Wally Amos (1936-2024) American Entrepreneur and Author
Wally Amos (1936-2024) American Entrepreneur and Author dies at 88, Find a Grave Wally Amos, Wally Amos find a grave, Wally Amos Death and burial details.
Wallace Amos Jr. was an American television personality, entrepreneur, and author from Tallahassee, Florida. He founded the Famous Amos cookie store franchise. Following his parent’s divorce, he was sent to live in New York City with his Aunt Della who had a fondness for baking cookies. Amos was educated at Food Trades Vocational High School where he was taught culinary arts.
Wally Amos
| Full Name | Wallace Amos Jr. |
|---|---|
| Birth | 1 July 1936, Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, United States |
| Death | 13 August 2024 (aged 88) Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States |
| Cause of Death | Dementia |
| Known for | Famous Amos and Learn to Read |
| Spouse | Christine Harris-Amos (Married 1979) |
| Children | Shawn Amos and Sarah Amos |
| Other names | Famous Amos |
| Occupations | Business Entrepreneur and Author |
| Nationality | American |
| Burial | Cremated. Specifically: Ashes retained by his family. |
After graduating, he enlisted with the United States Air Force. Following his discharge, he returned to New York where he landed a job in the stock room at Saks Fifth Avenue. He moved on to the William Morris Talent Agency and in 1962, he became the first black agent in the company’s history. He is credited with signing Simon & Garfunkel.
He rose to become the head of the company’s music department where he worked with Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross. After leaving William Morris, he relocated to California where he established the first Famous Amos cookie store in Los Angeles. After a decade of success, financial difficulties began to plague the company which forced Amos to sell.
In 1991, he attempted to launch another cookie company called Wally Amos Presents Chip & Cookie, however he became embroiled in a law suit for violating an agreement which forbid him to use his name of image for another produced. In 1998, the Keebler Company purchased Famous Amos and hired Amos to serve as spokesman. Amos was a strong advocate for literacy and traveled the United States as a motivational speaker. In addition, he was the author of ten books. He died of complications from dementia.
Wally Amos Biography, Life and Career
Amos was born July 1, 1936, to Wallace and Ruby Amos. He was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida, until he was 12 years old. When his parents divorced, he moved to New York City with his aunt, where he enrolled at the Food Trades Vocational High School. He showed his interest in cooking at a young age. It was from his aunt Della Bryant, who would bake cookies for him, that Amos later developed his chocolate chip cookie recipe. Amos dropped out of high school to join the United States Air Force.
He served at Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, Hawaii, from 1954 until 1957. He earned his high school equivalency diploma before being honorably discharged from the military.
Wally Amos Career
Returning to New York City, Amos went to college to become a secretary, and after graduating, took a mailroom clerk job with the William Morris Agency. Eventually, he became the agency’s first African American talent agent. He signed Simon & Garfunkel and headed the agency’s rock ‘n’ roll department. Amos attracted clients by sending them chocolate chip cookies along with an invitation to visit him.
The musicians he represented included The Temptations and Marvin Gaye. In 1975, a friend suggested to Amos that he set up a store to sell his cookies, and in March of that year, the first Famous Amos cookie store opened in Los Angeles, California.
He started the business with the help of a $25,000 loan from Marvin Gaye and Helen Reddy. The company began to expand, and eventually, Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies could be found on supermarket shelves across the United States. He became such a known figure culturally that he appeared as himself in the Taxi episode “Latka’s Cookies” in 1981. Thanks in part to the success of his cookie company, he was hired to deliver speeches. He wrote several books, many of which have a self-help theme, including The Cookie Never Crumbles and The Power in You.
In 1979, Amos’s long-time friend and publicist John Rosica introduced him to Literacy Volunteers of America. Amos advocated literacy and helped thousands of adults learn to read. In 1987, he also hosted a television series designed to teach others how to read, entitled Learn to Read, produced by Kentucky Educational Television and WXYZ-TV.
In 1986, Amos was awarded the Entrepreneurial Excellence Award by President Ronald Reagan at the White House Conference on Small Business.
Due to financial troubles, Amos was forced to sell the Famous Amos Company, and because the name “Famous Amos” was trademarked by his former company, he had to use The Uncle Noname’s Cookie Company as his new company’s name. A Famous Amos distributor at the time, Lou Avignone, heard Amos on a local radio talk show and, inspired by Amos’s story of his early business success with Famous Amos and his spirit, contacted Amos with the idea for starting a new business.
In 1994, the two became partners and subsequently launched Uncle Noname Gourmet Muffins. The company focused on fat-free, nutritious muffins at that time. Uncle Noname became Uncle Wally’s Muffin Company in 1999. The muffins are sold in more than 3,500 stores nationwide.
