Noel J. Mickelson was the ex-wife of John Amos, the American actor known for his roles in CBS’s Good Times and Coming To America (1988). The interracial couple married in 1965 and were together for about ten years before opting to end things in 1975. They welcomed two children.
Summary of Noel J. Mickelson’s Biography
- Full name: Noel J. Mickelson
- Gender: Female
- Ethnicity: White
- Nationality: American
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Religion: Christianity
- Marital Status: Divorced
- Noel J. Mickelson’s Ex-Husband: John Amos
- Noel J. Mickelson’s Children: K.C. Amos and Shannon Amos
- Famous for: Being John Amos’ ex-wife
Noel J. Mickelson Was Born In Iowa
Noel J. Mickelson was born in Estherville, a city in Emmet County, Iowa, United States. It is believed that this was also where she grew up with her family. Very little is known about her background and what her days growing up looked like. Because of this, there is no information about her date of birth and so her real age is unknown.
Information about her parents’ identity is also not in the public space nor do we know about who her siblings were or if she was an only child. Also, details of the kind of high school she attended remain vague. However, we know that she attended Colorado State University. It was while in the university that she met John Amos.
Noel J. Mickelson and John Amos First Met in College
Details about the exact manner and time that Noel J. Mickelson first met John Amos and fell in love with him are quite vague. However, our investigation shows that they first met while they were both in college. Amos and Mickelson both attended Colorado State University and met each other there one day, apparently by chance. They took interest in each other and started dating. Their daughter Shannon later described it as ‘love at first sight’.
At the time Mickelson first met Amos, he was not making movies yet. He was, however, playing football. Amos was very passionate about playing football and was actively featured on the Colorado State Rams football team, the team that represented Colorado State University. What Mickelson studied in college is not certain, however, we know that Amos graduated with a degree in sociology.
The exact year that Mickelson and Amos started dating is not known. But, we know that they kept their romance alive throughout their university days even though many people frowned at their relationship. This was because John Amos was a black American man and Mickelson was a white woman. At the time, racism in America was at its peak so not many were pleased with two people of different races being together. Inter-racial relationships and marriages were taboo in many parts of America at the time.
Mickelson and Amos Got Married Against All Odds
After they both graduated from college, Noel J. Mickelson and John Amos shunned criticisms and continued their budding romance. This did not go down well because they were subjected to attacks by white supremacists sometimes. Their relationship was a source of concern to their respective parents because of what it meant at the time.
In the 1960s, any black American who dared to have a romantic relationship with a white person often landed in trouble because of the racism prevalent at the time. However, Mickelson and Amos were so in love that this did not stop them from continuing their romance. In fact, against all odds, they decided to get married.
The couple eventually tied the knot in early 1965. It is not clear how big or publicized the wedding was but it is believed that all family members and close friends were in attendance. Their defiance and true love story became an inspiration to many people. It was clear that nothing could stop the couple from being with each other.
Was Noel J. Mickelson’s Marriage to John Amos Illegal?
Noel J. Mickelson and John Amos’s marriage was illegal as they got married at a time when racism was at an all-time high in the United States. At the time of their wedding, it was illegal for black people to marry white people in about 16 states in America. It is not very clear what American state they got married in, but we imagine that Mickelson and Amos researched and tied the knot in a state where it was legal for blacks to get married to whites.
What this means is that at the time Noel J. Mickelson and John Amos got married in 1965, their marriage was considered illegal in 16 states in America. So, they were only recognized as a married couple by law in only some parts of the United States and not in others. It was apparently tough for the couple as husband and wife because they faced a number of persecutions every now and then.
For instance, some years after their marriage, Mickelson and her husband, Amos decided to go on a cross-country road trip. During the trip, they decided to get some gas in Arizona and something really traumatic happened. When they pulled into the gas station, a white man came out of the service station with a loaded shotgun and aimed the weapon at Amos. He then told Amos to get his ‘white trash and nigger child’ off his property. Left with no choice, Amos and his family left the gas station humiliated and devastated.
