Yaphet Kotto

Acting · Born 1939-11-16 in New York City, New York, U.S.A

Biography

Yaphet Frederick Kotto (November 16, 1939 – March 15, 2021) was an American actor known for numerous film roles, as well as starring in the NBC television series Homicide: Life on the Street (1993-99) as Lieutenant Al Giardello. His films include the science-fiction and horror film Alien (1979), and the Arnold Schwarzenegger science-fiction and action film The Running Man (1987). He portrayed the main villain Dr. Kananga/Mr. Big in the James Bond movie Live and Let Die (1973). He appeared opposite Robert De Niro in the comedy thriller Midnight Run (1988) as FBI Agent Alonzo Mosley.

Filmography

• Brubaker as Dickie Coombes
• Midnight Run as Alonzo Mosely, Special Agent, F.B.I.
• Alien as Parker
• Live and Let Die as Kananga/Mr. Big
• The Running Man as William Laughlin
• The Thomas Crown Affair as Carl
• 5 Card Stud as Little George
• Homicide: The Movie as Al Giardello
• Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare as Doc
• Truck Turner as Blue

TV

• Hill Street Blues as Calvin Matthias
• Night Gallery as Buckner
• Homicide: Life on the Street as Al Giardello
• The A-Team as Charles Struthers
• seaQuest DSV as Captain Jack Clayton
• Hawaii Five-O as LCpl. John T. Auston
• The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents as Convict
• Mannix as Gabe Johnson / Gabriel Dillon
• Gunsmoke as Piney Biggs
• Doctors' Hospital