Gregory Sierra, who played major supporting roles in classic 1970s sitcoms including Sanford And Son and Barney Miller, has died at the age of 83.
The New York City-born actor died on January 4, but a spokesperson for his family didn’t share the news until Friday via Deadline.
He died of cancer in Laguna Woods, California, his family revealed.
Television star: Gregory Sierra, best known as a regular at Sanford And Son and Barney Miller in the 1970s, died in Laguna Woods, California, on January 4 of cancer at the age of 84
In 1972, Sierra started one of his most popular roles as Julio Fuentes on the sitcom Sanford And Son, starring Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson as the title characters.
His character Julio, a New York-born Puerto Rican, moves alongside Fred and Lamont Sanford in the show’s second season.
Julio had an often troubled relationship with Foxx’s bigoted protagonist, who repeatedly told him to go back to Puerto Rico, though Lamont often tried to smooth out their differences.
In 1975, Sierra joined the police comedy Barney Miller as Sgt. Miguel ‘Chano’ Amanguale.
Laughter Riot: In 1972, Sierra started one of his most popular roles as Julio Fuentes in the sitcom Sanford And Son, starring Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson as the title characters; still from Sanford And Son
The Enforcer: In 1975, Sierra joined the police comedy Barney Miller as Sgt. Miguel ‘Chano’ Amanguale, who stole the show in the dramatic episode The Hero; still from Barney Miller
His character provided comic relief with outbursts in Spanish when he overheated.
The comic series took a serious turn with the episode The Hero, in which Chano shot two suspects to avoid a robbery.
Although costars, including Hal Linden as the title character and Abe Vigoda as Sgt. Fish, recommend him for a compliment, he’s overcome with guilt.
“I think Barney Miller is much more real than any other police show,” Sierra said in an interview for the 1976 critical study TV Talk 2: Exploring TV Territory via The Hollywood Reporter.
‘The people on the show have real problems. Kojak never worries. He knows he made it. Everything is always under control on that show. You never see the frustration of police work or the kind of jokes that real police officers make. Those are the things we show. ‘
Bad Timing: Sierra was written off from Barney Miller with no explanation after the second season so he could star on the sitcom AES Hudson Street, set in an emergency room and directed by Barney Miller creator Danny Arnold; seen on the set of Barney Miller in 1974
Sierra, who was born in Harlem, New York City, Spain, also had a notable role in the 1973 episode Archie Is Branded of All In The Family as a “ radical Jewish vigilante. ”
Sierra was written off without explanation from Barney Miller after the second season so that he could star in the sitcom AES Hudson Street, set in an emergency room and directed by Danny Arnold, creator of Barney Miller.
However, the show only lasted for six episodes before being canceled.
Sierra continued to play major recurring roles on the police drama Hill Street Blues, Miami Vice and Murder, She Wrote.
Varied Career: Sierra also appeared on film with Beneath roles in The Planet Of The Apes, Papillon and The Towering Inferno; pictured with Alan Thicke on Growing Pains
Sierra was best known for his work on television, but he appeared in high-profile films throughout his career.
He played a mutant in 1970’s Beneath The Planet Of The Apes and appeared alongside Dustin Hoffman and Steve McQueen in the prison classic Papillon.
He played a bartender in the 1974 disaster film The Towering Inferno and had a small role in 1992’s Honey I Blew Up The Kid.
Sierra’s last released film was Orson Welle’s experimental film The Other Side Of The Wind, which was filmed in the early and mid-1970s but was not completed and released until 2018.
Final Role: Sierra’s last-released film role was in Orson Welle’s experimental film The Other Side Of The Wind, which was filmed in the early 1970s but was not completed until 2018; depicted on Farrell For The People