Yaphet Kotto

Yaphet Frederick Kotto (November 15, 1939 – March 15, 2021) was a renowned American actor for film and television. Born in New York City, Kotto launched his professional acting career at 19 with a performance in Othello. He began his journey on Broadway, featuring in significant productions such as The Great White Hope. His film debut was in the 1963 film 4 for Texas. His career took off with stunning performances in films like the science-fiction horror film Alien (1979), the neo-noir action thriller Across 110th Street (1972), the science-fiction action film The Running Man (1987), and the James Bond film Live and Let Die (1973). He even released a single in 1967. His television career was highlighted with the long-running television series Homicide: Life on the Street (1993–1999)

Kotto's versatility was evident from his wide array of roles, from an auto worker in the 1978 film Blue Collar to a prison delegate in 1980s Brubaker. He also guest-starred in The A-Team episode 'The Out-of-Towners'. Among his credits, Kotto was also known for lending his voice to the video game Alien: Isolation in 2014, reprising his role from the original Alien movie. His personal life was as diverse as his career. A man of Hebrew faith, he had been married three times and was a father of six. Before passing away at 81 in Manila, Philippines, he retired from film acting in the mid-1990s, save for a final film role in Witless Protection (2008).