Prince Yaphet Frederick Kotto (born November 15, 1937 in New York City) is an American actor. His father was a Igbo Jew from Cameroon and Kotto is a practicing Jew by faith. His father was royalty in Cameroon making Yaphet the son of the Crown Prince of the Royal Bell family of the Doualla region of West Africa's Cameroon.
Kotto got his start in acting on Broadway, where he appeared in The Great White Hope, among other productions. His film debut was in 1963 in an uncredited role in 4 For Texas, but his first big break came in Nothing But a Man in 1964. He also starred as an auto worker alongside Richard Pryor and Harvey Keitel in the commercial failure but cult favourite, Blue Collar. Kotto landed the role of the James Bond villain Mr. Big in Live and Let Die. Kotto also starred in Across 110th Street, Truck Turner, Alien.
He played Baltimore police Lieutenant Al Giardello in the television series Homicide: Life on the Street.
Kotto got his start in acting on Broadway, where he appeared in The Great White Hope, among other productions. His film debut was in 1963 in an uncredited role in 4 For Texas, but his first big break came in Nothing But a Man in 1964. He also starred as an auto worker alongside Richard Pryor and Harvey Keitel in the commercial failure but cult favourite, Blue Collar. Kotto landed the role of the James Bond villain Mr. Big in Live and Let Die. Kotto also starred in Across 110th Street, Truck Turner, Alien.
He played Baltimore police Lieutenant Al Giardello in the television series Homicide: Life on the Street.
Have you seen Truck Turner? Jesus man, Yaphet Kotto was insane in that jawn! Now I get why those stupid emo kids say "Yaphet Kotto fucking crazy!"
by Shawn Jackson May 24, 2006
Adverbial modifier, used especially before the phrase fucking crazy to raise it to the highest level of superlative.
by Oliver Levy March 31, 2006