Creator of Famous Amos, Wally Amos, Dies at Age 88

By
Shernice Sim
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As a kid that wouldn’t shut up until I had a bag of those cookies in my hand, this news hits pretty hard.

Wallace “Wally” Amos, the legendary creator behind the Famous Amos cookie brand, passed away at age 88 on 13 August.

Amos, who spent his later years in Honolulu, Hawaii, died from complications related to dementia, surrounded by his wife, Carol, and family.

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His children fondly recalled how their father, adorned with his signature Panama hat and kazoo, inspired many when he launched the world’s first cookie store on Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, back in 1975.

It wasn’t just any cookie store—it was the birthplace of the bite-sized chocolate chip cookies that Hollywood stars (and I) couldn’t get enough of.

A Sweet Beginning and Bitter Challenges

Amos’ journey began in Tallahassee, Florida.

After his parents’ divorce, he moved to New York City at 12 and lived with his aunt, Della Bryant, who taught him the art of making chocolate chip cookies.

After dropping out of high school, Amos joined the Air Force and later worked his way up from a mailroom clerk to a talent agent at the William Morris Agency. He rubbed shoulders with icons like The Supremes, Simon & Garfunkel, and Marvin Gaye.

In 1975, borrowing US$25,000, Amos took a gamble on his love for cookies, opening the very first Famous Amos store. The risk paid off, as his cookies, made with lots of chocolate, real butter, and pure vanilla extract, quickly became a hit.

But as the business expanded, financial troubles loomed. By the mid-1980s, Amos had to sell equity stakes, eventually losing control of his beloved company by 1988.

Losing the Famous Amos brand was deeply personal and painful for Amos, who admitted that his reluctance to listen to advice contributed to his downfall. 

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Despite this setback, he remained resilient, launching Uncle Noname Cookie Co (later Uncle Wally’s Muffin Co) in 1992. Though his cookie ventures faced challenges, his muffins found nationwide success.

Wally Amos wasn’t just about cookies though; he had a passion for promoting literacy. His Hawaii-based Chip & Cookie shop featured a reading room with donated books. Amos, often seen in a watermelon hat, would spend Saturdays reading to children.

His dedication to literacy earned him several accolades, including the Literacy Award from President George H W Bush in 1991.

Amos even authored eight books and served as a spokesperson for Literacy Volunteers of America for 24 years. He conducted motivational talks for corporations and universities, spreading his infectious optimism and the importance of education.

Aside from that, he continued to pursue new ventures, including The Cookie Kahuna, and even appeared on the business reality TV show Shark Tank US in 2016.

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Amos’ entrepreneurial spirit was matched by his candidness about fame. He often said, “Being famous is highly overrated.” For him, the joy of baking and inspiring others was more rewarding than any celebrity status. What a legend.

His children, Sarah, Michael, Gregory, and Shawn, shared that their father’s greatest joy came from the simple act of making and sharing cookies. They remembered their father as someone who taught them the value of hard work, self-belief, and the pursuit of dreams.

The Famous Amos cookies sold today might differ from Wally’s original recipe, but the essence of his legacy remains. His journey from a high school dropout to a cookie king and literacy advocate is a testament to his indomitable spirit.

The next time we inhale the tempting chocolatey smell of a Famous Amos branch near you, let’s take a couple moments to remember Wally Amos and embrace the sweetness of life, just as he did.

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Shernice Sim