Yaphet Frederick Kotto (November 15, 1939 – March 15, 2021) was an American actor for film and television. His films include the neo-noir action thriller Across 110th Street (1972), the James Bond film Live and Let Die (1973), the science-fiction horror film Alien (1979), the science-fiction action film The Running Man (1987), and the action comedy Midnight Run (1988). He also starred in the NBC television series Homicide: Life on the Street (1993–1999) as Lieutenant Al Giardello.

Early life Kotto was born in New York City. His mother, Gladys Marie, was an American nurse and U.S. Army officer of Panamanian and Antiguan descent. His father, Avraham Kotto (who was, according to his son, originally named Njoki Manga Bell), was a businessman from Cameroon who immigrated to the United States in the 1920s. Kotto's father was raised Jewish and his mother converted to Judaism. The couple separated when Kotto was a child, and he was raised by his maternal grandparents.

By the age of 16, Kotto was studying acting at the Actors Mobile Theater Studio.

Career At age 19, Yaphet Kotto made his professional acting debut in Othello. He was a member of the Actors Studio in New York. Kotto got his start in acting on Broadway, where he appeared in The Great White Hope, among other productions.

His film debut was in 1963, aged 23, in an uncredited role in 4 for Texas. He performed in Michael Roemer's Nothing but a Man (1964) and played a supporting role in the caper film The Thomas Crown Affair (1968). He played John Auston, a confused Marine Lance Corporal, in the 1968 episode "King of the Hill", on the first season of Hawaii Five-O.

In 1967, he released a single, "Have You Ever Seen the Blues" / "Have You Dug His Scene" (Chisa Records, CH006).

In 1973, he landed the role of the James Bond villain Mr. Big in Live and Let Die, as well as roles in Across 110th Street and Truck Turner. He played a police officer, Richard "Crunch" Blackstone, in the 1975 film Report to the Commissioner. Kotto portrayed Idi Amin in the 1977 television film Raid on Entebbe. He starred as an auto worker in the 1978 film Blue Collar. The following year he played Parker in the sci-fi–horror film Alien. He followed with a supporting role in the 1980 prison drama Brubaker. In 1983, he guest-starred as mobster Charlie "East Side Charlie" Struthers in The A-Team episode "The Out-of-Towners". In 1987, he appeared in the futuristic sci-fi movie The Running Man, and in 1988, in the action-comedy Midnight Run, in which he portrayed Alonzo Moseley, an FBI agent. A memo from Paramount indicates that Kotto was among those being considered for Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, a role which eventually went to Patrick Stewart.Letters of Note: STAR TREK/Casting, lettersofnote.com; August 2010.

Kotto was cast as a religious man living in the southwestern desert country in the 1967 episode "A Man Called Abraham" on the syndicated anthology series Death Valley Days, hosted by Robert Taylor. In the story line, Abraham convinces a killer named Cassidy (Rayford Barnes) that Cassidy can change his heart despite past crimes. When Cassidy is sent to the gallows, Abraham provides spiritual solace. Bing Russell also appeared in this segment.

Kotto retired from film acting in the mid-1990s, though he had one final film role in Witless Protection (2008). However, he continued to take on television roles. Kotto portrayed Lieutenant Al Giardello in the long-running television series Homicide: Life on the Street. As a black Sicilian proud of his Italian ancestry, the character was a breakout for television. He has written the book Royalty and also wrote scripts for Homicide. In 2014, he voiced Parker for the video game Alien: Isolation, reprising the role he played in the movie Alien in 1979.

Personal life Kotto's first marriage, in 1959, was to a German immigrant, Rita Ingrid Dittman. They had three children and divorced in 1976. Later, Kotto married Toni Pettyjohn, and they also had three children together before divorcing in 1989. Kotto married his third wife, Tessie Sinahon, who was from the Philippines, in 1998.

Yaphet Kotto was raised in the Catholic faith and attended Holy Cross Grammar School, in the Soundview section of the Bronx during the early to mid-fifties.

Kotto became Jewish, and versed in the Hebrew liturgy and incorporated Jewish prayers at turning points throughout his life. He said his father "instilled Judaism" in him.

In 2000, he was living in Marmora, Ontario, Canada.

