Yaphet Kotto

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

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.

Their titles like Alien, Live and Let Die, and The Running Man - their biggest roles first.
Last updated: June 14, 2026

42 titles
Community avg: 8.43 /10
  • 1
    1
    Alien
    1979May 1979 by Ridley Scott
    Horror, Science Fiction
    Horror, Science Fiction
    9.10 Masterpiece+
  • 2
    2
    Live and Let Die
    1973June 1973 by Guy Hamilton
    Adventure, Action, Thriller
    Adventure, Action, Thriller
    7.45 Good++
  • 3
    3
    The Running Man
    1987November 1987 by Paul Michael Glaser
    Action, Thriller, Science Fiction
    Action, Thriller, Science Fiction
    7.49 Good++
  • 4
    4
    Midnight Run
    1988July 1988 by Martin Brest
    Comedy, Crime, Thriller
    Comedy, Crime, Thriller
    8.10 Excellent
  • 5
    5
    Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare
    1991September 1991 by Rachel Talalay
    Horror, Thriller
    Horror, Thriller
    6.33 Decent++
  • 6
    6
    Brubaker
    1980June 1980 by Stuart Rosenberg
    Crime, Drama
    Crime, Drama
    8.01 Excellent
  • 7
    7
    The Thomas Crown Affair
    1968June 1968 by Norman Jewison
    Crime, Romance
    Crime, Romance
    7.71 Excellent-
  • 8
    8
    Blue Collar
    1978February 1978 by Paul Schrader
    Drama, Crime
    Drama, Crime
    8.18 Excellent+
  • 9
    9
    The Star Chamber
    1983August 1983 by Peter Hyams
    Drama, Thriller
    Drama, Thriller
    7.20 Good+
  • 10
    10
    Across 110th Street
    1972December 1972 by Barry Shear
    Action, Crime, Drama
    Action, Crime, Drama
    7.69 Excellent--
  • 11
    11
    The Puppet Masters
    1994October 1994 by Stuart Orme
    Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller
    Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller
    6.97 Good
  • 12
    12
    Two If by Sea
    1996January 1996 by Bill Bennett
    Comedy, Romance
    Comedy, Romance
    6.62 Good--
  • 13
    13
    Homicide: Life on the Street
    1993–1999 by Paul Attanasio
    Mystery, Drama, Crime
    Mystery, Drama, Crime
    8.73 Masterpiece-
  • 14
    14
    Truck Turner
    1974June 1974 by Jonathan Kaplan
    Drama, Action, Thriller
    Drama, Action, Thriller
    7.57 Excellent--
  • 15
    15
    Warning Sign
    1985August 1985 by Hal Barwood
    Drama, Science Fiction, Thriller
    Drama, Science Fiction, Thriller
    7.26 Good+
  • 16
    16
    Eye of the Tiger
    1986July 1986 by Richard C. Sarafian
    Action, Drama
    Action, Drama
    7.37 Good++
  • 17
    17
    Witless Protection
    2008February 2008 by Charles Robert Carner
    Comedy, Action, Adventure
    Comedy, Action, Adventure
    6.41 Decent++
  • 18
    18
    Friday Foster
    1975December 1975 by Arthur Marks
    Action, Thriller
    Action, Thriller
    7.41 Good++
  • 19
    19
    Raid on Entebbe
    1976December 1976 by Irvin Kershner
    Drama, Thriller, History
    Drama, Thriller, History
    7.38 Good++
  • 20
    20
    5 Card Stud
    1968July 1968 by Henry Hathaway
    Western, Mystery
    Western, Mystery
    7.43 Good++
  • 21
    21
    The Park Is Mine
    1986July 1986 by Steven Hilliard Stern
    Action, Drama
    Action, Drama
    7.15 Good+
  • 22
    22
    Extreme Justice
    1993June 1993 by Mark L. Lester
    Action, Thriller
    Action, Thriller
    7.18 Good+
  • 23
    23
    Nothing But a Man
    1964December 1964 by Michael Roemer
    Drama, Romance
    Drama, Romance
    8.07 Excellent
  • 24
    24
    Fighting Back
    1982May 1982 by Lewis Teague
    Action, Thriller, Crime
    Action, Thriller, Crime
    7.55 Excellent--
  • 25
    25
    The Liberation of L.B. Jones
    1970March 1970 by William Wyler
    Drama, Crime
    Drama, Crime
    7.54 Excellent--
  • 26
    26
    Drum
    1976July 1976 by Steve Carver
    History, Action, Thriller
    History, Action, Thriller
    7.38 Good++
  • 27
    27
    The Jigsaw Murders
    1989July 1989 by Jag Mundhra
    Crime, Mystery, Thriller
    Crime, Mystery, Thriller
    7.37 Good++
  • 28
    28
    Homicide: The Movie
    2000February 2000 by Jean de Segonzac
    Drama, Crime
    Drama, Crime
    7.85 Excellent-
  • 29
    29
    Badge of the Assassin
    1985January 1985 by Mel Damski
    Drama, Action
    Drama, Action
    7.67 Excellent--
  • 30
    30
    BaadAsssss Cinema
    2002August 2002 by Isaac Julien
    Action, Documentary
    Action, Documentary
    7.57 Excellent--
  • 31
    31
    King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen
    2018July 2018 by Steve Mitchell
    Documentary
    Documentary
    7.72 Excellent-
  • 32
    32
    Night Chase
    1970November 1970 by Jack Starrett
    Drama, Thriller
    Drama, Thriller
    7.74 Excellent-
  • 33
    33
    Pretty Kill
    1987March 1987 by George Kaczender
    Horror, Crime
    Horror, Crime
    7.24 Good+
  • 34
    34
    Stiletto Dance
    2001June 2001 by Mario Azzopardi
    Drama, Action, Crime
    Drama, Action, Crime
    7.55 Excellent--
  • 35
    35
    Ministry of Vengeance
    1989November 1989 by Peter Maris
    Action
    Action
    7.60 Excellent--
  • 36
    36
    Chrome Soldiers
    1992May 1992 by Thomas J. Wright
    Action, Drama
    Action, Drama
    7.65 Excellent--
  • 37
    37
    Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan
    1995May 1995 by Joyce Chopra
    Crime
    Crime
    Needs more reviews
  • 38
    38
    For Love and Honor
    1983–1984
    Drama
    Drama
    7.82 Excellent-
  • 39
    39
    Tripwire
    1989November 1989 by James Lemmo
    Action, Thriller
    Action, Thriller
    Needs more reviews
  • 40
    40
    Harem
    1986
    Drama
    Drama
    Needs more reviews
  • 41
    41
    The World of James Bond
    1995October 1995 by Paul Hall
    Documentary
    Documentary
    7.86 Excellent-
  • 42
    42
    Rage!
    1980September 1980 by William A. Graham
    Drama
    Drama
    Needs more reviews