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Yaphet Frederick Kotto (born November 15, 1937) is an African-American actor, known for numerous film roles (including the science-fiction/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). He is also a music producer who is apart of Legendary Inc. Founded by Young L of The Pack. Kotto was born in New York City, the son of Gladys Marie, a nurse and army officer, and Avraham Kotto (originally named Njoki Manga Bell), a businessman from Cameroon. In his autobiography titled Royalty,... MORE

Yaphet Frederick Kotto (born November 15, 1937) is an African-American actor, known for numerous film roles (including the science-fiction/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). He is also a music producer who is apart of Legendary Inc. Founded by Young L of The Pack. Kotto was born in New York City, the son of Gladys Marie, a nurse and army officer, and Avraham Kotto (originally named Njoki Manga Bell), a businessman from Cameroon. In his autobiography titled Royalty, Kotto writes that his father was "the crown prince of Cameroon". Kotto stated that he found out that his family was royal in adult life while studying his family's lineage, and also stated that he is a descendant of Queen Victoria. Kotto's father, who immigrated to the U.S. in the 1920s, was, according to Kotto, an observant Jew who spoke Hebrew, and Kotto's mother reportedly converted to Judaism before marrying his father. Kotto also stated that his great-grandfather King Alexander Bell ruled the Douala region of Cameroon in the late 19th century and was also a practicing Jew. Kotto has said that LESS