Yaphet Kotto

Yaphet Frederick Kotto (November 15, 1939 – March 15, 2021) was an American actor for film and television. His films include the science-fiction horror film Alien (1979), the neo-noir action thriller Across 110th Street (1972), the science-fiction action film The Running Man (1987), the James Bond film Live and Let Die (1973) in which he portrayed the main villain Dr. Kananga, 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.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> His mother, Gladys Marie, was an American nurse and U.S. Army officer of Panamanian and Antiguan descent.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His father, Avraham Kotto (who was, according to his son, originally named Njoki Manga Bell), was a businessman from Cameroon who emigrated to the United States in the 1920s.<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="allbusiness1999">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="auto1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

His film debut was in 1963, aged 23, in an uncredited role in 4 for Texas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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).<ref name=AFI/> 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.<ref name="TVG Filmography">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1967, he released a single, "Have You Ever Seen the Blues" / "Have You Dug His Scene" (Chisa Records, CH006).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref>Letters of Note: STAR TREK/Casting, lettersofnote.com; August 2010.</ref>

File:Leif Erickson Yaphet Kotto The High Chaparral 1968.JPG

Kotto acting alongside Leif Erickson in the television series The High Chaparral in 1968

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Kotto retired from film acting in the mid-1990s, though he had one final film role in Witless Protection (2008).<ref name="the guardian"/> 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.Template:Citation needed 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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,<ref name="auto"/> in 1998.<ref name="the guardian"/>

Kotto was versed in the Hebrew liturgy and incorporated Jewish prayers at turning points throughout his life.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He said his father "instilled Judaism" in him.<ref name="the guardian">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2000, he was living in Marmora, Ontario, Canada.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Politics

Kotto supported Donald Trump in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. He also expressed support for Black Lives Matter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Death

Kotto died at the age of 81 on March 15, 2021, near Manila, Philippines. His wife announced the news on Facebook.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Filmography

Films

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

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
1966–1967	The Big Valley	"Lobo" Brown Damien	Season 2, episode 11: "The Iron Box" Season 3, episode 15: "The Buffalo Man"	<ref name="TVG Filmography"/>
1967	Death Valley Days	Abraham	Season 15, episode 26: "A Man Called Abraham"	<ref name="TVG Filmography"/>
1968	Bonanza<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/>	Joshua "Child" Barnett	Season 10, episode 2: "Child"	<ref name="TVG Filmography"/>
1968	Template:Sortname	Sergeant Major	Season 2, episode 10: "The Buffalo Soldiers" Western Heritage Bronze Wrangler Award for Best Fictional Television Drama	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/><ref name="TVG Filmography"/>
1968	Daniel Boone	Luke	Season 5, episode 11: Big, Black and out There	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/><ref name="TVG Filmography"/>
1969	Mannix	Gabe Johnson / Gabriel Dillon	Season 2, episode 18: "Death in a Minor Key"	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/><ref name="TVG Filmography"/>
1969	Hawaii Five-O	Marine Lance Corporal John T. Auston	Season 1, episode 14: "King of the Hill"	<ref name="TVG Filmography"/>
1969	Daniel Boone	Jonah	Season 5, episode 18: "Jonah"	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/><ref name="TVG Filmography"/>
1970	Gunsmoke	Piney Biggs	Season 16, episode 10: "The Scavengers"	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/><ref name="TVG Filmography"/>
1970	Night Chase	Ernie Green	Television film
1971	Night Gallery	Buckner	Season 2, episode 13: "The Messiah on Mott Street"	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/><ref name="TVG Filmography"/>
1976	Raid on Entebbe	President Idi Amin Dada	Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/><ref name=BFI/>
1976	Crunch	Richard "Crunch" Blackstone	Television film
1980	Rage!	Ernie	Television film
1982	A House Divided: Denmark Vesey's Rebellion	Denmark Vesey	Television film	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />
1983	The A-Team	Charlie "East-Side Charlie" Struthers	Series 1, episode 8: "The Out-of-Towners" (1983)	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/><ref name="TVG Filmography"/>
1983	For Love and Honor	Sergeant James "China" Bell	Television film	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /><ref name="BFI" />
1983	Women of San Quentin	Sergeant Therman Patterson	Television film	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /><ref name="BFI" />
1983–1984	For Love and Honor	Sergeant James "China" Bell	12 episodes	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/><ref name=BFI/>
1985	Playing with Fire	Fire Chief Jim Walker	Television film	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /><ref name="BFI" />
1985	Template:Sortname	Eubanks	Television film	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /><ref name="BFI" />
1985	Badge of the Assassin	Detective Cliff Fenton NYPD	Television film	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /><ref name="BFI" />
1985	Alfred Hitchcock Presents	Convict	Season 1, episode 10: "Prisoners"	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/><ref name="TVG Filmography"/>
1986	Harem	Agha Kislar	Television film	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /><ref name="BFI" />
1987	Desperado	Bede	Television film	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /><ref name="BFI" />
1987	In Self Defense	Lieutenant Tyrell	Television film	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /><ref name="BFI" />
1987	Perry Mason: The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel	General Sorenson	Television film
1987	Murder, She Wrote	Lieutenant Bradshaw	Season 4, episode 8: "Steal Me a Story" (1987)	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/><ref name="TVG Filmography"/>
1989	Prime Target	Gilmore Brown	Television film	<ref name="BFI" /><ref name="TVG Filmography" />
1990	After the Shock	William McElroy	Television film	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /><ref name="BFI" />
1992	Chrome Soldiers	Perry Beach	Television film	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /><ref name="TVG Filmography" />
1993	It's Nothing Personal	Lieutenant Riley	Television film
1993	The American Clock	Isaac	Television film
1993	seaQuest DSV	Captain Jack Clayton	Season 1, episode 6: "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)	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/><ref name="TVG Filmography"/>
1994	The Corpse Had a Familiar Face	Detective Martin Talbot	Television film	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/><ref name=BFI/>
1994	TV Nation	Himself	Pilot episode
1995	Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan	Marty Talbot	Television film
1997	The Defenders: Payback	Judge Williams	Television film
	Law & Order	Lieutenant Al Giardello	Season 8, Episode 6: "Baby It's You"
2000	Homicide: The Movie	Al "Gee" Giardello	Television film	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /><ref name="TVG Filmography" />
2000	The Ride	Carter	Television film
2001	Stiletto Dance	Captain Rick Sands	Television film

Video games

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2014	Alien: Isolation	Dennis Parker, Technician	Voice role; Nostromo Edition	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

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)'.

Further reading

• The Royalty: A Spiritual Awakening (1997), autobiography; Template:ISBN

External links

• Template:IMDb name
• Template:IBDB name
• Template:Iobdb name
• Template:Find a Grave