The vigilante wants to go after the group responsible — and Archie has no trouble with that — but gets killed by a car bomb that explodes just outside the house. “Julio Fuentes? Actor Gregory Sierra, best known for his roles in “Sanford and Son” and “Barney Miller,” died on January 4 from cancer, his widow Helene Tabor confirmed to CNN Friday. Introduced in the second-season episode “The Puerto Ricans Are Coming,” Julio was an easy target for the crotchety, bigoted Fred (Redd Foxx). Sierra’s breakthrough came in 1972 when he played the role of Fred G. Sanford’s neighbor, Julio Fuentes, on “Sanford and Son.” He also earned major attention for playing Sgt. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Gregory Sierra, who is remembered for his roles on sitcoms Sanford and Son and Barney Miller, died on January 4 from cancer. Gregory Sierra, ideal regarded for his roles as Sgt. Eventually, he worked with the National Shakespeare Company and in the New York Shakespeare Festival, appeared in off-Broadway productions and, in one brief brush with Broadway, was a standby in The Ninety Day Mistress in 1967. Sierra, who is of Puerto Rican descent, was born on Jan. 25, 1937 in New York City. Gregory Sierra has died. Miguel “Chano” Amanguale on Barney Miller and Julio Fuentes on Sanford and Son, has died at the age of 83. He was 83. (1998). Sierra … ‘We’ll take Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island too …’ ” Fred complains to his son, Lamont (Demond Wilson), when he learns who’s moving in next door. Gregory Sierra, Actor on 'Barney Miller' and 'Sanford and Son,' Dies at 83 3:51 PM PST 1/22/2021 by Chris Koseluk FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Photofest Gregory Sierra The New York native also portrayed a Jewish vigilante on a sobering episode of 'All in the Family.' He also showed up on Quincy, M.E., Simon & Simon, Magnum, P.I., Growing Pains, The X-Files, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Walker, Texas Ranger. Gregory Sierra, known to all classic TV fans for his groundbreaking roles on Sanford and Son and Barney Miller, died January 4 in Laguna Woods, California.. Sierra, 83, had battled cancer. Gregory Sierra, the actor known for his roles on “Barney Miller” and “Sanford and Son,” has died at the age of 83, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He was known for his roles as Detective Sergeant Chano Amengual on Barney Miller and as Julio Fuentes, the Puerto Rican neighbor of Fred G. Sanford on Sanford And Son. […] Sierra modeled Julio on Sanford and Sun after an uncle who was “a very jolly and very nice man,” he once said. Chano was written out of the series at the end of the second season so that Sierra could star in a new sitcom from Barney Miller creator Danny Arnold, this one set in a frenetic New York emergency room. A.E.S. Gregory Sierra, who had memorable roles in the 1970s sitcoms “Barney Miller” and “Sanford and Son,” has died after battling cancer By MESFIN FEKADU Associated Press January 23, 2021, 9:33 PM Gregory Sierra, best known for his roles as Sgt. Sierra went on to play such recurring characters as ADA Alvarez on Hill Street Blues, Commandant Paco Pico on Zorro and Son, Det. You never see the frustrations of police work or the kind of joking that goes on among real policemen. It’s believed to be the only episode of the famed sitcom to end with stark silence rather than applause from the studio audience. His colleagues believe he deserves a commendation, but a distraught Chano feels otherwise, and he breaks down and cries. And he played Carlos “El Puerco” Valdez, a Malaguayan counter-revolutionist who kidnaps Jessica (Katherine Helmond) on ABC’s Soap. One of the many familiar faces of television from the 1970’s has passed away this month. Miguel “Chano” Amanguale on “Barney Miller” and Julio Fuentes on “Sanford and Son,” died on Jan. 4 in Laguna Woods, Calif., according to Orange County Health Dept. The more Fred tried to get under Julio’s skin, the more Julio got the better of him. Sierra’s widow, Helene, said Saturday in a phone interview with The Associated Press that the actor died on Jan. 4 in Laguna Woods, California. He was 83. "He was quite wonderful, and my heart is broken into 400 million pieces," Tabor said. He was truly a man’s man and women fell in love with him all the time.”