Gregory Sierra
Born January 25, 1937 (Age: 89)
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New 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.
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.
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Filmography
Vampires
1998
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as Father Giovanni
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Age: 61
Jane Austen's Mafia!
1998
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as Bonifacio
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Age: 61
Johnny 316
1998
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as Kareem
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Age: 61
The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit
1998
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as Villanazul
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Age: 60
A Low Down Dirty Shame
1994
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as Captain Nunez
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Age: 57
Hot Shots! Part Deux
1993
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as The Captain
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Age: 56
Hearts of Hot Shots! Part Deux—A Filmmaker's Apology
1993
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as
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Age: 56
Honey, I Blew Up the Kid
1992
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as Terence Wheeler
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Age: 55
Deep Cover
1992
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as Felix Barbosa
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Age: 55
Donor
1990
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as Hector Aliosa
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Age: 53
Unspeakable Acts
1990
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as Frank Fuster
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Age: 52
Desperado: Badlands Justice
1989
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as Jesus Gutierrez
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Age: 52
Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?
1988
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as General
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Age: 51
The Trouble with Spies
1987
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as
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Age: 50
Her Secret Life
1987
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as Vic 'The Dancer' Pena
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Age: 50
Command 5
1985
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as Delgado
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Age: 48
Stingray
1985
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as Anthony 'Tony' Mendosa
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Age: 48
300 Miles for Stephanie
1981
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as Dr. Galfas
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Age: 43
The Night the Bridge Fell Down
1980
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as Diego Ramirez
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Age: 43
The Prisoner of Zenda
1979
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as Count Montparnasse
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Age: 42
Evening in Byzantium
1978
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as Fabricio
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Age: 41
Mean Dog Blues
1978
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as Jesus Gonzalez
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Age: 41
No Image
Antonio and the Mayor
1975
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as Mayor Acambarros
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Age: 38
The Towering Inferno
1974
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as Carlos
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Age: 37
The Castaway Cowboy
1974
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as Marruja
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Age: 37
Honky Tonk
1974
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as Slade
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Age: 37
No Image
Goodnight Jackie
1974
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as Paul
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Age: 37
Papillon
1973
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as Antonio
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Age: 36
The Clones
1973
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as Nemo
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Age: 36
The Thief Who Came to Dinner
1973
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as Dynamite Hector
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Age: 36
The Wrath of God
1972
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as Jurado
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Age: 35
The Culpepper Cattle Co.
1972
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as One-Eyed Horsethief
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Age: 35
Pocket Money
1972
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as Chavarin (as Gregg Sierra)
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Age: 35
Getting Straight
1970
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as Garcia
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Age: 33
Beneath the Planet of the Apes
1970
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as Verger
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Age: 33