Wally Amos, who became a household name after founding the Famous Amos cookie empire, died Tuesday at the age of 88.
His death was confirmed by his children Shawn and Sarah Amos, who said he passed away at his home in Honolulu on Aug. 13 due to complications from dementia, reported TMZ.
Born Wallace Amos in Tallahassee in 1936, he served in the Air Force from 1954 to 1957 before entering the entertainment industry, starting in the mailroom at the William Morris Agency.
Amos worked his way up to become the first Black talent agent in the industry, representing famous acts such as Simon and Garfunkel and the Supremes.
Throughout his career, baking served as a therapeutic hobby for Amos, who later launched Famous Amos after receiving loans from musicians Marvin Gaye and Helen Reddy.
He opened the first Famous Amos store on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles in 1975, and his cookies quickly became a sensation, bringing in $12 million in revenue in the first five years.
Amos contributed part of his success to his use of a cherished recipe from his Aunt Della that featured natural ingredients and no preservatives or artificial coloring.
After struggling to maintain the rapid growth of the business, Amos sold the company in 1988 to Ferrero Group, but continued his passion for baking with later ventures such as Uncle Noname, Uncle Wally’s Muffin Co., and the Cookie Kahuna.
He also authored several books and even appeared in sitcoms such as “Taxi,” “The Jeffersons” and “The Office.”
Amos is survived by his wife of 45 years, Christine Harris Amos, and his four children, Shawn, Sarah, Gregory and Michael.
