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Yaphet Kotto

Acting Born Nov 16, 1939 New York City, New York, U.S.A 24 credits

Biography

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

Law & Order

as Al Giardello

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

as Self

Murder, She Wrote

as Lt. Bradshaw

Bonanza

as Child Barnett

Hill Street Blues

as Calvin Matthias
Film

Alien

as Parker

Star Trek

as Kananga/Mr. Big

Full filmography

  • Law & Order (1990) as Al Giardello
  • The A-Team (1983) as Charles Struthers
  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
  • Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Lt. Bradshaw
  • Bonanza (1959) as Child Barnett
  • Hill Street Blues (1981) as Calvin Matthias
  • Hawaii Five-O (1968) as LCpl. John T. Auston
  • Mannix (1967) as Gabe Johnson / Gabriel Dillon
  • Homicide: Life on the Street (1993) as Al Giardello
  • Daniel Boone (1964) as Luke
  • Daniel Boone (1964) as Jonah
  • Gunsmoke (1955) as Piney Biggs
  • The Big Valley (1965) as Lobo Brown
  • The Big Valley (1965) as Damien
  • The High Chaparral (1967) as Sgt. Major Creason
  • Night Gallery (1970) as Buckner
  • The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1985) as Convict
  • seaQuest DSV (1993) as Captain Jack Clayton
  • Alien (1979) as Parker
  • Tarzan (1966)
  • The Name of the Game (1968) as Wyman Jackson
  • The Running Man (1987) as William Laughlin
  • Father Dowling Mysteries (1989) as Lt. Fleming
  • Live and Let Die (1973) as Kananga/Mr. Big