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.
Known For
Alien
(1979)
Parker
The Running Man
(1987)
William Laughlin
Live and Let Die
(1973)
Kananga/Mr. Big
Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare
(1991)
Doc
Midnight Run
(1988)
Alonzo Mosely
The Thomas Crown Affair
(1968)
Carl
Eye of the Tiger
(1986)
J.B. Deveraux
Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy
(2010)
Self (archive footage)
The Star Chamber
(1983)
Detective Harry Lowes
Brubaker
(1980)
Richard 'Dickie' Coombes
The Puppet Masters
(1994)
Ressler
5 Card Stud
(1968)
Little George
Truck Turner
(1974)
Blue
Blue Collar
(1978)
Sam 'Smokey' James
Fighting Back
(1982)
Ivanhoe Washington
Across 110th Street
(1972)
Lt. William Pope
Full Filmography
Acting
Nothing But a Man
(1964)
Jocko
The Thomas Crown Affair
(1968)
Carl
5 Card Stud
(1968)
Little George
The Liberation of L.B. Jones
(1970)
Sonny Boy Mosby
Night Chase
(1970)
Ernie Green
Man and Boy
(1971)
Nate Hodges
Across 110th Street
(1972)
Lt. William Pope
Bone
(1972)
Bone
The Limit
(1972)
Mark Johnson
Live and Let Die
(1973)
Kananga/Mr. Big
Bond 1973: The Lost Documentary
(1973)
Self
Truck Turner
(1974)
Blue
Report to the Commissioner
(1975)
Richard 'Crunch' Blackstone
Friday Foster
(1975)
Colt Hawkins
Sharks' Treasure
(1975)
Ben Flynn
Raid on Entebbe
(1976)
President Idi Amin - Jr.
The Monkey Hustle
(1976)
Daddy Foxx
Drum
(1976)
Blase
Crunch
(1976)
Richard "Crunch" Blackstone
Blue Collar
(1978)
Sam 'Smokey' James
Alien
(1979)
Parker
Brubaker
(1980)
Richard 'Dickie' Coombes
Othello
(1980)
Othello
Rage!
(1980)
Ernie
Fighting Back
(1982)
Ivanhoe Washington
A House Divided: Denmark Vessey's Rebellion
(1982)
Denmark Vessey
The Star Chamber
(1983)
Detective Harry Lowes
Women of San Quentin
(1983)
Sgt. Therman Patterson
For Love and Honor
(1983)
Sgt. China Bell
Warning Sign
(1985)
Major Connolly
The Park Is Mine
(1985)
Eubanks
Badge of the Assassin
(1985)
Detective Cliff Fenton NYPD
Playing with Fire
(1985)
Fire Chief Walker
Eye of the Tiger
(1986)
J.B. Deveraux
Harem
(1986)
Agha Kislar
The Running Man
(1987)
William Laughlin
Desperado
(1987)
Bede
Pretty Kill
(1987)
Harris
Perry Mason: The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel
(1987)
General Sorenson
In Self Defense
(1987)
Lt. Tyrell
Midnight Run
(1988)
Alonzo Mosely
Terminal Entry
(1988)
Col. Styles
Tripwire
(1989)
Lee Pitt
Ministry of Vengeance
(1989)
Mr. Whiteside
A Whisper to a Scream
(1989)
Jules Tallard
The Jigsaw Murders
(1989)
Doctor Tyrone Fillmore
Prime Target
(1989)
Gilmore Brown
After the Shock
(1990)
William McElroy
Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare
(1991)
Doc
Hangfire
(1991)
Police Lieutenant
Chrome Soldiers
(1992)
Perry Beach
Intent to Kill
(1992)
Captain Jackson
Extreme Justice
(1993)
Larson
The American Clock
(1993)
Almost Blue
(1993)
Terry
It's Nothing Personal
(1993)
Lt. Tom Riley
The Puppet Masters
(1994)
Ressler
The Corpse Had a Familiar Face
(1994)
Detective Martin Talbot
Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan
(1995)
Marty Talbot
Dead Badge
(1995)
Captain Hunt
The World of James Bond
(1995)
Out-of-Sync
(1995)
Quincy
Two If by Sea
(1996)
FBI Agent O'Malley
The Defenders: Payback
(1997)
Judge Williams
Inside 'Live and Let Die'
(1999)
Homicide: The Movie
(2000)
Al Giardello
Stiletto Dance
(2001)
Captain Rick Sands
BaadAsssss Cinema
(2002)
Self
Best Ever Bond
(2002)
Mr. Big / Dr. Kananga (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Beast Within: Making Alien
(2003)
(archive footage)
Witless Protection
(2008)
Ricardo Bodi
Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy
(2010)
Self (archive footage)
King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen
(2018)
Self
Directing
Production
Writing