Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (2024)

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The creator of the Famous Amos cookie empire has died Gena Rowlands, star of movies by her director-husband, John Cassavetes, dies Chi Chi Rodriguez, Hall of Fame golfer known for antics on the greens, dies at 88 Billy Bean, trailblazing ex-MLB player who later worked in commissioner's office, dies Photos: Notable deaths in 2024 Glynis Johns Adan Canto Bud Harrelson Dejan Milojevic Jack Burke Mary Weiss Norman Jewison Charles Osgood Melanie Safka Chita Rivera Carl Weathers Wayne Kramer Ian Lavender Toby Keith Henry Fambrough Bob Edwards Don Gullett Lefty Driesell Andreas Brehme Golden Richards Richard Lewis Nikolai Ryzhkov Brian Mulroney Akira Toriyama Iris Apfel Andy Russell Ed Ott Chris Mortensen Steve Lawrence Naomi Barber King Paul Alexander Thomas P. Stafford Chris Simon M. Emmet Walsh Laurent de Brunhoff Obit Angelos Baseball Joe Lieberman Louis Gossett Jr. Joe Flaherty John Sinclair Larry Lucchino Christopher Durang Jerry Grote Schappell Twins Peter Higgs Ralph Puckett Jr. O.J. Simpson Eleanor Coppola Robert MacNeil Faith Ringgold Steve Sloan Ken Holtzman Carl Erskine Whitey Herzog Bob Graham Dickey Betts Mandisa David Pryor Roman Gabriel Andrew Davis Terry Anderson Bill Gladden Duane Eddy Paul Auster Dick Rutan Steve Albini Jimmy Johnson Sean Burroughs Roger Corman A.J. Smith David Sanborn Obit Alice Munro Dabney Coleman Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Jim Otto Ivan Boesky Jan. A.P. Kaczmarek Carlie Colin Morgan Spurlock Richard M. Sherman Bill Walton Albert Ruddy Larry Allen Janis Paige Parnelli Jones Chet Walker The Rev. James Lawson Jr. Jerry West Ron Simons Bob Schul Willie Mays Donald Sutherland Bill Cobbs Kinky Friedman Martin Mull Robert Towne Vic Seixas Obit Jon Landau James Inhofe Joe Bonsall Shelley Duvall Dr. Ruth Westheimer Richard Simmons Jacoby Jones Shannen Doherty James Sikking Pat Williams Lou Dobbs Bob Newhart Cheng Pei-Pei Abdul 'Duke' Fakir Bernice Johnson Reagon John Mayall Erica Ash Obituaries Newsletter Related to this story Wallace 'Wally' Amos Jr., founder of Famous Amos cookies, dies at 88 Watch Now: Related Video Tucson's Top Stories: August 15

AP Spotlight

The creator of the Famous Amos cookie empire has died

  • Updated

Wallace "Wally" Amos Jr., the founder of Famous Amos cookies, has died, his family announced Wednesday. He was 88.

HONOLULU — Wallace “Wally” Amos, the creator of the cookie empire that took his name and made it famous and who went on to become a children’s literacy advocate, has died. He was 88.

Amos created the Famous Amos cookie empire and eventually lost ownership of the company — as well as the rights to use the catchy Amos name. In his later years, he became a proprietor of a cookie shop called Chip & Cookie in Hawaii, where he moved in 1977.

Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (1)

He died Tuesday at his home in Honolulu, with his wife, Carol, at his side, his children said. He died from complications with dementia, they said.

“With his Panama hat, kazoo, and boundless optimism, Famous Amos was a great American success story, and a source of Black pride,” said a statement from his children, Sarah, Michael, Gregory and Shawn Amos.

He was married six times to five women, son Shawn said, explaining that he and Carol had split up, reacquainted and then remarried.

“He loved love,” Sarah Amos said.

They said their dad “inspired a generation of entrepreneurs when he founded the world’s first cookie store” on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles in 1975.

