Wally Amos, famous founder of Amos Cookies, dies at the age of 88

Wally Amos, the founder of Famous Amos Cookies, has died. He was 88 years old.

His children confirmed the news in a statement and announced that he died from complications of dementia.

“He was a true, original black American hero,” the statement said, according to CNN. “With his Panama hat, his kazoo and his boundless optimism, Famous Amos was a great American success story and a source of black pride.” The letter was signed by Sarah, Michael, Gregory and Shawn Amos.

Amos, a native of Tallahassee, Florida, began selling his bite-sized chocolate chip cookies at his Los Angeles bakery in 1975, according to the company's website. The mini cookies were Amos' take on a family recipe, and his customers included Hollywood stars and musicians.

“I started baking cookies just to make a living and to be happy with what I do,” Amos told the Detroit Black Journal in 1991. “And I was just so committed and so involved and had so much fun doing it.”

Although his business flourished for years, he was forced to sell Famous Amos to a private equity group in 1988 due to financial difficulties. The Ferroro Group – the maker of Nutella – currently owns the cookie brand.

In the last years of his life, Amos had several guest appearances in popular sitcoms, such as The Jeffersons, taxiAnd The office.

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