Yaphet Kotto Picture
STARmeter
SEE RANK
Up 213 this week

Yaphet Kotto

Actor | Writer | Director

Trivia:

Turned down the role of Lando Calrissian in 'Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back' (1980). He feared that Lando would be killed in the movie, and that he would be forever typecast. See more trivia »

Born:

Yaphet Frederick Kotto
in New York City, New York, USA
More at IMDbPro » Contact Info on IMDbPro Contact Info: View agent
Add or change photos on IMDbPro Represent Yaphet Kotto? Add or change photos
Still of Roger Moore, Yaphet Kotto, Jane Seymour and Julius Harris in Live and Let Die Still of Roger Moore, Yaphet Kotto and Jane Seymour in Live and Let Die Still of Pam Grier and Yaphet Kotto in Friday Foster Still of Sigourney Weaver, Ian Holm, John Hurt, Tom Skerritt and Yaphet Kotto in Alien Still of Robert De Niro and Yaphet Kotto in Midnight Run Still of Sigourney Weaver, Yaphet Kotto and Harry Dean Stanton in Alien
16 photos | 23 videos | 89 news articles »

Quick Links:

Related News

Cinema’s Greatest Villains: The 1970′s
19 May 2013 4:43 PM, PDT | SoundOnSight
Exploring Robert Redford films about alienation
13 May 2013 2:45 AM, PDT | Den of Geek
Costume Round Up: Villains
6 April 2013 8:56 AM, PDT | Clothes on Film
See all 89 related articles »
Create a list  »

Related Lists

image of
Time to fight!
a list of 120 images by Air_Rick created 26 Jul 2011
 
image of name
The Best Black Actors
a list of 46 people by Chocolatelegz created 3 months ago
 
image of name
Best Character Actors
a list of 110 people by rubyfruit76 created 5 months ago
 
image of
Bond Movies ranked from Worst to Best
a list of 23 images by henrik_spill created 9 months ago
 
image of name
Tallest Actors in Hollywood
a list of 60 people by Ocean_Breeze created 24 Apr 2011
 
See all related lists »

Do you have a demo reel?

Add it to your IMDbPage

Franklin Ojeda Smith - -- "...back in the day the 'barb wire' was more visible" and early on I chose baseball over acting; then academia and not baseball. Now,"...the kids are grown, the dog is dead and now that I may, I choose acting." Please take a look: 1)Boardwalk Empire - Deacon Cuffy 2)Murder Incorporated - Sam Christenson 3)Cayman Went - Aniston Turnkey 4)Letting Go -Therapist 5)Footsteps in the Sand - Jim. Thank You! Franklin

Franklin Ojeda Smith -

My Demo Reel -- Includes clips from GLORY DAZE, COMMUNITY and horror film URBAN EXPLORER.

My Demo Reel

Melanie Molnar - Reel -- No description provided.

Melanie Molnar - Reel

Francine Locke Film Reel -- Family Law (Best Actress, Gideon), Stealing Home (Best Supporting Actress-nom.) 168 Project, True Tale Monster (Albert P. Weisman Award), The Discarded (2011 Feature Release).

Francine Locke Film Reel

David H. Lawrence, XVII - Drama -- On-camera drama reel featuring David H. Lawrence XVII, in scenes from Heroes, The Unit, LOST, and more

David H. Lawrence, XVII - Drama


Find out more at IMDbPro »

Connect with IMDb

Take The Quiz!

