Noel J. Mickelson is best remembered today as the first wife of legendary actor John Amos, star of Good Times, Roots, and Coming to America. But reducing her to a footnote in her famous ex-husband’s biography overlooks the woman she actually was: a talented artist, a skilled equestrian, and a mother who raised two children who went on to build their own careers in entertainment. Her marriage to Amos also holds a unique place in American history, since the couple came together at a time when interracial marriage was still illegal in parts of the United States.
This article covers everything currently known about Noel J. Mickelson her background, her relationship with John Amos, her children, her creative pursuits, and the legacy she left behind.
Noel J. Mickelson: Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Noel Jean Mickelson |
| Nickname | “Noni” |
| Born | August 22, 1943, Jackson County, Minnesota, USA |
| Died | December 2016 (age 73) |
| Nationality | American |
| Heritage | Scandinavian (Danish) and Ashkenazi Jewish |
| Education | Colorado State University |
| Occupation | Artist, carpenter, equestrian |
| Known For | First wife of actor John Amos |
| Spouse | John Amos (m. 1965–div. 1975) |
| Children | Shannon Amos, K.C. Amos |
Who Was Noel J. Mickelson?
Noel Jean Mickelson, sometimes referred to by the nickname “Noni,” was an American woman known for her work as an artist and her lifelong passion for horses. She was born on August 22, 1943, in Jackson County, Minnesota, into a family with Scandinavian and Ashkenazi Jewish roots. She grew up away from the entertainment industry entirely, in a small Midwestern farming community, long before her life became connected to Hollywood through her marriage.
Unlike her former husband, Mickelson never sought public attention. She built a private, creative life centered on art, craftsmanship, and the outdoors, and most of what is publicly known about her comes from interviews and social media tributes shared by her children in later years.
Early Life and Education
Details about Mickelson’s childhood remain limited, since she largely stayed out of the public eye throughout her life. What is documented is that she attended Colorado State University, where she pursued her education during the early-to-mid 1960s. It was there that her path first crossed with a young John Amos, years before he became a household name in American television and film.
Those who knew her have described Mickelson as independent, artistic, and drawn to hands-on work; she was known for carpentry and building skills that were unusual for a woman of her generation, alongside a deep, lasting love of horses.
Meeting and Marrying John Amos
Noel Mickelson and John Amos met as students in Colorado in the early 1960s. Their relationship developed at a particularly difficult moment in American history: laws banning interracial marriage were still on the books in numerous states. Despite the social and legal obstacles facing an interracial couple at the time, the two married in December 1965 at a chapel on the Colorado State University campus.
Their first child was born before the couple’s marriage gained full legal recognition nationwide. It wasn’t until 1967 two years after their wedding that the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Loving v. Virginia struck down the remaining state bans on interracial marriage, formally validating unions like theirs across the country.
John Amos would go on to become one of the most recognizable actors of his generation, known for his roles as James Evans Sr. on Good Times, the adult Kunta Kinte in Roots (for which he earned an Emmy nomination), and Cleo McDowell in Coming to America. During the early years of his career, Mickelson was his partner through the uncertainty that comes before an actor finds success.
Children: Shannon Amos and K.C. Amos
John Amos and Noel Mickelson had two children together, both of whom went on to build careers of their own in entertainment:
- Shannon Amos – a writer and producer who has worked behind the scenes for major media companies, including BET and MTV.
- Kelly Christopher “K.C.” Amos – a director, producer, and video editor who has worked on independent film projects and credited both of his parents with shaping his creative instincts.
Both children have spoken publicly about their mother’s influence, describing her as someone who encouraged self-expression, discipline, and a strong connection to nature. K.C. Amos in particular has shared throwback photos and memories of “Noni” on social media, including a story about her insistence that the family sit down for dinner by 6:00 p.m. every evening a small but telling detail about the structure she brought to their household.
They aren’t the only children of famous parents to keep a low profile Kniko Howard, Draya Michele’s eldest son, has taken a similarly private approach despite growing up with a well-known mother.
Divorce and Later Life
Noel Mickelson and John Amos’s marriage lasted roughly a decade before ending in divorce in 1975, with records placing the split in Los Angeles. Amos would go on to marry actress Lillian Lehman in 1978, though that marriage was short-lived and ended in divorce the following year.
After her divorce from Amos, Mickelson continued to live a private life away from Hollywood, focusing on her artistic work and her role as a mother. She remained connected to her children throughout their adult lives, and by most accounts stayed close with her family even as her former husband’s career kept him in the public eye for decades.
Career, Art, and Passion for Horses
Mickelson was, by every account from people who knew her, a genuinely creative person. She worked across different artistic mediums and was also known as a skilled equestrian, with horses playing a central role in her life for decades. Some sources also describe her as having worked in areas connected to building and design, reflecting the same hands-on, independent spirit that defined her outside of any connection to fame.
She was not a public figure by choice, and there is no reliable record of a formal art career, gallery representation, or published body of work; her creative life appears to have been personal rather than professional, which is consistent with how deliberately private she kept her day-to-day life.
Death
Noel Jean “Noni” Mickelson passed away in December 2016, at the age of 73, surrounded by family. According to her son K.C., in her final moments she expressed one regret: that she hadn’t traveled more to see the world. Her death was confirmed through family tributes and genealogical records rather than mainstream press coverage, in keeping with the private life she led.
Noel J. Mickelson’s Legacy
Although Noel J. Mickelson never sought fame, her life carries lasting significance for a few key reasons:
- A civil-rights-era marriage. Her 1965 marriage to John Amos took place before interracial marriage was legal nationwide, making their union part of a broader story of resistance to discriminatory laws in mid-20th-century America.
- Raising two accomplished children. Shannon and K.C. Amos both built careers in entertainment and have credited their mother’s creativity and discipline as a foundation for their own work.
- A model of quiet, authentic living. In a family later connected to Hollywood fame, Mickelson chose a different path, one centered on craftsmanship, animals, and privacy and stayed true to it for her entire life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Noel J. Mickelson?
Noel J. Mickelson was an American artist and equestrian best known as the first wife of actor John Amos and the mother of his two children, Shannon and K.C. Amos.
When did Noel J. Mickelson married John Amos?
The couple married in December 1965 at a chapel on the Colorado State University campus, at a time when interracial marriage was still illegal in parts of the United States.
Did Noel J. Mickelson and John Amos have children?
Yes. They had two children together: daughter Shannon Amos, a writer and producer, and son K.C. Amos, a director and producer.
When did Noel J. Mickelson and John Amos divorce?
The couple divorced in 1975, after roughly ten years of marriage.
When did Noel J. Mickelson pass away?
She passed away in December 2016 at the age of 73, surrounded by her family.
What did Noel J. Mickelson do for a living?
She was known primarily as an artist and equestrian, with an interest in hands-on craft work, though she kept her professional life largely private.
Conclusion
Noel J. Mickelson’s story is easy to overlook when placed next to the decades-long, high-profile career of her former husband, John Amos. But her life stands on its own: a woman who married across racial lines before the law fully allowed it, raised two children who found their own creative paths, and pursued art and horsemanship on her own terms, far from any spotlight. Her legacy today lives on primarily through her children, who continue to honor her memory as a formative, grounding presence in their lives.
