Yaphet Kotto
| Yaphet Kotto | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Yaphet Frederick Kotto November 15, 1939 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1963–2014 |
| Spouse(s) |
Tessie Sinahon (m. 1998) Antoinette Pettyjohn (m. 1975–96) (divorced, 2 children) Rita Ingrid Dittman (m. 1962–75) (divorced, 3 children) |
Yaphet Frederick Kotto (born November 15, 1939) is 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/horror film Alien (1979), and the Arnold Schwarzenegger science-fiction/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 Mosely.
Kotto was born in New York City. His mother was Gladys Marie, a nurse and U.S. Army officer. His father is Avraham Kotto (originally named Njoki Manga Bell), a businessman from Cameroon who emigrated to the United States in the 1920s. In his autobiography titled Royalty, Kotto writes that his father was "the crown prince of Cameroon". But, Cameroon is a republic and its monarchs have limited responsibilities as auxiliaries of the state, which they must support at all times. It is a typical example of an intrastate African monarchy.
Kotto said he learned that his father's family was royal in adult life while studying his family's lineage, and said he is also a descendant of Queen Victoria. According to Kotto, his father was an observant Jew who spoke Hebrew. Kotto's mother, who was of Panamanian descent, converted to Judaism before marrying his father. Kotto claims that his great-grandfather, whom he names "King Alexander Bell", ruled the Douala region of Cameroon in the late-19th century and was also a practicing Jew. Kotto has said that his paternal family originated from Israel many centuries ago, migrating to Egypt and then Cameroon, and have been African Jews for many generations. His claim of being a descendant of Queen Victoria has been denied by the Buckingham Palace press office.
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