This heartbreaking story was told years later by Mickelson’s daughter Shannon who witnessed the sad incident. According to Shannon, it was the first time she witnessed something like that and the incident forced her parents to begin lecturing her on the horrific existence of racism in America.
So, apparently, both Mickelson and Amos faced great opposition to their marriage before and after it happened. Also, at the time, the civil rights movement in America was at a crescendo, and civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were leading the calls for equality and justice for black people. So Mickelson and Amos had some hope that there would be a respite for them soon. However, just months after their marriage, Malcolm X was killed in cold blood. And then years later in 1968, Martin Luther King was also brutally killed.
The situation appeared to be very bleak for the couple but they held on to each other for a long time. Eventually, their marriage became recognized across all of America after the Loving v. Virginia Supreme Court case struck down state laws banning interracial marriage in the United States.
John Amos Became Famous After Marrying Noel J. Mickelson
Many people thought that Noel J. Mickelson tied the knot with John Amos when he was already a famous actor. However, this is not the case at all. In fact, at the time they got married in 1965, he was not a well-known figure in America yet. He had not even started his acting career at the time. He was still a football player. It was after his marriage to Mickelson that he became famous.
In the year 1964, Amos joined the Denver Broncos of the American Football League after signing a free-agent contract with the club. However, he was released on the second day of training camp after failing to run the 40-yard dash because of a pulled hamstring. Amos then went on to play with the Canton Bulldogs and Joliet Explorers of the United Football League. In 1965, the same year that he got married to Mickelson, Amos played with the Norfolk Neptunes and Wheeling Ironmen of the Continental Football League.
The next year, in 1966, Amos joined the Jersey City Jets and Waterbury Orbits of the Atlantic Coast Football League. Amos continued playing with Kansas City Chiefs in 1967 and then later with Victoria Steelers after he returned to the Continental League. Eventually, in 1970, about 5 years after his marriage to Noel J. Mickelson, he began his acting career. The same year, he started attracting some attention when he starred in The Tim Conway Comedy Hour, a TV series. In 1971, he starred in another TV series, The Funny Side.
The following year, landed another role in the TV movie, Keeping Up with the Joneses. At this time, Amos was already starting to get some attention around his community and across some US states with his acting. In 1973, he played Coach Sam Archer in The World’s Greatest Athlete and a Marine Corporal in The President’s Plane Is Missing. The following year, he became famous nationwide after landing his breakout role as James Evans, Sr. in Good Times, a television sitcom that aired for six seasons on CBS.
The sitcom became very popular and shot John Amos to stardom. Of course, all this time his wife, Mickelson was by his side witnessing him grow into a nationally recognized figure. Amos would go on to star in other great movies and series including The Mary Tyler Moore Show from 1970 to 1977, The Beastmaster in 1982, Coming to America in 1988, Die Hard 2 in 1990, The West Wing from 1999 to 2004, and Coming 2 America in 2021 among many others.
In the process, he bagged nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and an NAACP Image Award and has won three TV Land Awards. In the year 2020, John Amos was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. So, even though Amos was not famous when he married Mickelson, the fame he later acquired put her in the spotlight when people began to ask who John Amos was married to.
How Many Children Does Noel J. Mickelson?
The marriage between Noel J. Mickelson and John Amos produced two kids; a daughter called Shannon Amos and a son called K.C. Amos. The couple adored their kids and gave them the best life possible. This is not hard to believe considering the fact that John Amos landed great fortune and became rich soon after marrying Mickelson.
Today, both Shannon and K.C. are doing absolutely very well for themselves. Let’s take a look at their lives.
Shannon Amos
- Full name: Shannon Amos
- Gender: Female
- Date of birth: August 5, 1966
- Shannon Amos’ Age: 57 years old
- Ethnicity: Mixed
- Nationality: American
- Zodiac Sign: Leo
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Religion: Christianity
- Marital Status: Married
- Shannon Amos’ Children: Quiera
- Shannon Amos’ Parents: Noel J. Mickelson and John Amos
- Siblings: K.C. Amos
- Famous for: Being John Amos’ daughter
- Shannon Amos’ Instagram: Shannon Amos
Shannon Amos is the first child of Noel J. Mickelson and John Amos. She was born one year after her parent’s marriage. Shannon was born on the 5th of August 1966 and is now 57 years old.
