Acteur Yaphet Kotto is op 81-jarige leeftijd overleden. Kotto was vooral bekend van zijn rollen in de James Bond-film Live and Let Die en Ridley Scotts Alien.

In Live and Let Die speelde Kotto de slechterik, de Caraïbische dictator Dr. Kanaga, en zijn alter ego, de drugsbaron Mr. Big. In Alien speelde hij de ingenieur Dennis Parker, een van de crewleden van het ruimteschip de Nostromo.

Verder was Kotto te zien in The Running Man met Arnold Schwarzenegger, in Midnight Run met Robert De Niro en in de tv-reeks Homicide: Life on the Street.

Op Twitter hebben onder meer Homicide: Life on the Street-schrijver David Simon en regisseurs Ava DuVernay en Edgar Wright een laatste groet aan Kotto gebracht:

Memories and respect for Yaphet Kotto, whose film career was legend even before he came to Baltimore to grace our television drama. But for me, he'll always be Al Giardello, the unlikeliest Sicilian, gently pulling down the office blinds to glower at detectives in his squadroom. pic.twitter.com/rF9cBzBndG

— David Simon (@AoDespair) March 16, 2021

https://twitter.com/ava/status/1371705685197475840

RIP Yaphet Kotto, a brilliant magnetic presence, bringing gravitas & naturalism to deep space or underground Bond lair. So memorable as Parker in Alien, Kananga (Mr Big) in Live & Let Die, Smokey James in Blue Collar or in the simmering funny rage of Midnight Run's Alonzo Mosely. pic.twitter.com/3LSuGSQQ8X

— edgarwright (@edgarwright) March 16, 2021

We are very sorry to learn that Yaphet Kotto, who played Dr. Kananga in Live And Let Die, has passed away at the age of 81. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/wssYWvy6VI

— James Bond (@007) March 16, 2021

The great actor Yaphet Kotto has died. His wife just posted this information. I was fortunate to have been a FB friend and to have heard great stories from him. (He told a story involving him and Robert Mitchum which is one of the great actor tales of all time.) pic.twitter.com/ob02UUQ14o

— Jim Beaver (@jumblejim) March 16, 2021

Rest in Power #YaphetKotto thank you for paving the way. Deep bows & condolences to family & close friends of this extraordinary thespian💔🌈🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/2pH6X0h6gO

— Orlando Jones (@TheOrlandoJones) March 16, 2021

Bron: Variety