Gregory Sierra

Gregory Sierra

Acting
Born 1937-01-25 - Died 2021-01-04New 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.

Movies (45)

Papillon
7.8

Papillon

1973Movie7.8
Hot Shots! Part Deux
6.5

Hot Shots! Part Deux

1993Movie6.5
Beneath the Planet of the Apes
6.1

Beneath the Planet of the Apes

1970Movie6.1
Honey, I Blew Up the Kid
5.3

Honey, I Blew Up the Kid

1992Movie5.3
Vampires
6.3

Vampires

1998Movie6.3
Deep Cover
6.8

Deep Cover

1992Movie6.8
The Prisoner of Zenda
5.7

The Prisoner of Zenda

1979Movie5.7
The Towering Inferno
7.0

The Towering Inferno

1974Movie7.0
The Laughing Policeman
6.2

The Laughing Policeman

1973Movie6.2
The Other Side of the Wind
6.7

The Other Side of the Wind

2018Movie6.7
Jane Austen's Mafia!
5.5

Jane Austen's Mafia!

1998Movie5.5
The Thief Who Came to Dinner
7.0

The Thief Who Came to Dinner

1973Movie7.0
Let's Get Harry
6.2

Let's Get Harry

1986Movie6.2
Honky Tonk
8.0

Honky Tonk

1974Movie8.0
Mean Dog Blues
4.8

Mean Dog Blues

1978Movie4.8
The Wrath of God
5.5

The Wrath of God

1972Movie5.5
A Low Down Dirty Shame
5.7

A Low Down Dirty Shame

1994Movie5.7
Pocket Money
5.6

Pocket Money

1972Movie5.6
Getting Straight
6.3

Getting Straight

1970Movie6.3
Miami Vice: Brother's Keeper
7.8

Miami Vice: Brother's Keeper

1984Movie7.8
The Culpepper Cattle Co.
6.4

The Culpepper Cattle Co.

1972Movie6.4
The Castaway Cowboy
6.7

The Castaway Cowboy

1974Movie6.7
The Night They Took Miss Beautiful
5.6

The Night They Took Miss Beautiful

1977Movie5.6
The Night the Bridge Fell Down
6.2

The Night the Bridge Fell Down

1980Movie6.2
Hearts of Hot Shots! Part Deux—A Filmmaker's Apology
5.5

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

1993Movie5.5
Unspeakable Acts
5.5

Unspeakable Acts

1990Movie5.5
The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit
7.0

The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit

1998Movie7.0
Johnny 316
5.8

Johnny 316

1998Movie5.8
Weekend of Terror
6.0

Weekend of Terror

1970Movie6.0
Her Secret Life
5.8

Her Secret Life

1987Movie5.8
300 Miles for Stephanie
7.5

300 Miles for Stephanie

1981Movie7.5
The Gambler: The Adventure Continues
7.0

The Gambler: The Adventure Continues

1983Movie7.0
Uncommon Valor

Uncommon Valor

1983Movie
Red Sky at Morning
7.1

Red Sky at Morning

1971Movie7.1
The Clones
4.6

The Clones

1973Movie4.6
The Trouble with Spies
4.7

The Trouble with Spies

1987Movie4.7
Farrell: For the People
4.5

Farrell: For the People

1982Movie4.5
Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?
4.6

Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?

1988Movie4.6
Desperado: Badlands Justice
10.0

Desperado: Badlands Justice

1989Movie10.0
Donor
5.3

Donor

1990Movie5.3
Antonio and the Mayor
6.0

Antonio and the Mayor

1975Movie6.0
Goodnight Jackie

Goodnight Jackie

1974Movie
Stingray
8.0

Stingray

1985Movie8.0
Machismo: 40 Graves for 40 Guns
6.7

Machismo: 40 Graves for 40 Guns

1971Movie6.7
Command 5
5.0

Command 5

1985Movie5.0

TV Shows (66)

The X-Files
8.4

The X-Files

1993Series8.4
Columbo
8.1

Columbo

1971Series8.1
Miami Vice
7.5

Miami Vice

1984Series7.5
Ironside
6.8

Ironside

1967Series6.8
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
7.9

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

1993Series7.9
Murder, She Wrote
7.5

Murder, She Wrote

1984Series7.5
Hawaii Five-O
7.2

Hawaii Five-O

1968Series7.2
Falcon Crest
5.5

Falcon Crest

1981Series5.5
MacGyver
7.7

MacGyver

1985Series7.7
The Waltons
7.2

The Waltons

1972Series7.2
Magnum, P.I.
7.3

Magnum, P.I.

