Yaphet Kotto

Yaphet Kotto
Yaphet Koto.jpg
Kotto in 1995
Born
Frederick Samuel Kotto[1]

(1939-11-15)November 15, 1939
DiedMarch 15, 2021(2021-03-15) (aged 81)
OccupationActor
Years active1963–2008, 2014
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2]
Spouse(s)
Rita Ingried[1] Dittman
(m. 1959; div. 1976)
Toni Pettyjohn
(m. 1975; div. 1989)
[3]
Tessie Sinahon
(m. 1998)
Children6

Yaphet Frederick Kotto (born Frederick Samuel Kotto on November 15, 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 (1993–1999) as Lieutenant Al Giardello. His films include the science-fiction film Alien (1979), and the Arnold Schwarzenegger science-fiction film The Running Man (1987). He portrayed the main villain Dr. Kananga in the James Bond film Live and Let Die (1973), and he appeared opposite Robert De Niro in the comedy thriller Midnight Run (1988) as FBI Agent Alonzo Mosely.

Early life

Kotto was born Frederick Samuel Kotto in New York City.[4] His mother, Gladys Marie, was an American nurse and U.S. Army officer of Panamanian and West Indian descent. His father, Yaphet Avraham Kotto, (who was, according to his son, originally named Njoki Manga Bell) was a businessman from Cameroon who emigrated to the United States in the 1920s.[4] The couple separated when Kotto was a child, and he was raised by his maternal grandparents.[5][6] His father was raised Jewish and his mother converted to Judaism.[7][8]

Career

By the age of 16, Kotto was studying acting at the Actors Mobile Theater Studio, and at 19, he made his professional acting debut in Othello. He was a member of the Actors Studio in New York. Kotto got his start in acting on Broadway, where he appeared in The Great White Hope, among other productions.[9]

His film debut was in 1963, aged 23, in an uncredited role in 4 For Texas.[10] He performed in Michael Roemer's Nothing But a Man (1964) and played a supporting role in the caper film The Thomas Crown Affair (1968).[11] He played John Auston, a confused Marine Lance Corporal, in the 1968 episode, "King of the Hill", on the first season of Hawaii Five-O.[12]

In 1967 he released a single, "Have You Ever Seen the Blues" / "Have You Dug His Scene" (Chisa Records, CH006).[13]

In 1973 he landed the role of the James Bond villain Mr. Big in Live and Let Die, as well as roles in Across 110th Street and Truck Turner. Kotto portrayed Idi Amin in the 1977 television film Raid on Entebbe. He starred as an auto worker in the 1978 film Blue Collar. The following year he played Parker in the sci-fihorror film Alien. He followed with a supporting role in the 1980 prison drama Brubaker. In 1983, he guest-starred as mobster Charlie "East Side Charlie" Struthers in The A-Team episode "The Out-of-Towners". In 1987, he appeared in the futuristic sci-fi movie The Running Man, and in 1988, in the action-comedy Midnight Run, in which he portrayed Alonzo Moseley, an FBI agent. A memo from Paramount indicates that Kotto was among those being considered for Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, a role which eventually went to Patrick Stewart.[14]

Kotto acting alongside Leif Erickson in the television series The High Chaparral in 1968

Kotto was cast as a religious man living in the southwestern desert country in the 1967 episode, "A Man Called Abraham", on the syndicated anthology series, Death Valley Days, hosted by Robert Taylor. In the story line, Abraham convinces a killer named Cassidy (Rayford Barnes) that Cassidy can change his heart despite past crimes. When Cassidy is sent to the gallows, Abraham provides spiritual solace. Bing Russell also appeared in this segment.[15]

Kotto retired from film acting in the mid-1990s, though had one final film role in Witless Protection (2008).[16] However, he continued to take on television roles. Kotto portrayed Lieutenant Al Giardello in the long-running television series Homicide: Life on the Street. He has written the book Royalty and also wrote scripts for Homicide. In 2014, he voiced "Parker" for the video game Alien: Isolation, reprising the role he played in the movie Alien in 1979.[17]

Personal life and death

Kotto's first marriage was to a German immigrant, Rita Ingrid Dittman, whom he married in 1959. They had three children together before divorcing in 1976. Later, Kotto married Toni Pettyjohn, and they also had three children together, before divorcing in 1989. Kotto married his third wife, Tessie Sinahon, who is from the Philippines,[5] in 1998.[16]

Kotto was versed in the Hebrew liturgy and incorporated Jewish prayers at turning points throughout his life.[18] He said his father "instilled Judaism" in him.[16]