Not much is known about where Shannon had her education. However, we know that she had a great childhood. This is because she has spoken glowingly of this before. Her parents made sure she had everything she needed. They also enjoyed amazing times with extended family members. Shannon has shared photos to back this fact up before. Shannon remembers her mother very fondly.
She explained that her mum instilled in her very great virtues and defined what it meant to be a great mom by being nurturing, tender, and patient. Shannon reveals that Mickelson was a very artistic woman who taught her and her brother to express themselves through our creativity. This helped them greatly when they veered into entertainment later on.
Her father also influenced her greatly while growing up. Having grown up watching her father star in movies and TV series, Shannon took interest in carving a career in the entertainment industry herself. Some reports say grew up on the set of movies and sitcoms and her father always encouraged her to learn the business side of the entertainment industry.
Eventually, when she was old enough, Shannon landed the position of an intern in Director Spike Lee’s film, Mo Better Blues. Working really hard, she rose from being a production assistant on MTV’s Yo! MTV Raps to becoming a producer on The Watermelon Heist in 2003. In 2013, she was the executive producer of No Budget Gourmet.
Apart from production, Shannon Amos has worked as a writer. In 2009, she wrote an episode of the TV series, Washington Watch with Roland Martin. In 2010, she wrote CI Atlanta, a TV movie. She has also worked as a director, having directed the TV movie, CI Atlanta. Shannon is also an actress. She starred in the movie, A Woman Like That in 1997.
Today, she is the founder of her own production company called Afterglow Multimedia, LLC.
In recent times, Shannon revealed that she has found her life purpose in the healing arts, wellness, and travel. She has been hosting wellness retreats around the world and is the founder of Sumanah Luxury Travel, Sumanah Soul Sanctuary Retreats, and Sumanah Heal @ Home. Apparently, Shannon Amos is doing extremely well for herself.
K.C. Amos
- Full name: Kelly Christopher Amos
- Nickname: K. C.
- Gender: Male
- Ethnicity: Mixed
- Nationality: American
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Religion: Christianity
- K. C. Amos’ Parents: Noel J. Mickelson and John Amos
- Siblings: Shannon Amos
- Famous for: Being John Amos’ son
- K. C. Amos’ Instagram: K.C. Amos
K.C. Amos, whose full name is Kelly Christopher Amos, is the second child of Noel J. Mickelson and John Amos. Very little is known about K.C.’s personal life today. In fact, he has managed to keep most personal facts away from the public that even his date of birth remains unknown at the moment.
However, we know that, like his sister, K.C. Amos has a great childhood bonding with extending family members and watching his father on TV starring in different roles. He has often confessed his great admiration for his father, admitting that his father was his biggest inspiration. He started following his father to the sets of movies and soon found himself close to major Hollywood productions since he was only four years.
When he grew up, he decided to take after his father and go into the entertainment industry as well. He is now an actor, director, writer, producer, and editor. In 1995, he produced and directed the short film, Syphon Gun. He was the executive producer of Mercy for Angels in 2015 and Hauntsville in 2016. Also, he directed Tamales and Gumbo in 2015 and an episode of The Ortega Show in 2016.
As a writer, he wrote the 2015 movie, Mercy for Angels and Hauntsville in 2016. He has also edited music videos and documentaries including Soul Steppin’ and 24 Cali Fitness among others. K.C.’s work has been recognized around the USA. In fact, he has bagged 2 Grammy Nominations for Best Music Video and also a Sundance Film Fest award for Best Short Film. Apparently, K.C. Amos is doing very well for himself.
K.C. and his sister, Shannon are very close and, today, both siblings enjoy a strong bond with their father and consider him one of their biggest inspirations. Photos of videos of John Amos are spread all over his children’s social media pages showing just how close they are to him. John Amos himself is always celebrating his kids on his social media pages.
