Yaphet Kotto, Bond Villain & Alien Actor Dies Aged 81
The ‘Alien’ and ‘Live and Let Die’ Star Yaphet Kotto has died aged 81
The American actor was best known for playing the villain Dr Kanaga in the 1973 Bond Film Live and Let Die. He also starred in the iconic 1979 sci-fi film Alien as Dennis Parker
His death was announced by Kotto’s wife, Tessie Sinahon, who said in a Facebook post that Kotto died on Monday evening. She wrote, “You played a villain on some of your movies but for me you’re a real hero and to a lot of people also”.
After Alien‘s success, Kotto turned down a role in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back because he was wary of becoming typecast in the sci-fi genre. He also walked away from playing the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, the character made famous by Sir Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Yaphet Kotto rose to fame playing first-ever black Bond Villain, Dr Kananga, in Live and Let Die, starring Roger Moore. Kotto also acted alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the film The Running Man.
His TV career included roles in The A-Team and Law and Order, and Kotto’s most notable TV role was playing Lieutenant Al Giardello in seven seasons of Homicide: Life on the Street, for which he also served as a writer. He also received an Emmy nomination for playing former Ugandan President Idi Amin in the 1977 movie Raid on Entebbe.