In 2000, he was living in Marmora, Ontario, Canada.[19]

He died on March 15, 2021, at the age of 81 near Manila, Philippines. His wife, who announced the news on Facebook, did not reveal the cause of his death.[20]

Filmography

Films

Year Title Role Notes
1963 4 for Texas[21] Extra Uncredited
1964 Nothing But a Man[21][11] Jocko
1968 The Thomas Crown Affair[21][11] Carl
5 Card Stud[21][11] Little George (Mama's bartender)
1970 The Liberation of L.B. Jones[21][11] Sonny Boy Mosby
1971 Man and Boy[21][11] Nate Hodges
1972 Bone[21][11] Bone
The Limit[21][11] Mark Johnson Also director
Across 110th Street[21][11] Lt. Pope
1973 Live and Let Die[21][11] Dr. Kananga / Mr. Big
1974 Truck Turner[21][11] Harvard Blue
1975 Report to the Commissioner[21][11] Richard "Crunch" Blackstone
Sharks' Treasure[21][11] Ben Flynn
Friday Foster[21][11] Colt Hawkins
1976 Drum[11][22] Blaise
The Monkey Hustle[21][11] Big Daddy Foxx
1978 Blue Collar[21][11] Smokey James
1979 Alien[21][11] Technician Dennis Parker
1980 Brubaker[21][11] Richard 'Dickie' Coombes
Othello[21][22] Othello No commercial release
1982 Fighting Back[21][11] Ivanhoe Washington
1983 The Star Chamber[21][11] Det. Harry Lowes
1984 Terror in the Aisles Himself
1985 Warning Sign[21][11] Major Connolly
1986 Eye of the Tiger[21][11] J. B. Deveraux
1987 Prettykill[21][11] Harris
Terminal Entry[21][22] Conl. Styles
The Running Man[21][11] William Laughlin
1988 Midnight Run[21][11] FBI Special Agent Alonzo Mosely
1989 The Jigsaw Murders[21][22] Doctor Filmore
A Whisper To A Scream[21][22] Jules Tallard
Ministry of Vengeance[21][11] Mr. Whiteside
Tripwire[21][12] Lee Pitt
1991 Hangfire[21][11] Police Lieutenant
Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare[21][22] Doc
1993 Extreme Justice[21][22] Larson
1994 The Puppet Masters[21][22] Ressler
1995 Dead Badge Captain Hunt
Out-of-Sync[21][11] Quincy
1996 Two If by Sea[21][11] FBI Agent O'Malley
Almost Blue Terry
2008 Witless Protection[21][11] Ricardo Bodi (alias Alonzo Mosley) Final film role

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1966–1967 The Big Valley[12] Lobo Brown
Damien
Season 2, episode 11: "The Iron Box"
Season 3, episode 15: "The Buffalo Man"
1967 Death Valley Days[12] Abraham Season 15, episode 26: "A Man Called Abraham"
1968 Bonanza[21][12] Joshua "Child" Barnett Season 10, episode 2: "Child"
1968 The High Chaparral[21][12] Sergeant Major Season 2, episode 10: "The Buffalo Soldiers"
Western Heritage Bronze Wrangler Award for Best Fictional Television Drama
1968 Daniel Boone[21][12] Luke Season 5, episode 11: Big, Black and out There
1969 Mannix[21][12] Gabe Johnson / Gabriel Dillon Season 2, episode 18: "Death in a Minor Key"
1969 Hawaii Five-O[12] Marine Lance Corporal John T. Auston Season 1, episode 14: "King of the Hill"
1969 Daniel Boone[21][12] Jonah Season 5, episode 18: "Jonah"
1970 Gunsmoke[21][12] Piney Biggs Season 16, episode 10: "The Scavengers"
1970 Night Chase Ernie Green Television film
1971 Night Gallery[21][12] Buckner Season 2, episode 13: "The Messiah on Mott Street"
1976 Raid on Entebbe[21][22] President Idi Amin Dada Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
1976 Crunch Richard "Crunch" Blackstone Television film
1980 Rage! Ernie Television film
1982 A House Divided: Denmark Vesey's Rebellion[21] Denmark Vesey Television film
1983 The A-Team[21][12] East-Side Charlie Struthers Series 1, episode 8: "The Out-of-Towners" (1983)
1983 For Love and Honor[21][22] Sgt. China Bell Television film
1983 Women of San Quentin[21][22] Sgt. Therman Patterson Television film
1983–1984 For Love and Honor[21][22] Platoon Sgt. James "China" Bell 12 episodes
1985 Playing With Fire[21][22] Fire Chief Walker Television film
1985 The Park is Mine[21][22] Eubanks Television film
1985 Badge of the Assassin[21][22] Det. Cliff Fenton NYPD Television film
1985 Alfred Hitchcock Presents[21][12] Convict Season 1, episode 10: "Prisoners"
1986 Harem[21][22] Agha Kislar Television film
1987 Desperado[21][22] Bede Television film
1987 In Self Defense[21][22] Lt. Tyrell Television film
1987 Perry Mason: The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel General Sorenson Television film
1987 Murder, She Wrote[21][12] Lt. Bradshaw Season 4, episode 8: "Steal Me a Story" (1987)
1989 Prime Target[22][12] Gilmore Brown Television film
1990 After the Shock[21][22] William McElroy Television film
1992 Chrome Soldiers[21][12] Perry Beach Television film
1993 It's Nothing Personal Lt. Riley Television film
1993 The American Clock Isaac Television film
1993 seaQuest DSV Captain Jack Clayton Season 1, episode 6: "Treasures of the Tonga Trench"
1993–2000 Homicide: Life on the Street[21][12] Lieutenant Al Giardello Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series (1996-1999)
1994 The Corpse Had a Familiar Face[21][22] Detective Martin Talbot Television film
1994 TV Nation Himself Pilot episode
1995 Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan Marty Talbot Television film
1997 The Defenders: Payback Judge Williams Television film
2000 Homicide: The Movie[21][12] Al "Gee" Giardello Television film
2000 The Ride Carter Television film
2001 Stiletto Dance Captain Rick Sands Television film

