Kotto as Dr Kananga giving Roger Moore's James Bond a grilling in Live and Let Die

Gulf Today Report

Yaphet Kotto, a versatile actor whose many roles included the wisecracking engineer in the hit science-fiction film “Alien,” the villainous adversary in the James Bond movie “Live and Let Die” and a police lieutenant on the long-running television series “Homicide: Life on the Street,” died on Monday near Manila. He was 81.

Kotto played the role of Dr Kanaga, a.k.a Mr Big, in the film that stars Roger Moore as Agent 007 and Jane Seymour as Solitaire, Kananga's psychic and Bond's love interest.

The news of his demise was announced by Kotto's wife, Sinahon Thessa.

"I'm saddened and still in shocked of the passing of my husband Yaphet of 24 years. This is a very painful moment for me to inform you all fans, friends and family of my husband. You still have plan to release your book and build a religious organisation based on Yogananda's Teachings. You played a villain on some of your movies but for me you're a real hero and to a lot of people also," Thessa wrote on Facebook.

Yaphet Kotto had a varied career in film and TV.

She went on to say: "A good man, a good father, a good husband and a decent human being, very rare to find. One of the best actors in Hollywood a Legend. Rest in Peace Honey, I'm gonna miss you everyday, my best friend, my rock. I love you and you will always be in my heart. Till we meet again."

Kotto died in the Philippines but the cause of death is yet unknown. He was married thrice and is survived by six children.

Besides "Live And Let Die", Kotto has also been part of films such as Ridley Scott's 1979 cult hit "Alien", and films like "The Running Man" and "Midnight Run" in the eighties.

The late actor received an Emmy nomination for playing former Ugandan President Idi Amin in the 1977 film "Raid On Entebbe".