Yaphet Kotto (born November 15, 1939, died March 15, 2021) was an American actor best known for memorable roles in live action and voice acting. Notable performances include Detective Al Giardello in the NBC police drama Homicide: Life on the Street, Lieutenant Al Rossi in Blue Thunder, and Parker in Alien. Kotto’s contributions to cinema also included memorable turns as Henry Mosely in The Running Man, as the voice of 29th century warlord Krang in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and as the space pirate bomber Mr. Big in Red Planet. In addition to acting, Kotto was a trained wildlife photographer, an accomplished blues guitarist, and an author. His books included his autobiography, The Royalty. Kotto passed away in early 2021, at the age of 81. He will be remembered for his wit, charm, and his immense talent in the field of acting.