Yaphet Kotto was born in New York City.
Sometimes Yaphet Kotto is credited as Yaphet Cotto.
We will usually see Yaphet Kotto playing a role of a police
detectives or military officers this has became his trademark
role.
In 1964 Yaphet Kotto made his big-screen debut in NOTHING
BUT A MAN.
In the Bay area Yaphet Kotto has a hardcore punk band named
after him.
Yaphet Kotto is best remembered for for his performance
in the 1973 James Bond entry LIVE AND LET DIE.
In 1979 Yaphet Kotto suffered a grisly fate in the hit
movie ALIEN.
Yaphet Kotto has had a few TV Guest apperances on THE A
TEAM, HILL STREET BLUES, DANIEL BOONE, and BONANZA.
For the role of Mark Johnson in THE LIMIT in 1972, Yaphet
Kotto had his hands full he played the character, wrote
the story, directored and produced the film.
Both of Yaphet Kotto parents are African Jews. In an interview
he said being fully Black and Jewish gave others even more
reason to pick on him growing up in New York City. However,
to this day, he remains a devout, practicing Jew.
Yaphet Kotto is a regular on TV's HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE
STREETS playing the role of Lt. Al Giardello and being Kotto
was a writer for the series, he also played the same character
in the TV movie HOMICIDE: THE MOVIE in 2000.
Yaphet Kotto's film credits include:
THE
THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR
THE LIBERATION OF L.B. JONES
ACROSS 110TH STREET
LIVE AND LET DIE (Played Mr. Big)
REPORT TO THE COMMISSIONER
DRUM
MONKEY HUSTLE
BLUE COLLAR
ALIEN
BRUBAKER
THE STAR CHAMBER
WARNING SIGN
EYE OF THE TIGER
PRETTYKILL
MIDNIGHT
RUN
TERMINAL ENTRY
THE
RUNNING MAN
MINISTRY OF VENGEANCE
TRIPWIRE
FREDDY'S DEAD: THE FINAL NIGHTMARE
ALMOST BLUE
EXTREME JUSTICE
THE PUPPET MASTERS
OUT OF SYNC
DEAD BADGE
TWO IF BY SEA
Yaphet's television credits include:
THE CHROME SOLDIERS (cable)
HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET (series)
STILETTO DANCE (TV MOVIE)