by Conan Simmons – March 16, 2021 – 6:28 am
Popular star of the screen who rose to prominence in the early 1970’s, Yaphet Kotto passed away Sunday night in the Philippines.
Born in New York City on November 15, 1939 Yaphet Kotto began acting on stage in 1959 eventually transitioning to the screen with his film debut in 1964’s ‘Nothing But a Man’.
He followed that with several small roles on television series such as ‘Death Valley Days’, ‘Cowboy in Africa’, ‘Tarzan’ and ‘The Big Valley’.
His next big screen appearance was alongside Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway in the 1968 hit, ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’.
Several more television appearances followed including ‘Bonanza’, ‘The High Chaparral’, ‘Hawaii Five-O’, ‘Mannix’, ‘Daniel Boone’, ‘Gunsmoke’ and ‘Night Gallery’.
In 1972 he took charge of his career by writing, producing, directing and starring in ‘The Limit’. The film about a motorcycle cop dealing with biker gangs also featured Ted Cassidy.
In 1973 he appeared in two classic films, as a detective who partners with Anthony Quinn in the crime picture ‘Across 110th Street’, and as the megalomaniac villain Kananga/Mr. Big opposite Roger Moore and Jane Seymour in the 007 James Bond adventure ‘Live and Let Die’.
As blaxploitation films reached their pinnacle in the 1970’s, Yaphet Kotto appeared in Isaac Hayes’ ‘Truck Turner’ in 1974 and opposite Pam Grier in 1975’s ‘Friday Foster’.
Yaphet Kotto earned an Emmy nomination in 1976 for Best Supporting Actor for his work in the tv movie ‘Raid on Entebbe’.
He followed that success by starring in the 1978 crime caper, ‘Blue Collar’ alongside Richard Pryor and Harvey Keitel.
Fans of science fiction horror know him best for his part in Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic, ‘Alien’ starring Sigourney Weaver. ‘Alien’ was a loose remake of the 1958 b-movie ‘It! The Terror from Beyond Space’.
In 1980 audiences saw him alongside Robert Redford and Morgan Freeman in ‘Brubaker’. He then went back to television appearances in notable series from ‘Fantasy Island’, ‘The A-Team’ and ‘Hill Street Blues’. He was a regular on the short lived series ‘For Love and Honor’ in 1983.
In 1987 Yaphet Kotto turned down the role of Capt. Jean-Luc Picard, a role that went on to give Patrick Stewart fame as the hit series ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ brought trekkies back to the small screen.
That same year he appeared in the big screen sci-fi action film loosely based on Stephen King’s novel, ‘The Running Man’ starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
He finished the 1980’s with a pair of comedies, ‘Midnight Run’ alongside Robert DeNiro and Charles Grodin in 1988, and the 1989 Kevin Kline comedy ‘Love You to Death’.
After appearing in 1991’s horror film ‘Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare’, Yaphet Kotto went on to star in the hit series ‘Homicide: Life on the Street’ from 1993-1999. He even wrote a couple of the episodes.
Taking fewer acting jobs at the turn of the century, Kotto’s final film appearance was in the 2008 comedy ‘Witless Protection’. In 2014 he reprised his character from ‘Alien’ to add his voice to the video game ‘Alien: Isolation’.
Yaphet Kotto is survived by his wife Tessie Sinahon and his six children.