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