He had been stationed in Hawaii with the Air Force, and Famous Amos gave him the means to later make it his home.

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    Sarah Amos, who was born in Hawaii, remembers her dad flying back and forth to the U.S. mainland and taking business calls at 4 a.m.

    “It’s hard to run a business and to work with people on the mainland when you’re in Hawaii,” she said. “But he made the sacrifice.”

    While Wally Amos was a great promotor, he struggled as a businessperson and eventually lost control of the company. He walked away from it because he didn't want to just be its face, Sarah Amos said.

    Later losing the business and the right to use his name was deeply painful and personal, Shawn Amos said: “The remainder of his life and the remainder of his professional pursuits were attempts to get him to, you know, reclaim that space.”

    Wally Amos was also co-founder of Uncle Wally's Muffin Co., whose products are found in stores nationwide. But Amos said the fame never really mattered much to him.

    "Being famous is highly overrated anyway," Amos told The Associated Press in 2007.

    His muffin company, based in Shirley, N.Y., was originally founded as Uncle Noname Cookie Co. in 1992, a few years after Amos lost Famous Amos, which still widely uses his name on its products.

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      Amos had said the Famous Amos cookies sold today are unlike his cookies, which had lots of chocolate, real butter and pure vanilla extract.

      “You can’t compare a machine-made cookie with handmade cookie," he told the AP. “It’s like comparing a Rolls Royce with a Volkswagen.”

      Uncle Noname, however, foundered because of debt and problems with its contracted manufacturers.

      The company filed for bankruptcy in 1996, abandoned cookies and went into muffins at the suggestion of Amos' business partner, Lou Avignone.

      Inside his now-shuttered Hawaii cookie shop, he sold bite-sized cookies similar to the ones he first sold at the Famous Amos Hollywood store.

      Amos also was active in promoting reading. His shop, for example, had a reading room with dozens of donated books, and Amos usually spent Saturdays sitting on a rocking chair, wearing a watermelon hat, reading to children.

      Sarah Amos recalled him reading to children at Hanahauʻoli School and continuing to do so even after she graduated from the small elementary school.

      The former high school dropout penned eight books, served as spokesperson for Literacy Volunteers of America for 24 years and gave motivational talks to corporations, universities and other groups.

      Amos earned numerous honors for his volunteerism, including the Literacy Award presented by President George H.W. Bush in 1991.

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        "Your greatest contribution to your country is not your signature straw hat in the Smithsonian, but the people you have inspired to learn to read," Bush said.

        In one of his books, "Man With No Name: Turn Lemons Into Lemonade," Amos explained how he lost Famous Amos even before it was sold for $63 million to a Taiwanese company in 1991. Despite robust sales, by 1985, the business was losing money, so Amos brought in outside investors.

        "The new owners gobbled up more of my share until all of a sudden, I found I had lost all ownership in the company I founded," Amos wrote. Before long, the company had changed ownership four times.

        Sarah Amos said that after parting ways with Famous Amos, he stopped baking for about two years. After rediscovering a love of baking, he launched the Hawaii business, Chip & Cookie, in 1991.

        Born in Tallahassee, Florida, Amos moved to New York City at age 12 because of his parents' divorce. He lived with an aunt, Della Bryant, who taught him how to make chocolate chip cookies.

        He later dropped out of high school to join the Air Force before working as a mailroom clerk at the William Morris Agency, where he became a talent agent, working with The Supremes, Simon & Garfunkel and Marvin Gaye before borrowing $25,000 to launch his cookie business.

        He was the first Black agent in the business, Shawn Amos, said.

        Shawn and Sarah said that after becoming parents themselves, they realized how meaningful the chocolate chip cookie is to their family.

        “The first time we made cookies with our kids, it sort of sunk in, this is actually a family thing,” Shawn said. "It’s a gift he gave us. It’s part of our heritage.”

