
Gregory Sierra
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.
Known For
Credits
- 2018 · The Other Side of the Wind as Jack Simon
- 1998 · Vampires as Father Giovanni
- 1998 · Jane Austen's Mafia! as Bonifacio
- 1998 · Johnny 316 as Kareem
- 1998 · 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 · A Low Down Dirty Shame as Captain Nunez
- 1994 · 704 Hauser as
- 1994 · Ellen as General Colon
- 1993 · The X-Files as Dr. Diamond
- 1993 · Thea as Mr. Guiterrez
- 1993 · Hot Shots! Part Deux as The Captain
- 1993 · Hearts of Hot Shots! Part Deux—A Filmmaker's Apology as
- 1993 · Walker, Texas Ranger as Rafael Mendoza
- 1993 · Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as Entek
- 1993 · Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman as Gen. Eli Parker
- 1992 · The Golden Palace as Rubin
- 1992 · Honey, I Blew Up the Kid as Terence Wheeler
- 1992 · Deep Cover as Felix Barbosa
- 1991 · FBI: The Untold Stories as Jimmy Chagra
- 1991 · P.S. I Luv U as
- 1990 · Donor as Hector Aliosa
- 1990 · Shades of L.A. as
- 1990 · The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Hector
- 1990 · Unspeakable Acts as Frank Fuster
- 1989 · Desperado: Badlands Justice as Jesus Gutierrez
- 1988 · Where the Hell's That Gold?!!? as General
- 1988 · Something Is Out There as Victor Maldonado
- 1988 · Something Is Out There as Victor Maldonado
- 1987 · The Trouble with Spies as
- 1987 · Her Secret Life as Vic 'The Dancer' Pena
- 1986 · Let's Get Harry as Alphonso
- 1986 · Blacke's Magic as
- 1985 · MacGyver as Colonel Antunnez
- 1985 · MacGyver as General Antonio Vasquez
- 1985 · MacGyver as Captain Diaz
- 1985 · Growing Pains as Dr. Paul Ramirez
- 1985 · Command 5 as Delgado
- 1985 · Stingray as Anthony 'Tony' Mendosa
- 1985 · The Ray Bradbury Theater as
- 1984 · Murder, She Wrote as Sanchez
- 1984 · Murder, She Wrote as Ramon
- 1984 · Murder, She Wrote as Moreno
- 1984 · Murder, She Wrote as Lieutenant Gabriel Caceras
- 1984 · Cover Up as
- 1984 · Hunter as Councilman Michael Elandro
- 1984 · Miami Vice as Lt. Lou Rodriguez
- 1984 · Miami Vice: Brother's Keeper as Lt. Lou Rodriguez
- 1984 · Airwolf as Frank Ochoa
- 1984 · Blue Thunder as Luis Creighton Acuna
- 1983 · Masquerade as Omani
- 1983 · The Gambler: The Adventure Continues as Silvera
- 1983 · The Gambler: The Adventure Continues as Silvera
- 1983 · Zorro and Son as Commandante Paco Pic
- 1983 · Uncommon Valor as George Callender
- 1982 · Farrell: For the People as Det. Mike Rodriguez
- 1982 · Cagney & Lacey as
- 1982 · Cassie & Co. as
- 1981 · Falcon Crest as FBI-Agent Taylor
- 1981 · Simon & Simon as Gregory Cable
- 1981 · Simon & Simon as Raul Gutierrez
- 1981 · The Greatest American Hero as Sheriff Mark Vargas
- 1981 · Hill Street Blues as ADA Alvarez
- 1981 · Hill Street Blues as ADA Alvarez (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1981 · 300 Miles for Stephanie as Dr. Galfas
- 1980 · Magnum, P.I. as Miguel Torres
- 1980 · The Night the Bridge Fell Down as Diego Ramirez
- 1979 · Hart to Hart as Eduardo
- 1979 · Hart to Hart as Howard Castle
- 1979 · The Prisoner of Zenda as Count Montparnasse
- 1978 · Evening in Byzantium as Fabricio
- 1978 · A.E.S. Hudson Street as
- 1978 · Mean Dog Blues as Jesus Gonzalez
- 1977 · The Night They Took Miss Beautiful as Omar Welk
- 1977 · Lou Grant as Hector
- 1977 · Hunter as
- 1976 · Quincy, M.E. as Rick Durado
- 1975 · Antonio and the Mayor as Mayor Acambarros
- 1975 · Barney Miller as Miguel Amenguale
- 1974 · The Towering Inferno as Carlos
- 1974 · Petrocelli as Rudolph Chavez
- 1974 · The Castaway Cowboy as Marruja
- 1974 · Honky Tonk as Slade
- 1974 · Goodnight Jackie as Paul
- 1973 · Papillon as Antonio
- 1973 · The Clones as Nemo
- 1973 · Police Story as
- 1973 · Hawkins as Prosecutor Denton
- 1973 · The Thief Who Came to Dinner as Dynamite Hector
- 1972 · Kung Fu as Zolly
- 1972 · The Streets of San Francisco as Patrolman Burgers
- 1972 · Banyon as Raoul Lopaca
- 1972 · The Waltons as Volta
- 1972 · Banacek as Norman Esposito
- 1972 · The Wrath of God as Jurado
- 1972 · The Culpepper Cattle Co. as One-Eyed Horsethief
- 1972 · Pocket Money as Chavarin (as Gregg Sierra)
- 1972 · Sanford and Son as Julio Fuentes
- 1971 · Columbo as Lou D'Allessandro
- 1971 · Machismo: 40 Graves for 40 Guns as Lopez
- 1971 · Red Sky at Morning as Chamaco
- 1971 · All in the Family as Paul Benjamin
- 1971 · Alias Smith and Jones as
- 1970 · Weekend of Terror as Police Sergeant
- 1970 · Getting Straight as Garcia
- 1970 · Beneath the Planet of the Apes as Verger
- 1970 · McCloud as
- 1969 · Medical Center as Mendez
- 1969 · The Bill Cosby Show as Mr. Sierra
- 1968 · The Mod Squad as Zamaron
- 1968 · Hawaii Five-O as Lolo
- 1968 · It Takes a Thief as Fletcher
- 1967 · The High Chaparral as Arrigo
- 1967 · The Flying Nun as Officer Juarez
- 1967 · Ironside as Billy Trona
- 1966 · Mission: Impossible as Fernando Laroca
- 1966 · Mission: Impossible as Gomal
- 1966 · Mission: Impossible as Prado's butler
- 1955 · Gunsmoke as Blue Jacket
- 1955 · Gunsmoke as Osuna