Gregory Sierra facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gregory Sierra
Sierra in 1975
Born	(1937-01-25)January 25, 1937 New York City, U.S.
Died	January 4, 2021(2021-01-04) (aged 83) Laguna Woods, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1969–2018
Spouse(s)	Eileen Defelitta ​ ​ (m. 1969; div. 1972)​ Susan Pollock ​ ​ (m. 1976; died 1978)​ Helen Tabor

Gregory Joseph Sierra (born January 25, 1937 – died January 4, 2021) was an American actor. He was well-known for his roles in popular TV shows. These included Detective Sergeant Chano Amengual on Barney Miller. He also played Julio Fuentes, the Puerto Rican neighbor of Fred G. Sanford on Sanford and Son. Another notable role was Marruja in the movie The Castaway Cowboy (1974).

Early Life and Start in Acting

Gregory Joseph Sierra was born in Manhattan, New York, on January 25, 1937. He grew up in Spanish Harlem. His aunt raised him there.

After serving in the Air Force, Sierra went with a friend to an acting school audition. He was only there to support his friend. However, after trying some improvisation, he was accepted into the school instead!

Acting Career Highlights

Sierra started his acting journey on stage. He toured with the National Shakespeare Company. In 1967, he performed in King John at the New York Shakespeare Festival. Later, in the late 1960s, he moved to Los Angeles. There, he began working in movies and television.

Early Film and TV Roles

Sierra appeared in several films. These included Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) and Papillon (1973). He was also in The Towering Inferno (1974) and The Prisoner of Zenda (1979).

In 1973, Sierra guest-starred in an episode of All in the Family. He played Paul Benjamin, a Jewish activist. His character helped fight against hate groups in the neighborhood.

Famous TV Roles

From 1972 to 1975, he had a recurring role on Sanford and Son. He played Julio Fuentes, a Puerto Rican neighbor. After that, he joined the cast of Barney Miller for two years. He was Detective Sergeant Chano Amengual in this show.

In 1980 and 1981, he played Carlos "El Puerco" Valdez. This was a Latin American revolutionary character on the show Soap.

In 1984, he was cast in Miami Vice as Lieutenant Lou Rodriguez. He left the show after four episodes. He didn't want to live in Miami, where the show was filmed. Edward James Olmos later replaced him. Sierra also had regular roles in Zorro and Son (1983) and Something is Out There (1988–1989).

He also appeared in the movie Hot Shots! Part Deux as an Iraqi patrol boat captain. In 1998, he played Villanazul in The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit. He was also Corbin Entek in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Second Skin".

Sierra's television appearances included many other popular shows. Some of these were Mod Squad, Kung Fu, Hawaii Five-O, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He also appeared in The X-Files and Murder, She Wrote.

Personal Life and Passing

Gregory Sierra was of Puerto Rican descent. He was married to Eileen Defelitta from 1969 to 1972. In 1976, he married Susan Pollock, who passed away in 1978. He later lived in Laguna Woods, California, with his wife, Helen Tabor.

Gregory Sierra passed away on January 4, 2021. He was almost 84 years old. He had been battling stomach and liver cancer for a long time.

Filmography

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Gregory Sierra para niños