estate’s assets while the case moves forward.

Court documents outline troubling allegations about Amos’ declining health and living conditions in the years before his death. Shannon claims doctors warned her that medications were not being properly administered.

In 2023, Amos was hospitalized multiple times, including for a severe foot infection caused by maggots that prompted Adult Protective Services to intervene.

By August 2024, Amos reportedly suffered from intense abdominal pain. The lawsuit alleges that caretaker Belinda Foster posed as his daughter to delay hospital treatment until it was too late.

Affidavits submitted by John’s close friends and former business managers back Shannon’s claims, describing attempts by K.C. to isolate the actor and control his finances. In one statement, longtime friend Leslie Franklin alleged that Amos had been kept in unsanitary conditions, surrounded by soiled diapers and trash while staying in hotels.

The lawsuit contends that K.C.’s actions directly contributed to the 84-year-old actor’s death in August 2024 and asks the court to hold him liable. It also demands that estate assets remain frozen until a ruling is made.

The case adds another chapter to a turbulent family conflict that surfaced before Amos’ passing. Shannon had previously accused her brother of elder abuse and financial exploitation, allegations that have now escalated into a full-scale court battle over the actor’s legacy.

Amos, best known for his roles in Good Times and Coming to America, left behind a celebrated Hollywood career—now overshadowed by the legal war dividing his family.