Test your knowledge of Yaphet Kotto.
Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 4 nominations See more awards »

Known For


Show Show all  | 
Show by:
Edit

Filmography

Hide HideActor (93 titles)
2008 Witless Protection
Ricardo Bodi
 
2001 Stiletto Dance (TV movie)
Captain Rick Sands
 
2000 The Ride (TV movie)
Carter
 
2000 Homicide: The Movie (TV movie)
Al 'Gee' Giardello
 
1993-1999 Homicide: Life on the Street (TV series)
Lt. Al Giardello
– Forgive Us Our Trespasses (1999) … Lt. Al Giardello
– The Why Chromosome (1999) … Lt. Al Giardello
– Lines of Fire (1999) … Lt. Al Giardello (credit only)
– Identity Crisis (1999) … Lt. Al Giardello
– Self Defense (1999) … Lt. Al Giardello
See all 122 episodes »
 
1997 Law & Order (TV series)
Lt. Al Giardello
– Baby, It's You (1997) … Lt. Al Giardello
 
1997 The Defenders: Payback (TV movie)
Judge Williams
 
1996 Almost Blue
Terry
 
1996 Two If by Sea
FBI Agent O'Malley
 
1996 The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century (TV series)
Kaphe Kamar
– Total War (1996) … Kaphe Kamar (voice)
 
1995 Out-of-Sync
Quincy
 
1995 Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan (TV movie)
Marty Talbot
 
1994 The Puppet Masters
Ressler
 
1994 The Corpse Had a Familiar Face (TV movie)
Detective Martin Talbot
 
1994 Dead Badge
Captain Hunt
 
1993 SeaQuest 2032 (TV series)
Captain Jack Clayton
– Treasures of the Tonga Trench (1993) … Captain Jack Clayton
 
1993 The American Clock (TV movie)
Isaac
 
1993 Extreme Justice
Larson
 
1993 It's Nothing Personal (TV movie)
Lt. Riley
 
1992 Intent to Kill (video)
Captain Jackson
 
1992 Civil Wars (TV series)
Judge Louis Decker
– Drone of Arc (1992)
– Pro Se Can You See (1992) … Judge Louis Decker
 
1992 Chrome Soldiers (TV movie)
Perry Beach
 
1991-1992 The Trials of Rosie O'Neill (TV series)
Kelly
– Lady Luck (1992)
– A Conflict of Interest (1991) … Kelly
 
1991 Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare
Doc
 
1991 Hangfire
Police Lieutenant
 
1990 After the Shock (TV movie)
William McElroy
 
1990 Father Dowling Mysteries (TV series)
Lt. Fleming
– The Stone Killer Mystery (1990) … Lt. Fleming
 
1989 Tripwire
Lee Pitt
 
1989 The Jigsaw Murders
Doctor Fillmore
 
1989 Ministry of Vengeance
Mr. Whiteside
 
1989 Prime Target (TV movie)
Gilmore Brown
 
1989 A Whisper to a Scream
Jules Tallard
 
1988 Terminal Entry
Col. Styles
 
1988 Midnight Run
Alonzo Mosely
 
1987 Perry Mason: The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel (TV movie)
General Sorenson
 
1987 Murder, She Wrote (TV series)
Lt. Bradshaw
– Steal Me a Story (1987) … Lt. Bradshaw
 
1987 The Running Man
William Laughlin
 
1987 In Self Defense (TV movie)
Lt. Tyrell
 
1987 Desperado (TV movie)
Bede
 
1987 Tomorrow's a Killer
Harris
 
1986 Eye of the Tiger
J.B. Deveraux
 
1986 Harem (TV movie)
Agha Kislar
 
1986 The Park Is Mine (TV movie)
Eubanks
 
1985 Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV series)
Convict
– Prisoners (1985) … Convict
 
1985 Badge of the Assassin (TV movie)
Detective Cliff Fenton NYPD
 
1985 Hill Street Blues (TV series)
Calvin Matthias
– Blues in the Night (1985) … Calvin Matthias
 
1985 Warning Sign
Major Connolly
 
1985 Playing with Fire (TV movie)
Fire Chief Walker
 
1983-1984 For Love and Honor (TV series)
Platoon Sgt. James "China" Bell / Platoon Sgt. James 'China' Bell
– Bloodline (1984) … Platoon Sgt. James 'China' Bell
– The Real Thing (1984) … Platoon Sgt. James 'China' Bell
– The Price of Dreams (1983) … Platoon Sgt. James "China" Bell
– Mixed Signals (1983) … Platoon Sgt. James "China" Bell
– Team Work (1983) … Platoon Sgt. James "China" Bell
See all 12 episodes »
 
