Yaphet Kotto

Yaphet Kotto

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.

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Known For

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962 • as Self

Law & Order

Law & Order

1990 • as Al Giardello

Hawaii Five-O

Hawaii Five-O

1968 • as LCpl. John T. Auston

Homicide: Life on the Street

Homicide: Life on the Street

1993 • as Al Giardello

Murder, She Wrote

Murder, She Wrote

1984 • as Lt. Bradshaw

Bonanza

Bonanza

1959 • as Child Barnett

Filmography

2018

King Cohen
King Cohen
as Self
Movie - Released: 7/7/2018

2010

Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy
Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 5/4/2010

2008

Witless Protection
Witless Protection
as Ricardo Bodi
Movie - Released: 2/22/2008

2003

The Beast Within: Making Alien
The Beast Within: Making Alien
as (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 12/2/2003

2002

BaadAsssss Cinema
BaadAsssss Cinema
as Self
Movie - Released: 8/14/2002
Movie
Best Ever Bond
as Mr. Big / Dr. Kananga (archive footage) (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 11/22/2002

2001

Stiletto Dance
Stiletto Dance
as Captain Rick Sands
Movie - Released: 6/8/2001

2000

Homicide: The Movie
Homicide: The Movie
as Al Giardello
Movie - Released: 2/13/2000
The Ride
The Ride
as Carter
Movie - Released: 8/27/2000

1999

Inside 'Live and Let Die'
Inside 'Live and Let Die'
Movie - Released: 1/1/1999

1997

Movie
The Defenders: Payback
as Judge Williams
Movie - Released: 10/12/1997

1996

Two If by Sea
Two If by Sea
as FBI Agent O'Malley
Movie - Released: 1/12/1996

1995

Out-of-Sync
Out-of-Sync
as Quincy
Movie - Released: 6/4/1995
Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan
Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan
as Marty Talbot
Movie - Released: 5/8/1995
Dead Badge
Dead Badge
as Captain Hunt
Movie - Released: 3/28/1995
The World of James Bond
The World of James Bond
Movie - Released: 10/29/1995

1994

The Puppet Masters
The Puppet Masters
as Ressler
Movie - Released: 10/21/1994
The Corpse Had a Familiar Face
The Corpse Had a Familiar Face
as Detective Martin Talbot
Movie - Released: 3/27/1994

1993

Extreme Justice
Extreme Justice
as Larson
Movie - Released: 6/26/1993
It's Nothing Personal
It's Nothing Personal
as Lt. Tom Riley
Movie - Released: 2/1/1993
The American Clock
The American Clock
Movie - Released: 1/2/1993
Almost Blue
Almost Blue
as Terry
Movie - Released: 8/4/1993
seaQuest DSV
seaQuest DSV
as Captain Jack Clayton
TV - Released: 9/12/1993
Homicide: Life on the Street
Homicide: Life on the Street
as Al Giardello
TV - Released: 1/31/1993

1992

Chrome Soldiers
Chrome Soldiers
as Perry Beach
Movie - Released: 5/6/1992
Intent to Kill
Intent to Kill
as Captain Jackson
Movie - Released: 10/1/1992

1991

Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare
Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare
as Doc
Movie - Released: 9/5/1991
Hangfire
Hangfire
as Police Lieutenant
Movie - Released: 1/11/1991

1990

After the Shock
After the Shock
as William McElroy
Movie - Released: 9/12/1990
Law & Order
Law & Order
as Al Giardello
TV - Released: 9/13/1990
The Trials of Rosie O'Neill
The Trials of Rosie O'Neill
as Kelly
TV - Released: 9/17/1990
The Trials of Rosie O'Neill
The Trials of Rosie O'Neill
as ADA Kelley
TV - Released: 9/17/1990

1989

Tripwire
Tripwire
as Lee Pitt
Movie - Released: 11/30/1989
Ministry of Vengeance
Ministry of Vengeance
as Mr. Whiteside
Movie - Released: 11/3/1989
A Whisper to a Scream
A Whisper to a Scream
as Jules Tallard
Movie - Released: 1/1/1989
The Jigsaw Murders
The Jigsaw Murders
as Doctor Tyrone Fillmore
Movie - Released: 7/25/1989
Prime Target
Prime Target
as Gilmore Brown
Movie - Released: 9/29/1989
Father Dowling Mysteries
Father Dowling Mysteries
as Lt. Fleming
TV - Released: 1/20/1989

1988

Midnight Run
Midnight Run
as Alonzo Mosely, Special Agent, F.B.I.
Movie - Released: 7/20/1988
Terminal Entry
Terminal Entry
as Col. Styles
Movie - Released: 7/26/1988

1987

The Running Man
The Running Man
as William Laughlin
Movie - Released: 11/13/1987
In Self Defense
In Self Defense
as Lt. Tyrell
Movie - Released: 5/22/1987
Pretty Kill
Pretty Kill
as Harris
Movie - Released: 3/27/1987
Desperado
Desperado
as Bede
Movie - Released: 4/27/1987
Perry Mason: The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel
Perry Mason: The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel
as General Sorenson
Movie - Released: 11/15/1987