. Miguel “Chano” Amanguale on “Barney Miller,” which launched in 1975. Gregory Sierra, best known for his roles as Sgt. Gregory Sierra, Actor on "Barney Miller" and "Sanford and Son," Dies at 83 The New York native also portrayed a Jewish vigilante on a sobering episode of "All in the Family." Many different characters brought something different to the table. A proud Puerto Rican New Yorker, Sierra’s Chano was dedicated and dauntless, a cop who emotionally invested himself in his work. The New York-born-and-raised actor, of Puerto Rican descent, found success in his recurring role as Fred G. Sanford’s neighbor. Gregory Sierra, a longtime character actor who appeared in television shows and movies, most notably on “Barney Miller” and “Sanford and Son,” died Jan. 4 in Laguna Woods, Calif., from cancer. Because Barney Miller took place primarily in the squad room, the show relied on its powerful cast more than locations. “He was an amazing human being, different than any other person, male or female, that I have ever known,” Helene told the AP. Gregory Sierra, who was a key part of two major 1970s sitcoms as Julio Fuentes on Sanford and Son and Sgt. Actor Gregory Sierra, best known for his roles in “Sanford and Son” and “Barney Miller,” died on January 4 from cancer, his widow Helene Tabor confirmed to CNN Friday. Gregory Sierra was an American actor. Gregory Sierra, who endeared himself to 1970s sitcom fans as the genial Julio Fuentes on Sanford and Son and the impassioned Sgt. “He just was extremely intelligent and a brilliant actor. ), “The loss of Gregory Sierra as Julio at the start of the fifth season (he was steadily being written out even during the fourth season) spelled the first signs of trouble for the show,” Paul Mavis wrote in a 2008 entry for the website DVD Talk. Only two weeks into shooting the series, his second wife, Susan, committed suicide. NEW YORK (AP) — Gregory Sierra, who had memorable roles in the 1970s sitcoms “Barney Miller” and “Sanford and Son,” has died after battling cancer. On his episode of All in the Family, after a swastika is painted on his front door, Archie (Carroll O’Connor) is visited by Sierra’s Paul Benjamin. Everything is always under control on that show. (CNN) — Actor Gregory Sierra, best known for his roles in “Sanford and Son” and “Barney Miller,” died on January 4 from cancer, his widow Helene Tabor confirmed to CNN Friday. He attended the Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception, a Brooklyn prep school for boys aiming for the priesthood. “I think Barney Miller is much more real than any other cop show,” Sierra said in an interview for the 1976 book TV Talk 2: Exploring TV Territory. Actor Gregory Sierra of 'Barney Miller' and 'Sanford and Son' dies at age 83 - WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & Sports Part Deux (1993), A Low Down Dirty Shame (1994), Vampires (1998) and Mafia! Gregory Sierra was born on January 25, 1937. Actor Gregory Sierra, best known for his roles in "Sanford and Son" and "Barney Miller," died Jan. 4 from cancer, his widow Helene Tabor confirmed to … Died: January 4, 2021 (Who else died on January 4? His TV credits include “All in the Family,” “Soap,” “Miami Vice,” “Zorro and Son,” “Hawaii Five-O,” “Hill Street Blues” and more. Gregory Sierra, the actor known for his roles on “Barney Miller” and “Sanford and Son,” has died at the age of 83, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Lt. Lou Rodriguez on Miami Vice and Lt. Gabriel Caceres on Murder, She Wrote. Gregory Sierra, the comic actor who entertained the masses on “Sanford and Son” and “Barney Miller,” is dead at the age of 83. Sierra's widow, Helene, said Saturday in a phone interview with The Associated Press that the actor died on Jan. 4 in Laguna Woods, California. Sierra appeared on 12 episodes over three seasons. Miguel “Chano” Amanguale on the ABC police collection “Barney Miller” and as Julio Fuentes on the NBC sitcom “Sanford and Son,” has died, his spouse, Helene Taber, said Sunday. He was 83. He played an Armenian on Kung Fu, an Italian on Banacek, a Native American on Gunsmoke and a Hawaiian on Hawaii Five-O. Offsite Link His death was reported by ExtraTV. Sierra died Jan. 4 in Laguna Woods, California, after a battle with cancer, family spokesman Rick Voll told The Hollywood Reporter. 