1983 Women of San Quentin (TV movie)
Sgt. Therman Patterson
 
1983 For Love and Honor (TV movie)
Sgt. China Bell
 
1983 The Star Chamber
Det. Harry Lowes
 
1983 The A-Team (TV series)
Charles 'East-Side Charlie' F. Struthers
– The Out-of-Towners (1983) … Charles 'East-Side Charlie' F. Struthers
 
1983 Fantasy Island (TV series)
Big Gus Belly
– Return to the Cotton Club/No Friends Like Old Friends (1983) … Big Gus Belly
 
1982/I Fighting Back
Ivanhoe Washington
 
1982 A House Divided: Denmark Vessey's Rebellion (TV movie)
Denmark Vessey
 
1980 Rage! (TV movie)
Ernie
 
1980 Brubaker
Richard 'Dickie' Coombes
 
1980 Othello
Othello
 
1979 Alien
Parker
 
1978 Blue Collar
Smokey
 
1977 Roots (TV mini-series)
 
1976 Raid on Entebbe (TV movie)
President Idi Amin - Jr.
 
1976 The Monkey Hu$tle
Daddy Foxx
 
1976 Drum
Blaise
 
1976 Crunch (TV movie)
Crunch
 
1975 Friday Foster
Colt Hawkins
 
1975 Sharks' Treasure
Ben Flynn
 
1975 Report to the Commissioner
Richard 'Crunch' Blackstone
 
1974 Truck Turner
Harvard Blue
 
1973 Live and Let Die
Kananga / Mr. Big
 
1972 Across 110th Street
Lt. Pope
 
1972 The Limit
Mark Johnson
 
1972 Bone
Bone
 
1971 Rod Serling's Night Gallery (TV series)
Buckner (segment "The Messiah on Mott Street")
– The Messiah on Mott Street/The Painted Mirror (1971) … Buckner (segment "The Messiah on Mott Street")
 
1971 Man and Boy
Nate Hodges
 
1970 Night Chase (TV movie)
Ernie Green
 
1970 Gunsmoke (TV series)
Piney Biggs
– The Scavengers (1970) … Piney Biggs
 
1970 The Name of the Game (TV series)
Wyman Jackson
– The Time Is Now (1970) … Wyman Jackson
 
1970 The Liberation of L.B. Jones
Sonny Boy Mosby
 
1968-1969 Daniel Boone (TV series)
Jonah / Luke
– Jonah (1969) … Jonah
– Big, Black and Out There (1968) … Luke
 
1969 Mannix (TV series)
Gabe Johnson / Gabriel Dillon
– Death in a Minor Key (1969) … Gabe Johnson/Gabriel Dillon
 
1969 Hawaii Five-O (TV series)
Marine Lance Corporal John T. Auston
– King of the Hill (1969) … Marine Lance Corporal John T. Auston
 
1968 The High Chaparral (TV series)
Sgt. Major Creason
– The Buffalo Soldiers (1968) … Sgt. Major Creason
 
1968 Bonanza (TV series)
Child Barnett
– Child (1968) … Child Barnett (as Yaphet Cotto)
 
1968 5 Card Stud
Little George
 
1968 The Thomas Crown Affair
Carl
 
1966-1967 The Big Valley (TV series)
Damien / Lobo Brown
– The Buffalo Man (1967) … Damien
– The Iron Box (1966) … Lobo Brown
 
1967 Tarzan (TV series)
Kesho
– Thief Catcher (1967) … Kesho
 
1967 Cowboy in Africa (TV series)
Musa
– Incident at Derati Wells (1967) … Musa
 
1967 Death Valley Days (TV series)
Abraham
– A Man Called Abraham (1967) … Abraham
 
1964 Nothing But a Man
Jocko
 
1963 4 for Texas (uncredited)
 
