Source: Boston Globe / Getty
We are sad to report that Wallace “Wally” Amos, the founder of Famous Amos Cookies, has passed away at the age of 88.
Two of his children, Shawn and Sarah Amos, confirmed to the New York Times that he died on Aug. 13 at his home in Honolulu, Hawaii, due to complications of dementia.
Prior to becoming a legendary cookie maker, he started in the mailroom at William Morris Agency in 1957. He would work his way up to becoming the first Black talent agent in the industry, signing future superstar acts Simon and Garfunkel and The Supremes.
Wally began baking on the side when he moved to the West Coast in 1967, while opening his own talent agency. He told the New York Times in 1975:
“I began to bake as a hobby; it was a kind of therapy. I’d go to meetings with record company or movie people and bring along some cookies, and pretty soon everybody was asking for them.”
With financial help from Marvin Gaye and Helen Reddy, Wally opened the Famous Amos Cookie Company in 1975. Within the first five years, the company earned $12 million in revenue with dozens of stores nationwide and packaged products in grocery stores, according to PEOPLE.
Unfortunately, due to financial troubles, Wally sold Famous Amos to Ferrero Group for $3 million in 1988. With that, Wally lost the used of his name and likeness. He continued to sell baked goods under different names, including Uncle Noname and the Cookie Kahuna.
Wally was also a spokesman for the Literacy Volunteers of America, an organization focused on teaching adults to read. Eventually, he wrote several books, including The Cookie Never Crumbles cookbook.
Along with Shawn and Sarah Amos, Wally is survived by two other children, Gregory and Michael, and his wife of 45 years, Christine Harris Amos.
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