25, 1937, in New York City. He was 83. He also appeared in films such as “Beneath the Planet of the Apes,” “Papillon,” “The Towering Inferno,” “Honey I Blew Up the Kid” and “The Other Side of the Wind,” which was released in 2018 after more than 40 years in development. A native of New York’s Spanish Harlem, Sierra also made a memorable appearance as a radical Jewish vigilante in “Archie Is Branded,” a 1973 episode of CBS’ All in the Family that was one of the sitcom’s most jarring episodes. He was 83. Sierra was with a friend who was auditioning for an acting class when the teacher invited him to try some improvisation and was impressed. American actor Gregory Sierra has passed away earlier this month. Actor Gregory Sierra, best known for his roles in "Sanford and Son" and "Barney Miller," died on January 4 from cancer, his widow Helene Tabor confirmed to CNN Friday. Actor Gregory Sierra died on Jan. 4 in California “according to Orange County records.” His death was recently confirmed through a family spokesperson.. From KIRO-TV Seattle: Sierra played Julio Fuentes, the Puerto Rican neighbor of Fred Sanford on “Sanford and Son.” (The Sanfords bought his property and turned it into a boarding house. Anytime that somebody needed something, he would be there for them and he defended the underdog anytime. By the fifth season, the character had moved away. The movie star, who is of Puerto Rican descent, was born on Jauary. Sierra's widow, Helene, said Saturday in a phone interview with The Associated Press that the actor died on Jan. 4 in Laguna Woods, California. Actor Gregory Sierra, best known for his roles in "Sanford and Son" and "Barney Miller," died on January 4 from cancer, his widow Helene Tabor confirmed to CNN Friday. He was 83. He was known for his performances as Detective Sergeant Chano Amenguale on Barney Miller and as Julio Fuentes, the Puerto Rican neighbour of Fred G. Sanford on Sanford and Son.The reason behind his demise is … He moved to Los Angeles, made his onscreen debut in a nonspeaking role as a jewelry fence on a 1969 episode of It Takes a Thief and then appeared on other shows like Medical Center, The High Chaparral, Mod Squad and The Flying Nun. Sierra’s widow, Helene, said Saturday in a phone interview with The Associated Press that the actor died on … NEW YORK — Gregory Sierra, who had memorable roles in the 1970s sitcoms “Barney Miller" and “Sanford and Son," has died after battling cancer. Miguel “Chano” Amenguale on Barney Miller… NEW YORK — Gregory Sierra, who had memorable roles in the 1970s sitcoms "Barney Miller" and "Sanford and Son," has died after battling cancer. “The people in the show have real problems. Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. Those are the kinds of things we show on Barney Miller.”. “We had been together six years, and her death leaves me feeling guilty as well as feeling the grief.”, Born on Jan. 25, 1937, Sierra was raised by his aunt after his parents abandoned him when he was 6. “You know what the Puerto Rican national anthem is? NEW YORK (AP) — Gregory Sierra, who had memorable roles in the 1970s sitcoms “Barney Miller” and “Sanford and Son,” has died after battling cancer. Gregory Joseph Sierra (January 25, 1937 – January 4, 2021) was an American actor known for his roles as Detective Sergeant Chano Amengual on Barney Miller and as Julio Fuentes, the Puerto Rican neighbor of Fred G. Sanford on Sanford and Son. And he was a very charming man. Kojak never worries. A family spokesperson told THR that Sierra died earlier this month after a long battle with cancer. He died this week, from cancer. “His character functioned very much like George Jefferson did as Archie Bunker’s next-door-neighbor — a constant racial irritant — and without the sweet-natured Julio getting one over on Fred time and again (and without being there as a setup for some of Foxx’s more outrageous insults), the show lost a lot of its underlying edge.”