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