Yaphet Kotto

November 16, 1939 - March 15, 2021 New York City, New York, U.S.A

Yaphet Frederick Kotto (November 16, 1939 – March 15, 2021) was an American actor known for numerous film roles, as well as starring in the NBC television series Homicide: Life on the Street (1993-99) as Lieutenant Al Giardello. His films include the science-fiction and horror film Alien (1979), and the Arnold Schwarzenegger science-fiction and action film The Running Man (1987). He portrayed the main villain Dr. Kananga/Mr. Big 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 Mosley.

His titles like Alien, Live and Let Die, and The Running Man - his biggest roles first.
Last updated: August 19, 2026

Watched: 0/62

Weighted avg: 7.12 /10

1

1

Alien

1979May 1979 by Ridley Scott

Supporting as Parker

Supporting as Parker

7.89 Excellent+
2

2

Live and Let Die

1973June 1973 by Guy Hamilton

Starring as Kananga/Mr. Big

Starring as Kananga/Mr. Big

6.05 Okay++
3

3

The Running Man

1987November 1987 by Paul Michael Glaser

Supporting as William Laughlin

Supporting as William Laughlin

6.08 Okay++
4

4

Midnight Run

1988July 1988 by Martin Brest

Starring as Alonzo Mosely, Special Agent, F.B.I.

Starring as Alonzo Mosely, Special Agent, F.B.I.

6.77 Good
5

5

Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare

1991September 1991 by Rachel Talalay

Supporting as Doc

Supporting as Doc

4.79 Mediocre++
6

6

Brubaker

1980June 1980 by Stuart Rosenberg

Starring as Dickie Coombes

Starring as Dickie Coombes

6.63 Good
7

7

The Thomas Crown Affair

1968June 1968 by Norman Jewison

Minor role as Carl

Minor role as Carl

6.34 Good-
8

8

Blue Collar

1978February 1978 by Paul Schrader

Starring as Sam 'Smokey' James

Starring as Sam 'Smokey' James

6.79 Good+
9

9

The Star Chamber

1983August 1983 by Peter Hyams

Starring as Detective Harry Lowes

Starring as Detective Harry Lowes

5.63 Okay
10

10

Across 110th Street

1972December 1972 by Barry Shear

Starring as Lt. William Pope

Starring as Lt. William Pope

6.19 Good--
11

11

The Puppet Masters

1994October 1994 by Stuart Orme

Supporting as Ressler

Supporting as Ressler

5.40 Okay-
12

12

Two If by Sea

1996January 1996 by Bill Bennett

Starring as FBI Agent O'Malley

Starring as FBI Agent O'Malley

4.96 Mediocre++
13

13

Homicide: Life on the Street

1993–1999 by Paul Attanasio

Supporting as Al Giardello

Supporting as Al Giardello

7.05 Good++
14

14

Truck Turner

1974June 1974 by Jonathan Kaplan

Starring as Blue

Starring as Blue

6.03 Okay++
15

15

Warning Sign

1985August 1985 by Hal Barwood

Starring as Major Connolly

Starring as Major Connolly

5.64 Okay
16

16

Eye of the Tiger

1986July 1986 by Richard C. Sarafian

Starring as J.B. Deveraux

Starring as J.B. Deveraux

5.77 Okay+
17

17

Witless Protection

2008February 2008 by Charles Robert Carner

Supporting as Ricardo Bodi

Supporting as Ricardo Bodi

4.65 Mediocre+
18

18

Friday Foster

1975December 1975 by Arthur Marks

Starring as Colt Hawkins

Starring as Colt Hawkins

5.79 Okay+
19

19

Raid on Entebbe

1976December 1976 by Irvin Kershner

Starring as President Idi Amin - Jr.

Starring as President Idi Amin - Jr.

