Yaphet Kotto
Posted by Jared
Truck Turner (1974)
Jonathan Kaplan
Across 110th Street (1972)
Barry Shear
viewed 02.23.06
From the pimped out Harvard Blue to Lt. Pope (actually the other way around, but I'm trying to invent a progression). If you know Yaphet Kotto it's probably as the intimidating Lt. Al Giardello on the acclaimed TV series Homicide. Here you get to see him do battle with a Shaft-like Isaac Hayes.
It's sad to see a good actor slumming in exploitation films, forced to play second fiddle to the brutal acting of a famous musician . At least in 110th Street, a heavy-handed, blood fest about social equality, he gets Anthony Quinn.
P.S. While looking for mp3's of a hardcore punk band named after Kotto I stumbled upon this amazing single recorded by the real Yaphet Kotto in 1968, "Have You Dug His Scene?" Well have you?