Gregory Sierra (1937-2021)

[Zoneboy]

https://deadline.com/2021/01/gregory...ry-1234678754/


Gregory Sierra, who was a key part of two major 1970s sitcoms as Julio Fuentes on Sanford and Son and Sgt. Miguel “Chano” Amenguale on Barney Miller, has died. He was 83.

Sierra died Jan. 4 in Laguna Woods, California, from cancer, according to a family spokesman. His death just became public today.

Born in New York’s Spanish Harlem, Sierra worked with the National Shakespeare Company and in the New York Shakespeare Festival. He also appeared in off-Broadway plays and was a standby on Broadway for The Ninety Day Mistress in 1967.

Moving to Los Angeles, Sierra had guest appearances on such shows as It Takes a Thief, Medical Center, The High Chaparral, Mod Squad, The Flying Nun and Kung Fu.


In 1972, he was cast as Julio, the sidekick to crotchety junkyard entrepreneur Fred Sanford, He was introduced in the second season episode, “The Puerto Ricans Are Coming.” The show, developed by All in the Family creators Bud Yorkin and Norman Lear, led to another memorable appearance in one of their vehicles, as Sierra played a radical Jewish vigilante in the episode “Archie is Branded” in 1973.

The versatile Sierra also was tapped later to portray Carlos “El Puerco” Valdez, a Malaguayan counter-revolutionist who kidnaps Jessica (Katherine Helmond) on ABC’s Soap.

After Sanford and Son, Sierra struck comedy gold again, appearing in 1975 as one of the original New York detectives in Barney Miller. Sierra played Chano on the show.

Sierra left Barney Miller at the end of the second season, moving over to another sitcom helmed by Barney Miller creator Danny Arnold. A.E.S. Hudson Street was set in a New York emergency room, but ended after just six episodes.

Sierra’s career continued as a recurring character on such shows as Hill Street Blues, Zorro and Son, Miami Vice and Murder, She Wrote, among many others.

Continuing his steady career, Sierra also appeared in the film The Trouble With Spies (1987), Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992), Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993), A Low Down Dirty Shame (1994), Vampires (1998) and Mafia! (1998).

He is survived by his wife, Helene. No memorial plans have been announced.

[TVLegend]

RIP. I enjoyed you as Chano on Barney Miller and Julio on Sanford and Son.

[Bonniegirl]

Oh no ! Wow!! Shocking ! Very sad to hear this ! May he rest in peace !

[OH Nuts!]

So sorry to hear this. May he R.I.P.

[ABlairican Pie]

He was a distinctive character. In addition to 'Sanford And Son' and 'Soap', I remember him from the vampire movie, ahh, now I can't remember the name of it, with Selma Hayek. 'Desperado'? But he played the priest. So I remembered that.

[Bonniegirl]

He was also great in a role playing a Gypsy in a season 1 Walton's episode !

[bmasters9]

And just three weeks short of his 84th too-- what a blow!

[king of comedy]

R.I.P. Gregory

[Old School]

IMDB https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0797268/

LA Times https://www.latimes.com/world-nation...ry-sierra-dies

Gregory Sierra, who had memorable roles in the 1970s sitcoms “Barney Miller” and “Sanford and Son,” has died after battling cancer. He was 83.
Sierra’s widow, Helene, said Saturday in a phone interview with the Associated Press that the actor died on Jan. 4 in Laguna Woods.

Sierra’s breakthrough came in 1972 when he played the role of Fred G. Sanford’s neighbor, Julio Fuentes, on “Sanford and Son.” He also earned major attention for playing Sgt. Miguel “Chano” Amanguale on “Barney Miller,” which launched in 1975.

“He was an amazing human being, different than any other person, male or female, that I have ever known,” Helene told the Associated Press. “He just was extremely intelligent and a brilliant actor. He had a heart [of gold]. Anytime that somebody needed something, he would be there for them and he defended the underdog anytime. And he was a very charming man. He was truly a man’s man and women fell in love with him all the time.”

Sierra, who was of Puerto Rican descent, was born on Jan. 25, 1937 in New York City. His other TV credits include “All in the Family,” “Soap,” “Miami Vice,” “Zorro and Son,” “Hawaii Five-O,” “Hill Street Blues” and more. He also appeared in films such as “Beneath the Planet of the Apes,” “Papillon,” “The Towering Inferno,” “Honey I Blew Up the Kid” and “The Other Side of the Wind,” which was released in 2018 after more than 40 years in development.

In addition to Helene, Sierra is survived by daughters Kelly and Jill and granddaughter Emma.

[RetroGuy2000]

There is already a thread about Mr. Sierra's sad passing on the General Sitcoms News and Discussion forum (this forum).

[Old School]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

There is already a thread about Mr. Sierra's sad passing on the General Sitcoms News and Discussion forum (this forum).

I scanned this forum before I made my thread. I must have overlooked it while scanning for it. Perhaps the forum mod could merge my thread with the original thread. All the best.

[Fallon97]

Such sad news. I enjoyed many of his projects, but my favorite was Julio from "Sanford and Son." Prayers to the love ones. RIP

[Dude111]

Another sad one....Alot are leaving

[dee2364]

Great actor, but he was soooo typecast! I've never seen an actor so badly typecast. It's why my most favorite role and memorable role was on The Towering Inferno. That's one of the few roles he ever played where he wasn't the resident "cool/smart aleck latino guy."