Along with his wife, Tessie, they operate an artists retreat resort in Southern Leyte, Philippines called "The Running Man Institute," which was founded in 2001 and is focused on working with people in the entertainment industry to build their creativity, as well as to relax and read up about holistic health.
Although he didn't enjoy filming Midnight Run, the character of Agent Alonzo Mosley remains his favorite. He later played the same role for the film Witless Protection.
Both parents are African Jews. In an interview he said being fully Black and Jewish gave other kids even more reason to pick on him growing up in New York City. However, to this day, he remains a devout, practicing Jew.
Campaigned for Steve Forbes during his bid for the Republican nomination for the Presidency in the 2000 primaries.
Has a Bay Area hardcore punk band named after him.
He is the son of a Cameroonian crown prince.
His father, Njoki Manga Bell, was the great-grandson of King Alexander Bell, who ruled the Douala region of Cameroon in the late 19th century, before the nation fell into the hands of Germany and, later, France and Britain. Fleeing the Germans, Manga Bell (who had converted to Judaism in Cameroon) emigrated to Harlem in the 1920s and changed his name to Abraham Kotto (the surname is from a relative).
His parents divorced when he was 3.
Moved from Littleton, Colorado to Canada, because he felt it would be safer to live there. Two years after moving, he saw the news coverage on Columbine, and recognized some of the kids fleeing the school.
Oldest son, Fred, is a very successful San José Police Dept. California (USA) officer.
Spends the majority of his free time living in the Philippines.
Turned down the role of Lando Calrissian in 'Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back' (1980). He feared that Lando would be killed in the movie, and that he would be forever typecast.
Within a week of the divorce from his first wife Rita, he married Antoinette Pettyjohn.
Yaphet means beautiful in Hebrew.