(November 15, 1939–March 15, 2021): American character actor who portrayed the villainous alter egos Dr. Kananga and Mr. Big in Live and Let Die.

A native of New York City, Kotto made his credited big-screen debut as Jocko in director Michael Roemer’s romantic drama Nothing but a Man (1964), which also featured his Live and Let Die costar Julius Harris. Kotto’s additional feature film credits include The Thomas Crown Affair (1968); The Liberation of L.B. Jones (1970); Bone (1972); Friday Foster (1975); Alien (1979); Brubaker (1980), as convict Richard “Dickie” Coombes; The Running Man (1987); Midnight Run (1988), as no-nonsense FBI agent Alonzo Mosely; and Witless Protection (2008). He also starred as Lieutenant Al “Gee” Giardello in the critically acclaimed cop drama Homicide: Life on the Street (118 episodes, 1993–1999).