It is with deep sadness that we share the news that actor Yaphet Kotto has passed away at the age of 81.
Multiple sources, including USA Today, have reported the somber news of Yaphet's passing. The cause of death has not been made public at this time.
Yaphet's wife, Tessie Sinahon, made the announcement on Monday in a Facebook post that included the following: "I'm saddened and still in shocked of the passing of my husband Yaphet of 24 years. He died last night around 10:30pm Philippine time. This is a very painfall moment for me to inform you all fans, friends and family of my husband."
Horror and sci-fi fans will forever remember Kotto for his role in Ridley Scott's Alien as Parker, the chief engineer aboard the Nostromo. Along with co-star Harry Dean Stanton, Kotto helped bring a real sense of empathy to the Nostromo crew as a relatable character who just wants to get the ship home safely in one piece, and will do anything to protect his fellow crew members in the process (Kotto also reprised his role as Parker in a DLC for the 2014 video game Alien: Isolation).
Kotto's big screen legacy also includes his role as the villainous Dr. Kananga / Mr. Big in the 1973 James Bond movie Live and Let Die and his portrayal of Al Giardello in the TV series Homicide: Life on the Street.
In addition to Alien, Kotto brought many other characters to life in the horror and sci-fi genres, including Ressler in The Puppet Masters, Doc in Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare, and William Laughlin in The Running Man.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kotto was approached to play Lando Calrissian in The Empire Strikes Back and Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and although he passed on both iconic characters, the fact that he was considered for each one's portrayal speaks volumes about his respected reputation in the film and TV industry.
Kotto left an undeniable imprint on cinema that will live on to inspire and enlighten future generations of actors and viewers alike. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.
Raised on a steady diet of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Derek has been fascinated with fear since he first saw ForeverWare being used on an episode of Eerie, Indiana.
When he’s not writing about horror as the Senior News Reporter for Daily Dead, Derek can be found daydreaming about the Santa Carla Boardwalk from The Lost Boys or reading Stephen King and Brian Keene novels.
Daily Dead's Official Podcast! Daily Dead's Official Podcast!