Show ShowWriter (2 titles)
1997-1999 Homicide: Life on the Street (TV series)
– Self Defense (1999) (teleplay)
– Secrets (1998) (writer)
– Narcissus (1997) (writer)
 
1972 The Limit (story)
 
Show ShowDirector (1 title)
1972 The Limit
 
Show ShowProducer (1 title)
1972 The Limit (producer)
 
Show ShowThanks (2 titles)
2008 Making Witless: The Cast on the Cast (video short) (special thanks)
 
2003 Freddy vs. Jason (special thanks)
 
Show ShowSelf (12 titles)
2008 Making Witless: The Cast on the Cast (video short)
Himself
 
1999 Inside 'Live and Let Die' (video documentary short)
Himself
 
1997 TV Nation: Volume One (video documentary)
Himself
 
1996 Biography (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Richard Pryor: Comic on the Edge (1996) … Himself
 
1995 The World of James Bond (TV documentary)
Himself (also archive footage)
 
1994 TV Nation (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Episode #1.1 (1994) … Himself
 
1994 Late Night with Conan O'Brien (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 7 July 1994 (1994) … Himself
– Episode dated 18 January 1994 (1994) … Himself
 
1973 Bond 1973: The Lost Documentary (documentary short)
Himself
 
1972 Salute to Oscar Hammerstein II (TV movie)
Himself
 
1970 The David Frost Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #2.106 (1970) … Himself
 
1969 The Joe Namath Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.1 (1969) … Himself
 
1967 NBC Experiment in Television (TV series documentary)
– Losers Weepers (1967)
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (10 titles)
2010 Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy (video documentary)
Himself
 
2007 Maquillando entre monstruos (TV documentary)
Parker
 
2007 True Bond (TV documentary)
Kananga/Mr. Big (archive footage: Live and Let Die)
 
2003 The Beast Within: The Making of 'Alien' (video documentary)
Parker/Himself
 
2002 Best Ever Bond (TV documentary)
Himself (uncredited)
 
2002 Baadasssss Cinema (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2000 Twentieth Century Fox: The Blockbuster Years (TV documentary)
Parker
 
1999 The Alien Legacy (video documentary)
Himself
 
1998 Anatomy of a 'Homicide: Life on the Street' (TV documentary)
Lt. Al Giardello
 
1998 Clay Pigeons
Parker - 'Alien' (uncredited)
 

Related Videos

Almost Blue -- A jazz musician has been in a creative slump over the mysterious death of his wife. He finds a new lover and tries to rediscover his interest. However, his past soon comes to haunt him and he finds himself in the same situation when his wife was killed. The A-Team: Season 1: Episode 7 -- The A-Team comes to the aid of a group of New York shopkeepers who are being harassed by neighborhood protection racketeers. Live and Let Die -- Clip: Feeding Time
See all 23 »
Edit

Personal Details

Other Works:

(16 October 1964) Appeared on ABC Radio series, Theater Five, in a half-hour play titled, "The Captive Spirit". See more »

Publicity Listings:

2 Interviews  | 1 Article  | See more »

Official Sites:

Official Site | Yaphet Kotto Enterprises | See more »

Alternate Names:

Yaphet Cotto

Height:

6' 4" (1.93 m)
Edit

Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

(On filming Alien) All of the scenes were challenging, particularly when you know you have to act against sets that were huge. The special effects determined where you could walk. Then you ask yourself how can you survive in acting against a monster. Will you be remembered? Ridley Scott was cool. He... See more »

Trivia:

Turned down the role of Lando Calrissian in 'Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back' (1980). He feared that Lando would be killed in the movie, and that he would be forever typecast. See more »

Trademark:

Often plays police detectives and military officers See more »

Star Sign:

Scorpio