1986

Eye of the Tiger
Eye of the Tiger
as J.B. Deveraux
Movie - Released: 7/7/1986
The Park Is Mine
The Park Is Mine
as Eubanks
Movie - Released: 7/24/1986
Harem
Harem
as Agha Kislar
Movie - Released: 2/9/1986
Harem
Harem
as Agha Kislar
TV - Released: 2/9/1986

1985

Warning Sign
Warning Sign
as Major Connolly
Movie - Released: 8/23/1985
Badge of the Assassin
Badge of the Assassin
as Detective Cliff Fenton NYPD
Movie - Released: 1/4/1985
Playing with Fire
Playing with Fire
as Fire Chief Walker
Movie - Released: 4/13/1985
The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents
The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents
as Convict
TV - Released: 9/29/1985

1984

Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote
as Lt. Bradshaw
TV - Released: 9/30/1984

1983

The Star Chamber
The Star Chamber
as Detective Harry Lowes
Movie - Released: 8/5/1983
Women of San Quentin
Women of San Quentin
as Sgt. Therman Patterson
Movie - Released: 10/23/1983
For Love and Honor
For Love and Honor
as Sgt. China Bell
Movie - Released: 9/23/1983
The A-Team
The A-Team
as Charles Struthers
TV - Released: 1/23/1983
TV
For Love and Honor
TV - Released: 9/23/1983

1982

Fighting Back
Fighting Back
as Ivanhoe Washington
Movie - Released: 5/21/1982
A House Divided: Denmark Vessey's Rebellion
A House Divided: Denmark Vessey's Rebellion
as Denmark Vessey
Movie - Released: 2/17/1982

1981

Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues
as Calvin Matthias
TV - Released: 1/15/1981

1980

Brubaker
Brubaker
as Richard 'Dickie' Coombes
Movie - Released: 6/20/1980
Othello
Othello
as Othello
Movie - Released: 1/1/1980
Rage!
Rage!
as Ernie
Movie - Released: 9/25/1980

1979

Alien
Alien
as Parker
Movie - Released: 5/25/1979

1978

Blue Collar
Blue Collar
as Sam 'Smokey' James
Movie - Released: 2/10/1978

1976

Raid on Entebbe
Raid on Entebbe
as President Idi Amin - Jr.
Movie - Released: 12/26/1976
The Monkey Hustle
The Monkey Hustle
as Daddy Foxx
Movie - Released: 12/24/1976
Drum
Drum
as Blase
Movie - Released: 7/30/1976
Crunch
Crunch
as Richard "Crunch" Blackstone
Movie - Released: 1/1/1976

1975

Report to the Commissioner
Report to the Commissioner
as Richard 'Crunch' Blackstone
Movie - Released: 2/5/1975
Friday Foster
Friday Foster
as Colt Hawkins
Movie - Released: 12/25/1975
Sharks' Treasure
Sharks' Treasure
as Ben Flynn
Movie - Released: 4/18/1975
Doctors' Hospital
Doctors' Hospital
TV - Released: 9/10/1975

1974

Truck Turner
Truck Turner
as Blue
Movie - Released: 6/26/1974

1973

Live and Let Die
Live and Let Die
as Kananga/Mr. Big
Movie - Released: 6/27/1973
Bond 1973: The Lost Documentary
Bond 1973: The Lost Documentary
as Self
Movie - Released: 6/21/1973

1972

Across 110th Street
Across 110th Street
as Lt. William Pope
Movie - Released: 12/19/1972
Bone
Bone
as Bone
Movie - Released: 7/1/1972
The Limit
The Limit
as Mark Johnson
Movie - Released: 11/10/1972

1971

Man and Boy
Man and Boy
as Nate Hodges
Movie - Released: 6/23/1971

1970

The Liberation of L.B. Jones
The Liberation of L.B. Jones
as Sonny Boy Mosby
Movie - Released: 3/18/1970
Night Chase
Night Chase
as Ernie Green
Movie - Released: 11/20/1970
Night Gallery
Night Gallery
as Buckner
TV - Released: 12/16/1970

1968

The Thomas Crown Affair
The Thomas Crown Affair
as Carl
Movie - Released: 6/26/1968
5 Card Stud
5 Card Stud
as Little George
Movie - Released: 7/28/1968
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O
as LCpl. John T. Auston
TV - Released: 9/20/1968
The Name of the Game
The Name of the Game
as Wyman Jackson
TV - Released: 9/20/1968

1967

Mannix
Mannix
as Gabe Johnson / Gabriel Dillon
TV - Released: 9/16/1967
The High Chaparral
The High Chaparral
as Sgt. Major Creason
TV - Released: 9/10/1967
Cowboy in Africa
Cowboy in Africa
as Musa
TV - Released: 9/11/1967

1966

Tarzan
Tarzan
TV - Released: 9/8/1966

1965

The Big Valley
The Big Valley
as Lobo Brown
TV - Released: 9/15/1965
The Big Valley
The Big Valley
as Damien
TV - Released: 9/15/1965

1964

Nothing But a Man
Nothing But a Man
as Jocko
Movie - Released: 12/27/1964
Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone
as Luke
TV - Released: 9/24/1964
Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone
as Jonah
TV - Released: 9/24/1964

1962

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self
TV - Released: 10/1/1962

1959

Bonanza
Bonanza
as Child Barnett
TV - Released: 9/12/1959

1955

Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke
as Piney Biggs
TV - Released: 9/10/1955