Tuesday, March 16, 2021

FAREWELL, YAPHET KOTTO...

 

You brought a distinguishing essence to every role you tackled, and the productions in which you starred were generally big, if not classic.

There's Alien, of course, and Roger Moore's first bond outing, Live and Let Die

You also stole the scenery in the Puppet Masters; the Running ManWhisper to a Screamthe Liberation of L.B. JonesShark's Treasurethe Star Chamber; Trip WireBonethe Thomas Crown Affair '68; Raid on EntebbeBlue CollarBrubakerFighting Back; Terminal EntryExtreme JusticeAcross 110th StreetDrumFriday Fosterthe Monkey HustleBadge of the AssassinWarning SignMan and BoyPretty KillTruck TurnerMidnight RunWitness ProtectionChrome SoldiersAfter the ShockEye of the TigerTwo if By Sea4 for Texas; the Jigsaw MurdersTerror in the Aisles; and the Elm Street "finale" that really wasn't, Freddy's Dead: the Final Nightmare; plus such fine series as Homicide: Life on the Street (as ongoing character, Lt. Al Giardello); Alfred Hitchcock PresentsSeaquest DSVRootsthe A-TeamMannixMurder She Wrote; Daniel Boone; the High Chaparral; the Big Valley, Gunsmoke; and Bonanza. 

For me, however, your best performance (and this is saying a lot, considering your outstanding queue) is from Rod Serling's Night Gallery, in the scribe's celebrated, Edward G. Robinson-helmed episode, "The Messiah on Mott Street": a holiday entry that's worth watching any time of the year to renew one's conviction in magic, goodness and humanity.

I'll miss you, Mr. Kotto, but so will millions of others. You were a gold-standard performer and will always remain an icon to generations past, present and yet to come. 

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