Henry Darrow | |
---|---|
Born |
Enrique T. Delgado September 15, 1933 New York City, New York, U.S. |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1959–present |
Spouse(s) | Lauren Levian Lucy Darrow |
You may watch "Henry Darrow" perform in a clip from the final episode of "High Chaparral" on YouTube |
Henry Darrow (born Enrique Tomás Delgado, September 15, 1933) is a Puerto Rican-American character actor of stage and film known for his role as Manolito Montoya on the 1960s television series The High Chaparral. On film, Darrow played the corrupt and vengeful Trooper Hancock in The Hitcher. During the 1970s and 1980s, he was seen in numerous guest starring television roles during the 1970s. Darrow replaced Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. as Don Alejandro de la Vega in the 1990s television series Zorro.
Darrow was born in New York City, the first son of Gloria and Enrique Pío Delgado, who worked in the restaurant and clothing businesses. Darrow's parents had moved from Puerto Rico to New York in the early 1930s. At the age of eight, he played a woodcutter in a school play, an experience which convinced him that his destiny was as an actor.
In 1946, when Darrow was 13, his family returned to Puerto Rico, where he discovered his roots and grew to love a country he had not known. He graduated from Academia del Perpetuo Socorro high school in Miramar, Puerto Rico, as class president before enrolling in the University of Puerto Rico. There he studied political science and acting, and worked as a part-time English-language interpreter. During his third year at the University, he was awarded a Scholarship (the first of its kind) to attend acting school. Thereupon Darrow moved to Los Angeles, where he enrolled in the Pasadena Playhouse. He met and married his first wife, Lucy and they went on to have two children, Denise and Tom. Darrow graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in theater arts.
Darrow had already landed small parts in 12 movies and 75 television series when he won the role in a play titled The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit. This brought him to the attention of television producer David Dortort, who immediately recruited him for his television western series The High Chaparral, casting him as Manolito Montoya. Making its debut on American television in September 1967 NBC, it went on to last four seasons and was screened around the world. While on the show, both he and series' lead Cameron Mitchell became household names as the breakout stars of the show.