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Yaphet Kotto, an actor known for his performances in “Alien”, the James Bond film “Live and Let Die” and the television series “Homicide: Life on the Street”, has died, his agent Ryan Goldhar confirmed to Variety. He was 81 years old.
Kotto’s wife Tessie Sinahon first posted about Kotto’s death on Facebook on Monday evening.
“I am saddened and still in shock at the passing of my 24 year old husband Yaphet. He died last night around 10:30 pm Philippine time, ”sge wrote. “… You played a villain in some of your films, but for me you are a real hero and for a lot of people too. A good man, a good father, a good husband and a decent human being, very rare to find. One of Hollywood’s best actors, a legend. Rest in peace Honey, I will miss you every day, my best friend, my rock.
In 1973’s Live and Let Die, Kotto played a dual role in portraying corrupt Caribbean dictator Dr. Kananga as well as his drug-pushing alter ego Mr. Big. Described in the novel as a monstrously obese kingpin with yellow eyes, gray skin and a head twice the size of a normal man, the dapper version of Kotto’s character dispensed with the physical grotesques and added a dose charismatic of elegant wickedness.
Kotto also played technician Dennis Parker in 1979 “Alien” and William Laughlin alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1987 action film “The Running Man”. He also had a solid career in television, playing Al Giardello in the NBC series “Homicide: Life on the Street” from 1993 to 1999.
Kotto was born in New York City on November 15, 1939 and began studying theater at the age of 16 at Actors Mobile Theater Studio. At 19, he made his professional theater debut in “Othello” and continued to perform on Broadway in “The Great White Hope”. Kotto’s early film projects included “Nothing But a Man” in 1964 and “The Thomas Crown Affair” in 1968. In 1969, Kotto played the lead guest role as Marine Lance Corporal on “Hawaii Five-O”.
After landing the role in “Live and Let Die”, Kotto also landed roles in “Truck Turner” from 1974 and “Blue Collar” from 1978 as Smokey. Following his lead tour in “Alien,” Kotto continued to hold a supporting role as Richard “Dickie” Coombes in “Brubaker” in 1980 and starred alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1987 action film ” The Running Man ”. Kotto’s other television roles include appearances on “The A-Team” in 1983, “For Love and Honor”, “Murder She Wrote”, “Death Valley Days” and “Law & Order”.
One of Kotto’s last and longest roles was that of Al Giardello in “Homicide: Life on the Street”, for which he also holds several screenwriting credits. He also starred in “Homicide: The Movie” in 2000 and recently voiced Parker in the video game “Alien: Isolation”.
He is survived by his wife and six children.
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