Erik Estrada | |
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Estrada at DragonCon in 2007
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Born |
Henry Enrique Estrada March 16, 1949 New York City, New York, U.S. |
Occupation | Actor, voice actor, police officer |
Years active | 1970–present |
Spouse(s) |
Joyce Miller (m. 1979; div. 1980) Peggy Rowe (m. 1985; div. 1990) Nanette Mirkovich (m. 1997) |
Children | 3 |
Website | www |
Henry Enrique "Erik" Estrada (born March 16, 1949) is an American actor, voice actor, and police officer known for his co-starring lead role in the police drama television series CHiPs, which ran from 1977 to 1983. He later became known for his work in Spanish-language telenovelas, his appearances in reality television shows and infomercials and as a regular voice on the Adult Swim series Sealab 2021 as well as the movie Cool Cat Saves The Kids.
Estrada was born on March 16, 1949, in East Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, the son of Carmen Moreno, a seamstress, and Renildo Estrada. He is of Puerto Rican descent.
In the 1970 film version of The Cross and the Switchblade, Estrada made his film debut in the role of Nicky Cruz alongside Pat Boone, who played the role of David Wilkerson. In 1972, Estrada co-starred with George C. Scott and Stacy Keach as LAPD Officer Sergio Duran in the movie The New Centurions. In 1973, Estrada co-starred in season 5, episode 22, of the CBS TV series Hawaii Five-O: "Engaged to be Buried". In 1974, Estrada took part in the disaster film, Airport 1975, where he played a role as the flight engineer on a Boeing 747. His character was killed in a midair collision. Two years later, he was a player in the military historical epic Midway, as a fictional airman Ens. "Chili Bean" Ramos.
Starting in 1977, Estrada co-starred as Frank "Ponch" Poncharello in the TV series CHiPs. In 1978, he began training in martial arts with SeishinDo Kenpo instructor Frank Argelander (Frank Landers), to prepare for a two-part episode of the series. The two appeared on the cover of Fighting Stars Magazine that same year, discussing Estrada's training regimen. On August 6, 1979, Estrada was seriously injured while filming a scene on the set of CHiPs, fracturing several ribs and breaking both wrists after he was thrown from his 600-pound (270 kg) motorcycle.