In 2014, an article in Fortune magazine lauded “The cookie comeback of ‘Famous’ Wally Amos” as Amos brought back his handmade cookies under a new name, The Cookie Kahuna. These cookies were marketed in a store in Hawaii, where Amos was based. They come in the flavors original chocolate chip, chocolate chip with pecans, and butterscotch with macadamia nuts. Amos appeared on the reality television show Shark Tank in 2016, pitching Cookie Kahuna, but failed to get a deal. The business folded in 2018.
In 2019, Amos was called “the King of cookies” by NBC affiliate KSNV-TV in Las Vegas.
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In 2020, Content Media Group released a documentary on the life of Wally Amos, The Great Cookie Comeback: reBaking Wally Amos. The film was directed by Jeff MacIntyre.
Wally Amos Personal life
Amos was married four times, most recently to Carol Williams. He had four children: Michael Amos, Gregory Amos, Sarah Amos, and musician Shawn Amos. Amos lived in Hawaii from 1977 until 2018, and would be living in the state again at the time of his death in August 2024. He also lived in Columbia, South Carolina, where he was working on Aunt Della’s Cookies until 2018.
Wally Amos Death
Amos died due to complications from dementia at his home in Honolulu, Hawaii on August 13, 2024, at the age of 88.
Wally Amos Cause of Death
Dementia.
Wally Amos Find a Grave
Cremated. Specifically: Ashes retained by his family.
FAQs About Wally Amos
Q: Who was Wally Amos?
A: Wally Amos, born Wallace Amos Jr. on July 1, 1936, was an American television personality, entrepreneur, and author best known for founding the Famous Amos cookie store franchise. He was also recognized for his work as a talent agent and literacy advocate.
Q: What was the cause of Wally Amos’s death?
A: Wally Amos died from complications related to dementia.
Q: When and where did Wally Amos pass away?
A: Wally Amos passed away on August 13, 2024, in Honolulu, Hawaii, at the age of 88.
Q: What are some notable achievements of Wally Amos?
A: Wally Amos is well-known for founding the Famous Amos cookie store, serving as the first black agent at the William Morris Talent Agency, signing notable clients like Simon & Garfunkel, and advocating for literacy through his work with Literacy Volunteers of America. He also authored ten books and appeared on the television series “Learn to Read.”
Q: How was Wally Amos buried?
A: Wally Amos was cremated, and his ashes were retained by his family.
Q: What was Wally Amos’s connection to the Famous Amos cookie brand after selling it?
A: After financial troubles led to the sale of Famous Amos, Wally Amos attempted to launch another cookie company called Wally Amos Presents Chip & Cookie. He later worked as a spokesperson for Famous Amos after it was purchased by Keebler and also started several other ventures including Uncle Wally’s Muffin Company and The Cookie Kahuna.
Q: What role did Wally Amos play at the William Morris Talent Agency?
A: Wally Amos became the first African American talent agent at the William Morris Talent Agency, where he signed high-profile clients such as Simon & Garfunkel. He also served as the head of the music department and worked with notable artists including Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, and Diana Ross.
Q: How did Wally Amos start the Famous Amos cookie business?
A: Wally Amos started the Famous Amos cookie business in March 1975 with a $25,000 loan from Marvin Gaye and Helen Reddy. He opened the first store in Los Angeles, California, after receiving a suggestion from a friend. His cookies became popular and expanded to supermarket shelves across the United States.
Q: What challenges did Wally Amos face with his cookie business?
A: After a decade of success, Wally Amos faced financial difficulties which led him to sell the Famous Amos cookie company. He later encountered legal issues when launching a new cookie company, Wally Amos Presents Chip & Cookie, due to a lawsuit over using his name and image.
Q: What was Wally Amos’s involvement with literacy?
A: Wally Amos was a strong advocate for literacy. He worked with Literacy Volunteers of America, helping thousands of adults learn to read, and hosted a television series called “Learn to Read” in 1987, aimed at promoting literacy.
Q: What was the focus of Wally Amos’s later business ventures?
A: After selling Famous Amos, Wally Amos launched several new ventures including Uncle Noname Gourmet Muffins, which later became Uncle Wally’s Muffin Company, focusing on nutritious, fat-free muffins. He also started The Cookie Kahuna, which offered handmade cookies in Hawaii.
Q: Did Wally Amos appear in any television shows or movies?
A: Yes, Wally Amos appeared as himself in the “Taxi” episode titled “Latka’s Cookies” in 1981 and was featured in the documentary “The Great Cookie Comeback: reBaking Wally Amos” released in 2020.
Q: How did Wally Amos contribute to the business world?
A: Wally Amos made significant contributions to the business world through his entrepreneurial ventures, particularly with the Famous Amos cookie brand, which popularized his chocolate chip cookies. He was also recognized for his entrepreneurial achievements with the Entrepreneurial Excellence Award presented by President Ronald Reagan.