Why Did Noel J. Mickelson Divorce John Amos?
After giving birth to their kids, Noel J. Mickelson and John Amos remained married for some time. The couple appeared to be living the best life because they were never caught in controversy and it seemed their love story was stronger than any adversity. However, everything came crashing down when the couple divorced in 1975, about 10 years after they tied the knot as husband and wife.
The exact reason why Noel J. Mickelson and John Amos decided to put an end to their mind-blowing love story is still not certain. This is because neither Mickelson nor Amos talked about it. What we know is that the union was not working anymore and so it crashed. But, it is still surprising that a couple that could withstand the blow of racial abuse thrown against them could turn around and part ways after their kind of union had become more acceptable to the general public.
Her Life After Divorce
After Noel J. Mickelson parted ways from John Amos, she went quite silent. This is because not much was heard from her afterward, especially about her personal life and who she was dating. It is not sure if she remarried or if she fell in love with any other man following her divorce from Amos.
On the other hand, John Amos went on to find love again. In 1978, he got married to American actress Lillian Lehman. However, the union did not last as they parted ways in 1979. The marriage did not produce any children. So the only children he has are those he had with Noel J. Mickelson.
She was an Artist and Equestrian
For the record, marrying John Amos is not the only thing that Noel J. Mickelson did with her life. Marrying him eventually put her in the spotlight but she was also her own woman who was in love with what she did. According to different reports, Noel was actually an artist and also an equestrian.
Mickelson is reported to have done very well as an equestrian. In fact, her son K.C. Amos once described her as the ‘best endurance rider this side of the Mississippi’. According to him, her horse was named Ondelay because he was untiring. He also claimed that Mickelson was never tired of riding it too.
On her own part, Mickelson’s daughter, Shannon once revealed that her mother was a world-ranked equestrian who did exploits on the track. She also went on to reveal other things her mother did; according to Shannon, Mickelson was an architect and environmentalist. She was also a feminist who didn’t let the roles of men or women define her. She was reportedly very strong-spirited and taught her daughter that women can do anything that they set their minds to.
Not much else has been documented about Noel J. Mickelson’s equestrian adventures but it is believed she did very well and made her own name in the ’70s and ’80s. This was probably what she focused on doing after her divorce from John Amos.
Where Is Noel J. Mickelson Now?
Sadly, Noel J. Mickelson is no more with us. The American artist and equestrian reportedly passed away in December 2016. She was surrounded by her family at the time she breathed her last. The cause of her death remains unknown.
Some reports claim that in her last moments, Mickelson expressed deep regret that she was not able to travel to see the world during her lifetime. Because of this, her daughter Shannon vowed to take her ashes around the world to fulfill this last wish. She reportedly started in January 2017.
How Old was Noel J. Mickelson at The Time of Her Death?
Noel J. Mickelson’s date of birth and age at death remain unknown to the public. It is not known how old John Amos’s ex-wife was when she kicked the bucket in December 2016.
Facts About Noel J. Mickelson
1. Noel J. Mickelson is from Iowa, United States of America
2. She met her husband John Amos in College
3. Noel J. Mickelson and John Amos were married for about one decade (1965 – 1975).
4. She has two children – K.C. Amos and Shannon Amos
5. Mickelson was cremated and her ashes were spread across the globe.
FAQs
Who is Noel J. Mickelson?
Noel J. Mickelson was the ex-wife of John Amos, the American actor known for his roles in CBS’s Good Times and Coming To America (1988).
Who is John Amos Married To Now?
John Amos is not currently married. His last marriage was to Lillian Lehman from 1978 to 1979.
What is Noel J. Mickelson’s Ethnicity and Nationality?
Noel J. Mickelson’s ethnicity was White, while her nationality is American.
When and How Did Noel J. Mickelson Die?
Noel J. Mickelson passed away in December 2016. The cause of her death remains unknown, but she was said to have died with her family around her.