Yaphet Kotto

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Yaphet Kotto
Leif Erickson Yaphet Kotto The High Chaparral 1968.JPG
Leif Erickson (Left) and Yaphet Kotto (Right) in The High Chaparral 1968
Born Yaphet Frederick Kotto
(1939-11-15) November 15, 1939 (age 73)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation Actor
Years active 1963–2008

Yaphet Frederick Kotto (born November 15, 1939) is an African-American actor, known for numerous film roles, as well as starring in the NBC television series Homicide: Life on the Street (1993-2000). His films include the science-fiction/horror film Alien (1979), and the science-fiction/action film The Running Man. He was the main villain 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 Moseley. He is also a music producer who is a part of Legendary Inc., founded by Young L of The Pack.

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Early life [edit]

Kotto was born in New York City. His mother was Gladys Marie, a local nurse and U.S. Army officer. His father was Avraham Kotto (originally named Njoki Manga Bell), a businessman from Cameroon who immigrated to the United States in the 1920s. In his autobiography titled Royalty, Kotto writes that his father was "the crown prince of Cameroon."[1] Kotto said he learned that his father's family was royal in adult life while studying his family's lineage, and said he is a descendant of Queen Victoria.[2] According to Kotto, his father was an observant Jew who spoke Hebrew, and Kotto's mother converted to Judaism before marrying his father.[3] Kotto said that his great-grandfather, King Alexander Bell, ruled the Douala region of Cameroon in the late-19th century and was also a practicing Jew.[3] Kotto has said that his paternal family originated from Israel many centuries ago, migrating to Egypt and then Cameroon, and have been African Jews for many generations.[3][4][5] This is in keeping with the beliefs of a tribe in Cameroon.[6] His claim of being a descendent of Queen Victoria has been denied by the Buckingham Palace press office.[7]

He has said that being a black Jew made if more difficult for him as a child. "It was rough coming up," Kotto said. "And then going to shul, putting a yarmulke on, having to face people who were primarily Baptists in the Bronx meant that on Fridays, I was in some heavy fistfights."[8][9]

Career [edit]

By the age of 16, Kotto was studying acting at the Actor's 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.

His film debut was in 1963 in an uncredited role in 4 For Texas.[citation needed] 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) . 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. 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 also starred as an auto worker in the 1978 film Blue Collar.

The following year he played Parker in the sci-fi–horror film Alien. He followed with a supporting role in the 1980 prison drama Brubaker. In 1983, he guest-starred as mobster "Charlie" in the A-Team episode "The Out-of-Towners". In 1987, he appeared in the futuristic sci-fi movie The Running Man and in the 1988 action-comedy Midnight Run, in which he portrayed Alonzo Moseley, an FBI agent.

A memo from Paramount shows 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.[10]

He played Lieutenant Al Giardello in the long-running television series Homicide: Life on the Street.

He has written two books: Royalty, and The Second Coming of Christ, and also wrote scripts for Homicide: Life on the Street (1993-2000).

Personal life [edit]

Kotto married Tessie Sinahon in July 1998. They currently live in Baltimore, Maryland.

Filmography [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ http://www.allbusiness.com/middle-east/israel/395997-1.html
  2. ^ Yaphet Kotto Biography (1944-)
  3. ^ a b c Lt. Giardello Doesn't Skip His Prayers. | Society, Social Assistance & Lifestyle > Religion & Spirituality from AllBusiness.com
  4. ^ "Yaphet Kotto Has Jewish Marriage Ceremony". Tuscaloosa News. 1998-07-13. Retrieved 2010-08-29. 
  5. ^ Williams, Monte (1994-08-31). "The Soul of Diversity". People. Retrieved 2010-08-29. 
  6. ^ [1]
  7. ^ [2]
  8. ^ "People, places & things in the news", South Coast Today.
  9. ^ Thomas, Bob (1969-07-17). "Jewish Negro Actor Lands Broadway Role". Kentucky New Era. Retrieved 2010-08-29. 
  10. ^ Letters of Note: STAR TREK/Casting

Further reading [edit]

External links [edit]

Authority control
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