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Yaphet Kotto

Yaphet Kotto

Actor · Died March 15, 2021, aged 81 · New York City, New York, U.S.A

Primetime Emmy nominee

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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 16, 1939
Died
March 15, 2021 (aged 81)
From
New York City, New York, U.S.A
Works as
Actor
Titles
55 on MovieCove · 91 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 4% in 30 days

What are Yaphet Kotto's films like?

Across their 44 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Action17 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 19th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
40%
Survival
22%
Power
15%
Bonds
8%
Society
6%
Self
6%
Ideas
3%
Justice24 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival13 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption5 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 43 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 12 · Serious 9 · Dark 22

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 31 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 4 · Charged 16 · Intense 23

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 14 · Shifting 25 · Whiplash 4

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 25 · Some laughs 16 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 27 · Relentless 8

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 10 · Engaged 30 · Full focus 3

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 15 · Affecting 16 · Heavy 12

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 34 · Open-ended 9 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

34 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 18 of 34 analyzed roles.

Ally
18 of 34
Shadow
6 of 34
Mentor
4 of 34
Threshold guardian
4 of 34
Herald
1 of 34
Hero
1 of 34
Show the 34 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
40
Dread
14
Thrilling
14
Melancholic
11
Absurd
7
Other
24

How their films linger

Unsettling15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet21
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous6

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Yaphet Kotto's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 34 of their 55 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (23).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Yaphet Kotto's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

91 credits, 55 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Witless Protection(2008)

    as Ricardo Bodi

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Stiletto Dance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Captain Rick Sands

  • The Ride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Carter

  • Homicide: The Movie(2000)

    as Al Giardello

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Inside 'Live and Let Die' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • The Defenders: Payback (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Judge Williams

  • Two If by Sea(1996)

    as FBI Agent O'Malley

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Out-of-Sync(1995)

    as Quincy

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan(1995)

    as Marty Talbot

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Dead Badge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Captain Hunt

  • The Puppet Masters(1994)

    as Ressler

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Corpse Had a Familiar Face(1994)

    as Detective Martin Talbot

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • SeaQuest 2032(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Captain Jack Clayton

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Almost Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Terry

  • Extreme Justice(1993)

    as Larson

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • It's Nothing Personal(1993)

    as Lt. Tom Riley

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Homicide: Life on the Street(1993)

    Show 122 episodes · as Al Giardello

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The American Clock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Isaac

  • Intent to Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Captain Jackson

  • Chrome Soldiers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Perry Beach

  • Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare(1991)

    as Doc

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Hangfire(1991)

    as Police Lieutenant

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • The Trials of Rosie O'Neill(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as ADA Kelley · as Kelly

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Al Giardello

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • After the Shock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as William McElroy

  • Tripwire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Lee Pitt

  • Ministry of Vengeance(1989)

    as Mr. Whiteside

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Prime Target(1989)

    as Gilmore Brown

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Jigsaw Murders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Doctor Tyrone Fillmore

  • Father Dowling Mysteries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. Fleming

  • A Whisper to a Scream(1989)

    as Jules Tallard

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Midnight Run(1988)

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

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Perry Mason: The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel(1987)

    as General Sorenson

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Running Man(1987)

    as William Laughlin

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Terminal Entry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Col. Styles

  • In Self Defense(1987)

    as Lt. Tyrell

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Desperado (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Bede

  • Pretty Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Harris

  • The Park Is Mine(1985)

    as Eubanks

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Eye of the Tiger(1986)

    as J.B. Deveraux

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Harem (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Agha Kislar

  • Harem (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Agha Kislar

  • The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Convict

  • Warning Sign(1985)

    as Major Connolly

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Playing with Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Fire Chief Walker

  • Badge of the Assassin(1985)

    as Detective Cliff Fenton NYPD

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. Bradshaw

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Women of San Quentin(1983)

    as Sgt. Therman Patterson

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • For Love and Honor(1983)

    as Sgt. China Bell

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • For Love and Honor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • The Star Chamber(1983)

    as Detective Harry Lowes

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The A-Team(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Struthers

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Fighting Back(1982)

    as Ivanhoe Washington

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • A House Divided: Denmark Vesey's Rebellion(1982)

    as Denmark Vessey

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Jocko

  • Hill Street Blues(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Calvin Matthias

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Rage! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Ernie

  • Brubaker(1980)

    as Dickie Coombes

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Othello (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Othello

  • Alien(1979)

    as Parker

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Blue Collar(1978)

    as Sam 'Smokey' James

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Raid on Entebbe(1976)

    as President Idi Amin - Jr.

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Monkey Hu$tle(1976)

    as Daddy Foxx

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Drum(1976)

    as Blase

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Crunch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Richard "Crunch" Blackstone

  • Friday Foster(1975)

    as Colt Hawkins

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Doctors' Hospital (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Sharks' Treasure(1975)

    as Ben Flynn

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Report to the Commissioner(1975)

    as Richard 'Crunch' Blackstone

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Truck Turner(1974)

    as Blue

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Live and Let Die(1973)

    as Kananga/Mr. Big

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Across 110th Street(1972)

    as Lt. William Pope

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Limit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Director · Producer · Story · as Mark Johnson

  • Bone(1972)

    as Bone

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Man and Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Nate Hodges

  • Night Gallery(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Buckner

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Night Chase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Ernie Green

  • The Liberation of L.B. Jones(1970)

    as Sonny Boy Mosby

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Hawaii Five-O(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Lance Corporal John T. Auston

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • The Name of the Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Wyman Jackson

  • 5 Card Stud(1968)

    as Little George

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Thomas Crown Affair(1968)

    as Carl

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Mannix(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Gabe Johnson / Gabriel Dillon

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Cowboy in Africa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Musa

  • The High Chaparral (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Sgt. Major Creason

  • Tarzan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Big Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Damien · as Lobo Brown

  • Nothing But a Man(1964)

    as Jocko

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Daniel Boone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Jonah · as Luke

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Child Barnett

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Gunsmoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Piney Biggs

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 91 titles from 1955 to 2008; peak year 1973.

Biggest box office

Alien (1979)

$110M worldwide

Highest rated

Alien (1979)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Homicide: Life on the Street (1993)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19552008

Peak 1973 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 16 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting91 of 91: 90 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score59thDirecting1 of 91: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting1 of 91: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 91: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s2 · acting1960s11 · acting1970s19 · 19 acting · 1 crew1980s34 · acting1990s21 · acting2000s4 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 4% of 26 roles
64747989

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

Nominated for a Primetime Emmy in 1977, Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama Special.

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Yaphet Kotto's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 47th percentile, the median of all 44; across their 43 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 49th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Reach · how many have seen their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Midcredits score across 55 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th13

Shape of the crowd

21 of their 55 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Universally Panned3
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser21
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed18

Most divisive · actor

For Love and Honor (1983)

92nd percentile spread · 35% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Alien (1979)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 40 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 43. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Yaphet Kotto's work okay for kids?

Across up to 15 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore10 titles37–90 · median 71 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity15 titles21–55 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity10 titles34–89 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles31–59 · median 48 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense10 titles25–75 · median 62 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Yaphet Kotto work with?

People who share at least 2 of Yaphet Kotto's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Pam Grier shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles