Gregory Sierra
Born: 1937-01-25 in New York City, New York, USA
Died: 2021-01-04
Known For: Acting
Biography
Gregory Sierra (January 25, 1937 – January 4, 2021) was a distinguished American actor, celebrated for his versatility and powerful presence on both television and film. Born on January 25, 1937, in New York City's Spanish Harlem, Sierra was of Puerto Rican descent and faced a challenging upbringing after being abandoned by his parents and raised by an aunt. Despite his early hardships, he found a path to acting after impressing at an impromptu audition for an acting school in Manhattan. Sierra's career began on stage, notably with the National Shakespeare Company and performances at the New York Shakespeare Festival. He transitioned to television in the late 1960s and quickly became a familiar face, first gaining major attention as Julio Fuentes, the memorable Puerto Rican neighbor on Sanford and Son, and then as Detective Sergeant Chano Amengual on Barney Miller—two roles that remain among his most enduring contributions to classic TV. Sierra's roster of work included appearances on The Flying Nun, Soap, Miami Vice, Hill Street Blues, Zorro and Son, and scores of guest roles on popular series such as All in the Family, The X-Files, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. His film credits span genres and decades, featuring roles in Beneath the Planet of the Apes, Papillon, The Towering Inferno, and Deep Cover. Gregory Sierra was admired for bringing depth, nuance, and authenticity to every character he portrayed, endearing him to fans and earning the respect of peers. He passed away on January 4, 2021, in Laguna Woods, California, leaving behind a rich legacy in entertainment that spanned nearly fifty years.
Filmography
2018
- The Other Side of the Wind as Jack Simon
1998
- Vampires as Father Giovanni
- Jane Austen's Mafia! as Bonifacio
- Johnny 316 as Kareem
- The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit as Villanazul
1997
- Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction as Lyle Norman (segment "Rock & Roll Ears")
1996
- Common Law as Luis Alvarez
1994
- Ellen as General Colon
- A Low Down Dirty Shame as Captain Nunez
- 704 Hauser
1993
- The X-Files as Dr. Diamond
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as Entek
- Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman as Gen. Eli Parker
- Walker, Texas Ranger as Rafael Mendoza
- Hot Shots! Part Deux as The Captain
- Thea as Mr. Guiterrez
- Hearts of Hot Shots! Part Deux—A Filmmaker's Apology
1992
- The Golden Palace as Rubin
- Honey, I Blew Up the Kid as Terence Wheeler
- Deep Cover as Felix Barbosa
1991
- P.S. I Luv U
- FBI: The Untold Stories as Jimmy Chagra
1990
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Hector
- Shades of L.A.
- Unspeakable Acts as Frank Fuster
- Donor as Hector Aliosa
1989
- Desperado: Badlands Justice as Jesus Gutierrez
1988
- Something Is Out There as Victor Maldonado
- Something Is Out There as Victor Maldonado
- Where the Hell's That Gold?!!? as General
1987
- Her Secret Life as Vic 'The Dancer' Pena
- The Trouble with Spies as Capt. Sanchez
1986
- Blacke's Magic
- Let's Get Harry as Alphonso
1985
- MacGyver as Colonel Antunnez
- Growing Pains as Dr. Paul Ramirez
- The Ray Bradbury Theater
- Stingray as Anthony 'Tony' Mendosa
- Command 5 as Delgado
1984
- Murder, She Wrote as Sanchez
- Miami Vice as Lt. Lou Rodriguez
- Hunter as Councilman Michael Elandro
- Airwolf as Frank Ochoa
- Cover Up
- Blue Thunder as Luis Creighton Acuna
- Miami Vice: Brother's Keeper as Lt. Lou Rodriguez
1983
- Masquerade as Omani
- The Gambler: The Adventure Continues as Silvera
- Zorro and Son as Commandante Paco Pic
- The Gambler: The Adventure Continues as Silvera
- Uncommon Valor as George Callender
1982
- Cagney & Lacey as Eddie 'Cleanhead' Stutz
- Cassie & Co.
- Farrell: For the People as Det. Mike Rodriguez
1981
- Falcon Crest as FBI-Agent Taylor
- Hill Street Blues as ADA Alvarez
- Simon & Simon as Gregory Cable
- The Greatest American Hero as Sheriff Mark Vargas
- 300 Miles for Stephanie as Dr. Galfas
1980
- Magnum, P.I. as Miguel Torres
- The Night the Bridge Fell Down as Diego Ramirez
1979
- Hart to Hart as Eduardo
- The Prisoner of Zenda as Count Montparnasse
1978
- A.E.S. Hudson Street
- Evening in Byzantium as Fabricio
- Evening in Byzantium as Fabricio
- Mean Dog Blues as Jesus Gonzalez
1977
- Lou Grant as Hector
- Hunter
- The Night They Took Miss Beautiful as Omar Welk
1976
- Quincy, M.E. as Rick Durado
1975
- Barney Miller as Miguel Amenguale
- Antonio and the Mayor as Mayor Acambarros
1974
- Petrocelli as Rudolph Chavez
- The Towering Inferno as Carlos
- The Castaway Cowboy as Marruja
- Honky Tonk as Slade
- Goodnight Jackie as Paul
1973
- Police Story
- Papillon as Antonio
- Hawkins as Prosecutor Denton
- The Thief Who Came to Dinner as Dynamite Hector
- The Clones as Nemo
1972
- The Waltons as Volta
- Sanford and Son as Julio Fuentes
- The Streets of San Francisco as Patrolman Burgers
- Banacek as Norman Esposito
- Banyon as Raoul Lopaca
- Kung Fu as Zolly
- Pocket Money as Chavarin (as Gregg Sierra)
- The Wrath of God as Jurado
- The Culpepper Cattle Co. as One-Eyed Horsethief
1971
- Columbo as Lou D'Allessandro
- All in the Family as Paul Benjamin
- Alias Smith and Jones
- Red Sky at Morning as Chamaco
- Machismo: 40 Graves for 40 Guns as Lopez
1970
- McCloud
- Beneath the Planet of the Apes as Verger
- Getting Straight as Garcia
- Weekend of Terror as Police Sergeant
1969
- Medical Center as Mendez
- The Bill Cosby Show as Mr. Sierra
1968
- Hawaii Five-O as Lolo
- The Mod Squad as Zamaron
- It Takes a Thief as Fletcher
1967
- Ironside as Billy Trona
- The High Chaparral as Arrigo
- The Flying Nun as Officer Juarez
1966
- Mission: Impossible as Fernando Laroca
1955
- Gunsmoke as Blue Jacket