Death Kotto died at the age of 81 on March 15, 2021, near Manila, Philippines. His wife announced the news on Facebook.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes Ref. 1963 4 for Texas Extra Uncredited 1964 Nothing but a Man Jocko 1968 Carl 5 Card Stud George "Little George", Mama's Bartender 1970 Sonny "Sonny Boy" Mosby 1971 Man and Boy Nate Hodges 1972 Bone "Bone" The Limit Mark Johnson Also director Across 110th Street Lieutenant Pope 1973 Live and Let Die Dr. Kananga / Mr. Big 1974 Truck Turner Harvard Blue 1975 Report to the Commissioner Richard "Crunch" Blackstone Sharks' Treasure Ben Flynn Friday Foster Colt Hawkins 1976 Drum Blaise "Big Daddy" Foxx 1978 Blue Collar Sam "Smokey" James 1979 Alien Dennis Parker, Technician 1980 Brubaker Dickie Coombes Othello Othello No commercial release 1982 Fighting Back Ivanhoe Washington 1983 Detective Harry Lowes 1984 Terror in the Aisles Himself 1985 Warning Sign Major Connolly 1986 The Park Is Mine Eubanks Eye of the Tiger J.B. Deveraux 1987 Prettykill Harris Terminal Entry Colonel Styles William Laughlin 1988 Midnight Run FBI Special Agent Alonzo Mosely 1989 The Jigsaw Murders Dr. Filmore A Whisper To A Scream Jules Tallard Ministry of Vengeance Mr. Whiteside Tripwire Lee Pitt 1991 Hangfire Police Lieutenant Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare Doc 1992 Intent to Kill Captain Jackson 1993 Extreme Justice Detective Larson 1994 Ressler 1995 Dead Badge Captain Hunt Out-of-Sync Quincy 1996 Two If by Sea FBI Agent O'Malley Almost Blue Terry 2008 Witless Protection Ricardo Bodi Final film role

Television Year Title Role Notes Ref. 1966–1967 The Big Valley "Lobo" Brown Damien 2 episodes 1967 Death Valley Days Abraham Episode: "A Man Called Abraham" 1968 Bonanza Joshua "Child" Barnett Episode: "Child" Sergeant Major Episode: "The Buffalo Soldiers"Western Heritage Bronze Wrangler Award for Best Fictional Television Drama Daniel Boone Luke Episode: Big, Black and out There 1969 Mannix Gabe Johnson / Gabriel Dillon Episode: "Death in a Minor Key" Hawaii Five-O Marine Lance Corporal John T. Auston Episode: "King of the Hill" Daniel Boone Jonah Episode: "Jonah" 1970 Gunsmoke Piney Biggs Episode: "The Scavengers" Night Chase Ernie Green Television film 1971 Night Gallery Buckner Episode: "The Messiah on Mott Street" 1976 Crunch Richard "Crunch" Blackstone Television film 1977 Raid on Entebbe President Idi Amin DadaTelevision film Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie 1980 Rage! ErnieTelevision film 1982 A House Divided: Denmark Vesey's Rebellion Denmark Vesey 1983 The A-Team Charlie "East-Side Charlie" Struthers Episode: "The Out-of-Towners" For Love and Honor Sergeant James "China" Bell Television film Women of San Quentin Sergeant Therman Patterson 1983–1984 For Love and Honor Sergeant James "China" Bell 12 episodes 1985 Playing with Fire Fire Chief Jim Walker Television film Eubanks Badge of the Assassin Detective Cliff Fenton NYPD Alfred Hitchcock Presents Convict Episode: "Prisoners" 1986 Harem Agha Kislar Television film 1987 Desperado Bede In Self Defense Lieutenant Tyrell Perry Mason: The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel General Sorenson Murder, She Wrote Lieutenant Bradshaw Episode: "Steal Me a Story" 1989 Prime Target Gilmore Brown Television film 1990 After the Shock William McElroy 1992 Chrome Soldiers Perry Beach 1993 It's Nothing Personal Lieutenant Riley The American Clock Isaac seaQuest DSV Captain Jack Clayton Episode: "Treasures of the Tonga Trench" 1993–2000 Homicide: Life on the Street Lieutenant Al Giardello Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series (1996–1999) 1994 The Corpse Had a Familiar Face Detective Martin Talbot Television film TV Nation Himself Pilot episode 1995 Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan Marty Talbot Television film1997 The Defenders: Payback Judge Williams Law & Order Lieutenant Al Giardello Episode: "Baby It's You" 2000 Homicide: The Movie Al "Gee" Giardello Television film The Ride Carter 2001 Stiletto Dance Captain Rick Sands

Video games Year Title Role Notes Ref. 2014 Alien: Isolation Dennis Parker, Technician Voice role; Nostromo Edition

In popular culture A hardcore punk band from California took its name from the actor. He was also mentioned by Childish Gambino on the track 'yaphet kotto (freestyle)'.

References

Further reading The Royalty: A Spiritual Awakening (1997), autobiography;

External links