Wally Amos, the 88-year-old founder of Famous Amos cookies, passed away on Tuesday, August 13, at his home in Honolulu due to complications from dementia, as confirmed by his children to the New York Times.
Amos, who initially baked cookies as a hobby while working as a talent agent, turned this pastime into a successful venture in 1975. With a $25,000 loan from friends like Marvin Gaye, he opened the Famous Amos cookie shop on Sunset Boulevard. His cookies quickly gained popularity, and his business thrived, generating $300,000 in its first year and growing into a $12 million company by 1981.
Despite the brand’s success and his rise to pop culture fame with appearances on shows such as “The Jeffersons,” “Taxi,” and “The Office,” Amos struggled with financial management. By 1988, he had sold his stake in the company. In later years, he worked as a motivational speaker and author, promoting black entrepreneurship and childhood literacy. He is survived by his fourth wife, Carol Williams, four children, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
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