. In addition to Helene, Sierra is survived by his daughters, Kelly and Jill, and his granddaughter, Emma. Meanwhile, he was landing supporting roles in such features as Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), Getting Straight (1970), Papillon (1973), The Towering Inferno (1974) and the long-gestating Orson Welles project The Other Side of the Wind, finally released in 2018. For 35 episodes, Gregory Sierra introduced viewers to Chano. “Everybody lived together — grandmother, grandfather, aunt, two uncles, mother, father … gradually everyone went their way.”, The neighborhood was rough, and Sierra flirted with gang life as a teen and once was knifed. Gregory Sierra, who had memorable roles in the 1970s sitcoms “Barney Miller" and “Sanford and Son," has died after battling cancer. “He was quite wonderful, and my heart is broken into 400 million pieces,” Tabor said. Actor Gregory Sierra, who starred in 1970s shows “Barney Miller” and “Sanford and Son,” died Jan. 4 in Laguna Woods, California, according to Orange County records. Sierra, who was of Puerto Rican descent, was born and raised in New York. He was 83. “We were separated at her wish,” Sierra said in 1978. He was 83. “It was hard to study to be a priest during the day and go out and plan gang warfare at night!”. He was 83. Per Variety, Sierra was 83. His big-screen résumé also included The Trouble With Spies (1987), Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992), Hot Shots! “When I was a baby, we were a typical Puerto Rican family,” he said. records.He was 83. He was 83. He had a heart (of gold). Nowhere was this better displayed than in the 1975 episode “The Hero,” in which his character kills two suspects while preventing a robbery. Gregory Sierra was an actor best known for his roles in the sitcoms “Barney Miller” and “Sanford and Son.”. Hudson Street debuted in 1977 but was canceled after six episodes. Lanky, balding, intense American character actor of Puerto Rican ancestry, born in New York's Spanish Harlem. He knows he’s got it made. Gregory Sierra, who starred on ‘70s sitcoms like “Barney Miller” and “Sanford and Son,” has died at the age of 83. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, 'This has to be the moment' to invest in coronavirus vaccines and treatments against future pandemics, experts warn, 'Black and Asian unity': attacks on elders spark reckoning with racism's roots. Gregory Sierra, Actor: The Towering Inferno. Miguel “Chano” Amenguale on Barney Miller, has died.He was 83. Sierra was best known for co-starring on the first two seasons of “Barney Miller” as the emotionally volatile Sgt. Deserted by his parents, Sierra was brought up by an aunt in a rough, predominantly Irish neighbourhood from the age of six. “I wasn’t going to be a priest!” he said. Miguel “Chano” Amenguale on Barney Miller, has died. But where did he end up after the show? That don’t sound like no name — that sounds like somethin’ you get from drinkin’ their water.”. Sierra died Jan. 4 in Laguna Woods, California, following having battled cancer, Taber claimed. Best known for his performances on shows like Sanford And Son, Barney Miller, and in regular TV roles throughout the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, Sierra played more than 100 parts across his long career. Gregory Sierra, who endeared himself to 1970s sitcom fans as the genial Julio Fuentes on Sanford and Son and the impassioned Sgt. His career breakthrough came in 1972 when he was cast as the easygoing Julio, junkman Fred Sanford’s Puerto Rican neighbor, on NBC’s Sanford and Son, developed by All in the Family creators Bud Yorkin and Norman Lear. Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. After he left that series, Sierra played one of the original detectives working out of the diverse 12th Precinct in Greenwich Village on ABC’s Barney Miller, joining Hal Linden, Abe Vigoda, Ron Glass, Max Gail and Jack Soo when the show premiered in 1975.