Gregory Sierra

Acting • Born 1937-01-25 – Died 2021-01-04

Acting1New York City, New York, USA

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

121 credits

Hearts of Hot Shots! Part Deux—A Filmmaker's Apology

Movie • 1993

The Prisoner of Zenda

Movie • 1979

Count Montparnasse

Papillon

Movie • 1973

Antonio

A Low Down Dirty Shame

Movie • 1994

Captain Nunez

Command 5

Movie • 1985

Delgado

Hot Shots! Part Deux

Movie • 1993

The Captain

The Clones

Movie • 1973

Nemo

Mean Dog Blues

Movie • 1978

Jesus Gonzalez

Machismo: 40 Graves for 40 Guns

Movie • 1971

Lopez

The Night the Bridge Fell Down

Movie • 1980

Diego Ramirez

Goodnight Jackie

Movie • 1974

Paul

The Gambler: The Adventure Continues

Movie • 1983

Silvera

Vampires

Movie • 1998

Father Giovanni

Jane Austen's Mafia!

Movie • 1998

Bonifacio

The Other Side of the Wind

Movie • 2018

Jack Simon

Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?

Movie • 1988

General

Beneath the Planet of the Apes

Movie • 1970

Verger

The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit

Movie • 1998

Villanazul

The Trouble with Spies

Movie • 1987

Deep Cover

Movie • 1992

Felix Barbosa

The Thief Who Came to Dinner

Movie • 1973

Dynamite Hector

Getting Straight

Movie • 1970

Garcia

Uncommon Valor

Movie • 1983

George Callender

Red Sky at Morning

Movie • 1971

Chamaco

Stingray

Movie • 1985

Anthony 'Tony' Mendosa

Miami Vice: Brother's Keeper

Movie • 1984

Lt. Lou Rodriguez

Weekend of Terror

Movie • 1970

Police Sergeant

The Towering Inferno

Movie • 1974

Carlos

The Wrath of God

Movie • 1972

Jurado

The Culpepper Cattle Co.

Movie • 1972

One-Eyed Horsethief

Pocket Money

Movie • 1972

Chavarin (as Gregg Sierra)

Desperado: Badlands Justice

Movie • 1989

Jesus Gutierrez

Johnny 316

Movie • 1998

Kareem

300 Miles for Stephanie

Movie • 1981

Dr. Galfas

Honey, I Blew Up the Kid

Movie • 1992

Terence Wheeler

Donor

Movie • 1990

Hector Aliosa

The Night They Took Miss Beautiful

Movie • 1977

Omar Welk

The Castaway Cowboy

Movie • 1974

Marruja

Let's Get Harry

Movie • 1986

Alphonso

Her Secret Life

Movie • 1987

Vic 'The Dancer' Pena

Farrell: For the People

Movie • 1982

Det. Mike Rodriguez

Evening in Byzantium

Movie • 1978

Fabricio

Honky Tonk

Movie • 1974

Slade

Unspeakable Acts

Movie • 1990

Frank Fuster

Antonio and the Mayor

Movie • 1975

Mayor Acambarros

Growing Pains

TV • 1985

Dr. Paul Ramirez

Murder, She Wrote

TV • 1984

Sanchez

Magnum, P.I.

TV • 1980

Miguel Torres

Columbo

TV • 1971

Lou D'Allessandro

Ellen

TV • 1994

General Colon

Kung Fu

TV • 1972

Zolly

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

TV • 1990

Hector

Airwolf

TV • 1984

Frank Ochoa

Hawaii Five-O

TV • 1968

Lolo

All in the Family

TV • 1971

Paul Benjamin

Quincy, M.E.

TV • 1976

Rick Durado

The Streets of San Francisco

TV • 1972

Patrolman Burgers

Gunsmoke

TV • 1955

Blue Jacket

Barney Miller

TV • 1975

Miguel Amenguale

Hawkins

TV • 1973

Prosecutor Denton

Alias Smith and Jones

TV • 1971

Walker, Texas Ranger

TV • 1993

Rafael Mendoza

Sanford and Son

TV • 1972

Julio Fuentes

MacGyver

TV • 1985

Colonel Antunnez

The Mod Squad

TV • 1968

Zamaron

The Golden Palace

TV • 1992

Rubin

Cagney & Lacey

TV • 1982

Eddie 'Cleanhead' Stutz

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

TV • 1993

Gen. Eli Parker

Mission: Impossible

TV • 1966

Fernando Laroca

Zorro and Son

TV • 1983

Commandante Paco Pic

704 Hauser

TV • 1994

Cover Up

TV • 1984

A.E.S. Hudson Street

TV • 1978

Hunter

TV • 1984

Councilman Michael Elandro

The Waltons

TV • 1972

Volta

Thea

TV • 1993

Mr. Guiterrez

Police Story

TV • 1973

The High Chaparral

TV • 1967

Arrigo

McCloud

TV • 1970

Blue Thunder

TV • 1984

Luis Creighton Acuna

P.S. I Luv U

TV • 1991

Something Is Out There

TV • 1988

Victor Maldonado

Common Law

TV • 1996

Luis Alvarez

Blacke's Magic

TV • 1986

Shades of L.A.

TV • 1990

Hunter

TV • 1977

Falcon Crest

TV • 1981

FBI-Agent Taylor

The Ray Bradbury Theater

TV • 1985

Masquerade

TV • 1983

Omani

Miami Vice

TV • 1984

Lt. Lou Rodriguez