Erik Estrada facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Erik Estrada
Estrada at the Paradise City Comic Con in 2018
Born	Henry Enrique Estrada (1949-03-16) March 16, 1949 (age 76) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1970–present
Spouse(s)	Joyce Miller ​ ​ (m. 1979; div. 1980)​ Peggy Rowe ​ ​ (m. 1985; div. 1990)​ Nanette Mirkovich ​ (m. 1997)​
Children	3

Henry Enrique Estrada (born March 16, 1949) is an American actor famous for his role as a police officer on TV. He is best known for playing Officer Francis "Ponch" Poncherello in the popular police drama series CHiPs from 1977 to 1983.

Later in his career, Estrada became a star in Spanish-language soap operas called telenovelas. He has also appeared on many reality TV shows and is known for his voice work on the animated series Sealab 2021.

Early Life and First Steps in Acting

Estrada was born in the East Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. His parents were Carmen Moreno, a seamstress, and Renildo Estrada. He is of Puerto Rican heritage.

When he was young, Estrada thought about becoming a police officer. However, he discovered a love for acting when he joined the drama club in high school. This new passion set him on the path to Hollywood.

Career Highlights

From Early Films to CHiPs Fame

Estrada's acting career began in 1970. His first movie was The Cross and the Switchblade. He then had small roles in movies like The New Centurions and Airport 1975. In Airport 1975, he played a flight engineer on a Boeing 747 jet.

Estrada and Larry Wilcox on CHiPs in 1977.

In 1977, Estrada landed his most famous role as Officer Frank "Ponch" Poncherello in the TV series CHiPs. The show was about two California Highway Patrol motorcycle officers. It became a huge hit and made Estrada a star.

While filming CHiPs in 1979, Estrada was seriously hurt in a motorcycle accident on set. He broke both of his wrists and several ribs but recovered and returned to the show.

After a disagreement over his salary in 1981, Estrada briefly left the show. He was replaced for a few episodes by actor Bruce Jenner. Estrada soon returned, and CHiPs continued until it was canceled in 1983.

A Star in Telenovelas and Music Videos

In the 1990s, Estrada starred in a Mexican telenovela called Dos mujeres, un camino ("Two Women, One Path"). He played a truck driver named Johnny. The show was so popular that it ran for over 200 episodes and became one of the most successful telenovelas in Latin American history.

Estrada also appeared in music videos for bands like Bad Religion and the Butthole Surfers. In 1997, he wrote a book about his life called Erik Estrada: My Road from Harlem to Hollywood. A year later, he returned to his famous role in the TV movie CHiPs '99.

Recent Work and Voice Acting

Since 2000, Estrada has stayed busy with many different projects. He has done voice acting for animated shows like Sealab 2021 and Maya & Miguel. He also made guest appearances on popular kids' shows like Lizzie McGuire and Drake & Josh.

Estrada has appeared on several reality TV shows, including The Surreal Life and Armed & Famous. In 2011, he competed on the Spanish-language dancing show Mira Quien Baila, where he finished in third place.

He has also used his fame to help others. He starred in the 2013 movie Finding Faith, which teaches families about the dangers of the internet and how to stay safe online.

Working with Law Enforcement

Inspired by his role on CHiPs and his childhood dream, Estrada has worked as a real-life police officer. In 2007, he became a reserve officer for the police department in Muncie, Indiana.

Later, he worked for eight years as an investigator for Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) in Virginia. In 2016, he became a reserve police officer in St. Anthony, Idaho. He helps keep the community safe and has even been seen patrolling on a police motorcycle, just like his character "Ponch."

Personal Life

Erik Estrada has been married three times. He has two sons, Anthony and Brandon, and one daughter, Francesca. He currently lives in Los Angeles, California.

Filmography

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Erik Estrada para niños