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Yaphet Kotto
ACTOR

Yaphet Kotto

Known for Law & Order · Bonanza · Murder, She Wrote

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…

Snapshot 2026-10-12

Born
Nov 16, 1939
Died
Mar 15, 2021
Birthplace
New York City, New York, U.S.A
Known For
Acting

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

TVLaw & Order
Law & OrderAl Giardello · 1990
★ 7.3
TVBonanza
BonanzaChild Barnett · 1959
★ 7.5
TVMurder, She Wrote
Murder, She WroteLt. Bradshaw · 1984
★ 7.5
TVThe A-Team
The A-TeamCharles Struthers · 1983
★ 7.5

Filmography

Movies

Nothing But a ManJocko
1964
The Thomas Crown AffairCarl
1968
5 Card StudLittle George
1968
The Liberation of L.B. JonesSonny Boy Mosby
1970
Night ChaseErnie Green
1970
Man and BoyNate Hodges
1971
BoneBone
1972
The LimitMark Johnson
1972
Across 110th StreetLt. William Pope
1972
Bond 1973: The Lost DocumentarySelf
1973
Live and Let DieKananga/Mr. Big
1973
Truck TurnerBlue
1974
Report to the CommissionerRichard 'Crunch' Blackstone
1975
Sharks' TreasureBen Flynn
1975
Friday FosterColt Hawkins
1975
CrunchRichard "Crunch" Blackstone
1976
DrumBlase
1976
The Monkey HustleDaddy Foxx
1976
Raid on EntebbePresident Idi Amin - Jr.
1976
Blue CollarSam 'Smokey' James
1978
AlienParker
1979
OthelloOthello
1980
BrubakerDickie Coombes
1980
Rage!Ernie
1980
A House Divided: Denmark Vesey's RebellionDenmark Vessey
1982
Fighting BackIvanhoe Washington
1982
The Star ChamberDetective Harry Lowes
1983
For Love and HonorSgt. China Bell
1983
Women of San QuentinSgt. Therman Patterson
1983
Badge of the AssassinDetective Cliff Fenton NYPD
1985
Playing with FireFire Chief Walker
1985
Warning SignMajor Connolly
1985
HaremAgha Kislar
1986
Eye of the TigerJ.B. Deveraux
1986
The Park Is MineEubanks
1986
Pretty KillHarris
1987
DesperadoBede
1987
In Self DefenseLt. Tyrell
1987
Terminal EntryCol. Styles
1987
The Running ManWilliam Laughlin
1987
Perry Mason: The Case of the Scandalous ScoundrelGeneral Sorenson
1987
Midnight RunAlonzo Mosely, Special Agent, F.B.I.
1988
A Whisper to a ScreamJules Tallard
1989
The Jigsaw MurdersDoctor Tyrone Fillmore
1989
Prime TargetGilmore Brown
1989
Ministry of VengeanceMr. Whiteside
1989
TripwireLee Pitt
1989
After the ShockWilliam McElroy
1990
HangfirePolice Lieutenant
1991
Freddy's Dead: The Final NightmareDoc
1991
Chrome SoldiersPerry Beach
1992
Intent to KillCaptain Jackson
1992
The American ClockIsaac
1993
It's Nothing PersonalLt. Tom Riley
1993
Extreme JusticeLarson
1993
Almost BlueTerry
1993
The Corpse Had a Familiar FaceDetective Martin Talbot
1994
The Puppet MastersRessler
1994
Dead BadgeCaptain Hunt
1995
Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna BuchananMarty Talbot
1995
Out-of-SyncQuincy
1995
The World of James BondSelf
1995
Two If by SeaFBI Agent O'Malley
1996
The Defenders: PaybackJudge Williams
1997
Inside 'Live and Let Die'
1999
Homicide: The MovieAl Giardello
2000
The RideCarter
2000
Stiletto DanceCaptain Rick Sands
2001
BaadAsssss CinemaSelf
2002
Witless ProtectionRicardo Bodi
2008
King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry CohenSelf
2018

Television

GunsmokePiney Biggs · 1 eps
1955
BonanzaChild Barnett · 1 eps
1959
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf · 1 eps
1962
Daniel BooneLuke · 1 eps
1964
The Big ValleyLobo Brown · 1 eps
1965
Tarzan1 eps
1966
The High ChaparralSgt. Major Creason · 1 eps
1967
Cowboy in AfricaMusa · 1 eps
1967
MannixGabe Johnson / Gabriel Dillon · 1 eps
1967
The Name of the GameWyman Jackson · 1 eps
1968
Hawaii Five-OLance Corporal John T. Auston · 1 eps
1969
Night GalleryBuckner · 1 eps
1970
Doctors' Hospital1 eps
1975
Hill Street BluesCalvin Matthias · 1 eps
1981
American PlayhouseJocko · 1 eps
1982
The A-TeamCharles Struthers · 1 eps
1983
FL
For Love and Honor13 eps
1983
Murder, She WroteLt. Bradshaw · 1 eps
1984
The New Alfred Hitchcock PresentsConvict · 1 eps
1985
HaremAgha Kislar · 2 eps
1986
Father Dowling MysteriesLt. Fleming · 1 eps
1989
Law & OrderAl Giardello · 1 eps
1990
The Trials of Rosie O'NeillKelly · 1 eps
1990
Homicide: Life on the StreetAl Giardello · 122 eps
1993
seaQuest DSVCaptain Jack Clayton · 1 eps
1993

Photos

Yaphet Kotto photo
Yaphet Kotto photo
Yaphet Kotto photo
Yaphet Kotto photo
Yaphet Kotto photo
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