Yaphet Kotto, the actor known for his role in “Alien” and in the villainous role of James Bond Mr. Big in “Live and Let Die”, has died at the age of 81, his wife announced on Facebook. “She died last night around 10:30 pm, Philippine time. This is a very painful time for me to inform all my husband’s fans, friends and family,” Tessie Sinahon wrote.
It is unclear what caused Kotto’s death.
He was born in New York in 1939 and, at the age of 16, studied at the Actors Mobile Theater Studio. He made his stage debut at the age of 19 in “Othello”.
Kotto’s first major film role came in 1972 as Lieutenant Pope in “Across 110th Street.” A year later, Kotto became the first Black Bond villain.
“You played a villain in some of your movies, but for me you’re a real hero and a lot of people. A good man, a good father, a good husband and a decent human being, very rare to find,” Sinahon said.
Kotto’s work as Smokey James in 1978’s “Blue Collar” and technician Dennis Parker in 1979’s “Alien” earned him much acclaim, as did his longtime run as Lieutenant Al Giardello in the TV series “Homicides: Street Life.” 1993 to 2000 He was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series in 1996 and each year thereafter until 1999.
Kotto last appeared in the film in 2008 as Ricardo Bodi in “Witless Protection”. He is survived by Sinaon and six children.