        Photos: Notable deaths in 2024

        Glynis Johns

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (5)

        Adan Canto

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (6)

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        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (7)

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        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (10)

        Norman Jewison

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (11)

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        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (12)

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        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (13)

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        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (14)

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        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (15)

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        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (16)

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        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (17)

        Toby Keith

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (18)

        Henry Fambrough

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (19)

        Bob Edwards

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (20)

        Don Gullett

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (21)

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        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (22)

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        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (23)

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        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (24)

        Richard Lewis

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (25)

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        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (26)

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        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (27)

        Akira Toriyama

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (28)

        Iris Apfel

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (29)

        Andy Russell

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (30)

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        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (31)

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        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (32)

        Steve Lawrence

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (33)

        Naomi Barber King

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (34)

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        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (35)

        Thomas P. Stafford

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (36)

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        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (37)

        M. Emmet Walsh

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (38)

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        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (39)

        Obit Angelos Baseball

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        Louis Gossett Jr.

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (42)

        Joe Flaherty

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (43)

        John Sinclair

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (44)

        Larry Lucchino

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (45)

        Christopher Durang

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (46)

        Jerry Grote

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (47)

        Schappell Twins

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (48)

        Peter Higgs

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (49)

        Ralph Puckett Jr.

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (50)

        O.J. Simpson

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (51)

        Eleanor Coppola

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (52)

        Robert MacNeil

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (53)

        Faith Ringgold

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (54)

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        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (55)

        Ken Holtzman

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (56)

        Carl Erskine

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (57)

        Whitey Herzog

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (58)

        Bob Graham

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (59)

        Dickey Betts

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (60)

        Mandisa

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (61)

        David Pryor

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (62)

        Roman Gabriel

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (63)

        Andrew Davis

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (64)

        Terry Anderson

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (65)

        Bill Gladden

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (66)

        Duane Eddy

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (67)

        Paul Auster

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (68)

        Dick Rutan

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (69)

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        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (70)

        Jimmy Johnson

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (71)

        Sean Burroughs

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (72)

        Roger Corman

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (73)

        A.J. Smith

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (74)

        David Sanborn

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (75)

        Obit Alice Munro

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (76)

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        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (77)

        Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (78)

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        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (79)

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        Jan. A.P. Kaczmarek

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (81)

        Carlie Colin

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (82)

        Morgan Spurlock

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (83)

        Richard M. Sherman

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (84)

        Bill Walton

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (85)

        Albert Ruddy

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        Janis Paige

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (88)

        Parnelli Jones

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        Chet Walker

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        The Rev. James Lawson Jr.

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        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (92)

        Ron Simons

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (93)

        Bob Schul

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (94)

        Willie Mays

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (95)

        Donald Sutherland

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (96)

        Bill Cobbs

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (97)

        Kinky Friedman

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (98)

        Martin Mull

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (99)

        Robert Towne

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (100)

        Vic Seixas

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (101)

        Obit Jon Landau

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (102)

        James Inhofe

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (103)

        Joe Bonsall

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (104)

        Shelley Duvall

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (105)

        Dr. Ruth Westheimer

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (106)

        Richard Simmons

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (107)

        Jacoby Jones

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (108)

        Shannen Doherty

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (109)

        James Sikking

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (110)

        Pat Williams

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (111)

        Lou Dobbs

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (112)

        Bob Newhart

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (113)

        Cheng Pei-Pei

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (114)

        Abdul 'Duke' Fakir

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (115)

        Bernice Johnson Reagon

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (116)

        John Mayall

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (117)

        Erica Ash

        Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died. He lost Famous Amos but found other success (118)

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        Related to this story

        Wallace 'Wally' Amos Jr., founder of Famous Amos cookies, dies at 88

        Wallace "Wally" Amos Jr., the founder of Famous Amos cookies, has died, his family announced Wednesday. He was 88.

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