The devastating death of famous Amos Cookies founder Wally Amos

Wallace “Wally” Amos, founder of Famous Amos Cookies, died Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at his home in Honolulu at the age of 88. The cause of death was complications from dementia. The baker and entrepreneur founded Famous Amos in 1975 with the opening of his first cookie shop on Los Angeles' famous Sunset Boulevard. His preservative-free cookies with natural ingredients were as important to the brand's early success as Amos' radiant personality and passion for baking.

“With his Panama hat, kazoo and boundless optimism, Famous Amos was a great American success story and a source of black pride,” his family said in a statement (via ABC). Amos derived his chocolate chip cookie recipe from one made by his aunt, Della Bryant. At age 12, Amos moved to New York to live with his aunt after his parents divorced, and she became an important part of his life. Bryant was the first to bake chocolate chip cookies for Amos.

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Wally Amos' career was full of ups and downs

Wally Amos was not a baker his entire working life. Inspired by his aunt Della Bryant, Amos attended the Food Trades Vocational High School, where he received training in the kitchen of an upscale hotel. But at a school that favored white students, promotion was not easy, and Amos dropped out to join the Air Force. After serving four years in the Air Force, most of which he spent in Hawaii, he returned to New York. The founder of Famous Amos worked in the music industry, starting in the mailroom of the William Morris talent agency and becoming a junior agent in 1961. He booked many talented music groups such as Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, and The Temptations.

Amos later opened his own management agency and ran it for nearly a decade. Amos relieved stress by baking cookies in the evenings and taking them to work with him. Eventually, he wanted to pursue this true passion. Marvin Gaye invested money in Famous Amos, and with $25,000, Amos opened his first cookie shop in LA. Famous Amos was a huge success and became a household name. However, it was difficult to keep profits high as the company expanded rapidly, and Famous Amos was sold in 1988. His passion for baking manifested itself in other projects such as Cookie Kahuna, which appeared on Shark Tank, and Uncle Wally Muffins—none of which took off like Famous Amos. Wallace Amos will be remembered for a life of hard work, a passion for baking, and chocolate chip cookies.

Read the original article on Mashed.