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2014 Alien: Isolation[23] Technician Dennis Parker Voice role; Nostromo Edition

References

  1. ^ a b "Dramas and Works Prepared for Oral Delivery: Current Registrations". Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series. Library of Congress. Copyright Office. 1968. p. 21 – via Google Books. The Immaculates by Rita Ingried, pseud. of Rita Ingried Kotto & Frederick Samuel Kotto
  2. ^ Williams, Monte (January 31, 1994). "The Soul of Diversity". People. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  3. ^ California Marriage Index, 1960-1985, California Department of Health
  4. ^ a b "Yaphet Kotto: James Bond villain and Alien actor dies at 81". BBC News. March 16, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Ives, Mike (March 16, 2021). "Yaphet Kotto, Bond Villain and 'Alien' Star, Dies at 81" – via NYTimes.com.
  6. ^ Faxx, Israel (May 6, 1999). "Lt. Giardello Doesn't Skip His Prayers". allbusiness.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2009.
  7. ^ "Yaphet Kotto, Actor in 'Homicide: Life on the Street,' 'Live and Let Die,' and 'Alien,' Dies at 81". The Hollywood Reporter. March 15, 2021.
  8. ^ "November 15: African-American Jews on TV | Jewish Currents Archive".
  9. ^ Coyle, Jake (March 16, 2021). "Yaphet Kotto of 'Live and Let Die,' 'Alien,' dies at 81". Associated Press. Retrieved March 16, 2021 – via The Seattle Times.
  10. ^ "Yaphet Kotto Filmography". AllMovie. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae "Yaphet Kotto". American Film Institute. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Yaphet Kotto List of Movies and TV Shows". TV Guide. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  13. ^ "Yaphet Kotto - Have You Ever Seen The Blues" – via www.45cat.com.
  14. ^ Letters of Note: STAR TREK/Casting, lettersofnote.com; August 2010.
  15. ^ "A Man Called Abraham on Death Valley Days". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  16. ^ a b c Pulver, Andrew (March 16, 2021). "Yaphet Kotto, star of Live and Let Die and Alien, dies aged 81". The Guardian. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  17. ^ "Yaphet Kotto: James Bond villain and Alien actor dies at 81". BBC News. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  18. ^ Ivry, Benjamin (March 17, 2021). "Remembering Yaphet Kotto, charismatic actor and proud Jew". The Forward. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  19. ^ Ebden, Theresa (August 25, 2000). "An actor in search of character detail". The Globe and Mail.
  20. ^ Pulver, Andrew (March 16, 2021). "Yaphet Kotto, star of Live and Let Die and Alien, dies aged 81". The Guardian.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl "Yaphet Kotto". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Yaphet Kotto". British Film Institute. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  23. ^ Shafer, Ellise (March 16, 2021). "Yaphet Kotto, Bond Villain and 'Alien' Star, Dies at 81". Variety.

Further reading

External links

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