According to reports, the actor, who was best known for his work in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Good Times, and Roots, died age of 84 due to natural causes.
His son, Kelly Christopher, released a statement regarding his father’s passing.
He was a man with a heart of gold and a kindest heart. He was loved by his fans all around the world.
His legacy will live on through his many achievements in both film and television.
In his most recent role, he played himself in the TV series Suits LA. He was my father, and my best friend. He was also a notable actor in various award-winning shows and cult-classic films.
One of these was Roots, which he earned an Emmy nomination for in 1977.
Following his performance in The Mary Tyler Show, his career in the acting industry took off.
He would later go on to play the role of Gordon Howard in the show, as well as James Evans Sr. in Good Times, which was the first television program to feature a Black family.
He also appeared in other shows such as Two and a Half men and The West Wing.
According to his son, the actor will be concluding his television career in the upcoming season of Suits LA.
He is known for his work in various award-winning films, including the critically acclaimed Coming to America and the upcoming sequel, Coming 2 America.
He also appeared in numerous blockbuster movies, such as Lock Up and Die Hard 2.