1980Series7.3
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
7.6

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

1993Series7.6
Mission: Impossible
7.6

Mission: Impossible

1966Series7.6
Simon & Simon
6.7

Simon & Simon

1981Series6.7
Hill Street Blues
7.6

Hill Street Blues

1981Series7.6
Hart to Hart
6.9

Hart to Hart

1979Series6.9
Ellen
6.1

Ellen

1994Series6.1
Airwolf
7.6

Airwolf

1984Series7.6
Walker, Texas Ranger
7.0

Walker, Texas Ranger

1993Series7.0
The Flying Nun
6.3

The Flying Nun

1967Series6.3
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
7.9

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

1990Series7.9
Quincy, M.E.
7.5

Quincy, M.E.

1976Series7.5
Cagney & Lacey
6.9

Cagney & Lacey

1982Series6.9
Barney Miller
7.3

Barney Miller

1975Series7.3
Hunter
7.1

Hunter

1984Series7.1
Gunsmoke
6.7

Gunsmoke

1955Series6.7
Sanford and Son
7.5

Sanford and Son

1972Series7.5
The High Chaparral
6.8

The High Chaparral

1967Series6.8
Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction
7.2

Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction

1997Series7.2
Lou Grant
7.4

Lou Grant

1977Series7.4
All in the Family
7.8

All in the Family

1971Series7.8
Medical Center
6.4

Medical Center

1969Series6.4
Growing Pains
6.5

Growing Pains

1985Series6.5
The Streets of San Francisco
7.1

The Streets of San Francisco

1972Series7.1
It Takes a Thief
7.2

It Takes a Thief

1968Series7.2
McCloud
7.2

McCloud

1970Series7.2
The Ray Bradbury Theater
6.9

The Ray Bradbury Theater

1985Series6.9
Police Story
7.0

Police Story

1973Series7.0
Petrocelli
7.2

Petrocelli

1974Series7.2
Alias Smith and Jones
7.0

Alias Smith and Jones

1971Series7.0
The Mod Squad
6.1

The Mod Squad

1968Series6.1
The Greatest American Hero
7.2

The Greatest American Hero

1981Series7.2
Banacek
8.4

Banacek

1972Series8.4
Cassie & Co.
5.3

Cassie & Co.

1982Series5.3
The Bill Cosby Show
5.5

The Bill Cosby Show

1969Series5.5
Cover Up
6.9

Cover Up

1984Series6.9
Blue Thunder
6.9

Blue Thunder

1984Series6.9
The Golden Palace
6.4

The Golden Palace

1992Series6.4
P.S. I Luv U
6.4

P.S. I Luv U

1991Series6.4
Banyon
8.0

Banyon

1972Series8.0
Shades of L.A.
7.0

Shades of L.A.

1990Series7.0
Masquerade
7.5

Masquerade

1983Series7.5
The Gambler: The Adventure Continues
5.0

The Gambler: The Adventure Continues

1983Series5.0
Thea
8.4

Thea

1993Series8.4
Hunter
8.2

Hunter

1977Series8.2
Hawkins
7.8

Hawkins

1973Series7.8
Blacke's Magic
6.8

Blacke's Magic

1986Series6.8
Something Is Out There
7.6

Something Is Out There

1988Series7.6
FBI: The Untold Stories
9.5

FBI: The Untold Stories

1991Series9.5
Something Is Out There
7.6

Something Is Out There

1988Series7.6
Zorro and Son
5.8

Zorro and Son

1983Series5.8
704 Hauser
9.0

704 Hauser

1994Series9.0
A.E.S. Hudson Street
7.2

A.E.S. Hudson Street

1978Series7.2
Common Law
5.8

Common Law

1996Series5.8
Kung Fu
7.7

Kung Fu

1972Series7.7
Evening in Byzantium

Evening in Byzantium

1978Series