1978 Press Photo Yaphet Kotto African American Actor - RRW12975

This is an original press photo. Yaphet Kotto stars in Universal's "Blue Collar" as Smokey James, one of three auto workers who hatch a scheme to blackmail their union.
"Blue Collar, " A T.A.T. Communications Company Production, stars Richard Pryor, Harvey Keitel and Yaphet Kotto as Detroit area auto workers and best friends who get in over their heads in a scheme to blackmail their union. Robin French is the executive producer of the Universal release, produced by Don Guest and directed by Paul Schrader from a screenplay by Paul Schrader and Leonard Schrader.

Yaphet Frederick Kotto (born November 15, 1937) is an African-American actor, known for numerous film roles (including the sci-fi/horror film Alien and as a James Bond villain in Live and Let Die), and his starring role in the NBC television series Homicide: Life on the Street (1993-2000).

By the age of 16, he was studying acting at the Actor's Mobile Theater Studio, and at 19, he made his professional acting debut in Othello. He also was a member of the Actors Studio in New York. 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. He performed in Nothing But a Man in 1964 and played a supporting role in the 1968 caper film The Thomas Crown Affair. He played John Auston, a confused Marine Lance Corporal, in the 1968 episode "King Of The Hill" on the first season of Hawaii Five-O. In 1973 he landed the role of the James Bond villain Mr. Big in Live and Let Die, as well as roles in Across 110th Street and Truck Turner. Kotto portrayed Idi Amin in the 1977 television film Raid on Entebbe. He also starred as an auto worker in the 1978 film Blue Collar.

The following year he played Parker in the sci-fi--horror film Alien. He followed with a supporting role in the 1980 prison drama Brubaker. In 1983, he guest-starred as mobster "Charlie" in the A-Team episode "The Out-of-Towners". In 1987, he appeared in the futuristic sci-fi movie The Running Man and in the 1988 action-comedy Midnight Run, in which he portrayed Alonzo Mosely, an FBI agent.

He played Lieutenant Al Giardello in the television series Homicide: Life on the Street.

He has written two books: Royalty, and The Second Coming of Christ, and also wrote scripts for Homicide: Life on the Street.Photo measures 8 x 10inches. Photo is dated 03-03-1978.