5.74 Okay+
20

20

5 Card Stud

1968July 1968 by Henry Hathaway

Supporting as Little George

Supporting as Little George

5.89 Okay+
21

21

Bone

1972July 1972 by Larry Cohen

Lead role as Bone

Lead role as Bone

5.86 Okay+
22

22

The Park Is Mine

1986July 1986 by Steven Hilliard Stern

Starring as Eubanks

Starring as Eubanks

5.50 Okay
23

23

Report to the Commissioner

1975February 1975 by Milton Katselas

Starring as Richard 'Crunch' Blackstone

Starring as Richard 'Crunch' Blackstone

6.05 Okay++
24

24

Extreme Justice

1993June 1993 by Mark L. Lester

Supporting as Larson

Supporting as Larson

5.43 Okay-
25

25

Nothing But a Man

1964December 1964 by Michael Roemer

Supporting as Jocko

Supporting as Jocko

6.44 Good-
26

26

Fighting Back

1982May 1982 by Lewis Teague

Supporting as Ivanhoe Washington

Supporting as Ivanhoe Washington

5.78 Okay+
27

27

The Liberation of L.B. Jones

1970March 1970 by William Wyler

Supporting as Sonny Boy Mosby

Supporting as Sonny Boy Mosby

5.85 Okay+
28

28

Drum

1976July 1976 by Steve Carver

Supporting as Blase

Supporting as Blase

5.58 Okay
29

29

The Monkey Hustle

1976December 1976 by Arthur Marks

Lead role as Daddy Foxx

Lead role as Daddy Foxx

Needs more reviews
30

30

The Jigsaw Murders

1989July 1989 by Jag Mundhra

Starring as Doctor Tyrone Fillmore

Starring as Doctor Tyrone Fillmore

5.57 Okay
31

31

Homicide: The Movie

2000February 2000 by Jean de Segonzac

Minor role as Al Giardello

Minor role as Al Giardello

6.18 Good--
32

32

Badge of the Assassin

1985January 1985 by Mel Damski

Starring as Detective Cliff Fenton NYPD

Starring as Detective Cliff Fenton NYPD

Needs more reviews
33

33

BaadAsssss Cinema

2002August 2002 by Isaac Julien

Minor role as Self

Minor role as Self

5.85 Okay+
34

34

Sharks' Treasure

1975April 1975 by Cornel Wilde

Starring as Ben Flynn

Starring as Ben Flynn

5.80 Okay+
35

35

King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen

2018July 2018 by Steve Mitchell

Minor role as Self

Minor role as Self

5.99 Okay++
36

36

After the Shock

1990September 1990 by Gary Sherman

Lead role as William McElroy

Lead role as William McElroy

Needs more reviews
37

37

Terminal Entry

1987October 1987 by John Kincade

Starring as Col. Styles

Starring as Col. Styles

Needs more reviews
38

38

Night Chase

1970November 1970 by Jack Starrett

Starring as Ernie Green

Starring as Ernie Green

Needs more reviews
39

39

Almost Blue

1993August 1993 by Keoni Waxman

Starring as Terry

Starring as Terry

Needs more reviews
40

40

Pretty Kill

1987March 1987 by George Kaczender

Supporting as Harris

Supporting as Harris

Needs more reviews
41

41

Prime Target

1989September 1989 by Robert L. Collins

Supporting as Gilmore Brown

Supporting as Gilmore Brown

Needs more reviews
42

42

Intent to Kill

1992October 1992 by Charles T. Kanganis

Supporting as Captain Jackson

Supporting as Captain Jackson

5.66 Okay
43

43

Stiletto Dance

2001June 2001 by Mario Azzopardi

Supporting as Captain Rick Sands

Supporting as Captain Rick Sands

5.73 Okay+
44

44

In Self Defense

1987May 1987 by Bruce Seth Green

Starring as Lt. Tyrell

Starring as Lt. Tyrell

Needs more reviews
45

45

Harem

1986February 1986 by William Hale

Supporting as Agha Kislar

Supporting as Agha Kislar

Needs more reviews
46

46

A Whisper to a Scream

1989January 1989 by Robert Bergman

Starring as Jules Tallard

Starring as Jules Tallard

Needs more reviews
47

47

Desperado

1987April 1987 by Virgil W. Vogel

Starring as Bede

Starring as Bede

Needs more reviews
48

48

The Ride

2000August 2000 by Steve DiMarco

Lead role as Carter

Lead role as Carter

Needs more reviews
49

49

Perry Mason: The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel

1987November 1987 by Christian I. Nyby II

Minor role as General Sorenson

Minor role as General Sorenson

6.18 Good--
50

50

Out-of-Sync

1995June 1995 by Debbie Allen

Supporting as Quincy

Supporting as Quincy

Needs more reviews
51

51

Dead Badge

1995March 1995 by Douglas Barr

Supporting as Captain Hunt

Supporting as Captain Hunt

Needs more reviews
52

52

Hangfire

1991January 1991 by Peter Maris

Supporting as Police Lieutenant

Supporting as Police Lieutenant

Needs more reviews
53

53

The Corpse Had a Familiar Face

1994March 1994 by Joyce Chopra

Starring as Detective Martin Talbot

Starring as Detective Martin Talbot

Needs more reviews
54

54

Ministry of Vengeance

1989November 1989 by Peter Maris

Supporting as Mr. Whiteside

Supporting as Mr. Whiteside

Needs more reviews
55

55

Chrome Soldiers

1992May 1992 by Thomas J. Wright

Supporting as Perry Beach

Supporting as Perry Beach

Needs more reviews
56

56

Playing with Fire

1985April 1985 by Ivan Nagy

Supporting as Fire Chief Walker

Supporting as Fire Chief Walker

Needs more reviews
57

57

The Defenders: Payback

1997October 1997 by Andy Wolk

Minor role as Judge Williams

Minor role as Judge Williams

Needs more reviews
58

58

For Love and Honor

1983–1984

Supporting

Supporting

Needs more reviews
59

59

Man and Boy

1971June 1971 by E.W. Swackhamer

Supporting as Nate Hodges

Supporting as Nate Hodges

Needs more reviews
60

60

For Love and Honor

1983September 1983 by Gary Nelson

Minor role as Sgt. China Bell

Minor role as Sgt. China Bell

Needs more reviews
61

61

Harem

1986

Supporting as Agha Kislar

Supporting as Agha Kislar

Needs more reviews
62

62

The World of James Bond

1995October 1995 by Paul Hall

Minor role as Self

Minor role as Self

Needs more reviews