Yaphet Kotto, the actor known for his role in ‘Alien’ and as James Bond villain Mr. Big in ‘Live and Let Die’, has died at the age of 81, his wife announced on Facebook. “He passed away last night around 22:30 Philippine time. It is a very painful moment for me to inform you all my fans, friends and family of my husband,” Tessie Sinahon wrote.
It is unclear what caused Kotto’s death.
He was born in New York City in 1939 and studied at the Actors Mobile Theater Studio at the age of 16. He made his stage debut at the age of 19 in ‘Othello’.
Kotto’s first major film role appeared in 1972 as Lieutenant Pope in ‘Across 110th Street’. One year later, Kotto becomes the first villain of the Black Bond.
“You played a villain in some of your films, but to me you are a true hero and also to many people. A good man, a good father, a good man and a decent man, very rarely 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 praise, as did his long career as a lieutenant Al Giardello in the TV series “Homicide: Life on the Street” from 1993 to 2000 He was nominated for the NAACP Outstanding Actor Award in a Drama Series in 1996 and thereafter every year until 1999.
Kotto made his last film appearance in 2008 as Ricardo Bodi in “Witless Protection.” He is survived by Sinahon and six children.