Gregory Sierra, 'Sanford and Son' and 'Barney Miller' actor, dies at 83 | Television | stltoday.com
By: Alec Snyder (STLtoday. com)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
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 CNN. He was 83.
"He was quite wonderful, and my heart is broken into 400 million pieces," Tabor said. The cancer persisted "for quite a while, and he was doing the best he could and just couldn't do it anymore," she said.
Gregory Sierra (left) appears as neighbor Julio Fuentes with Demond Wilson as Lamont Sanford in an episode of "Sanford and Son."
NBCUniversal/Getty Images
Originally from New York, Sierra relocated to California, pursuing a film and stage career that ultimately spanned five decades. His most prominent roles were in sitcoms from the 1970s.
In NBC's "Sanford and Son," he was a series regular as the Sanfords' neighbor Julio Fuentes. Later, he portrayed Miguel "Chano" Amanguale, a detective on ABC's "Barney Miller."
Sierra also had supporting or guest roles in "All in the Family," "Hill Street Blues," "Miami Vice," and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."
Film credits included "Beneath the Planet of the Apes," "Papillon" and "The Towering Inferno."
Gregory Sierra is shown in a 1975 episode of "Barney Miller."
ABC Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television/Getty Images
Tabor called Sierra "a brilliant actor" and said he was still receiving fan mail in the days since his death. His last credited acting role was in 2018. Tabor said he decided to retire because, while he still loved acting, he had difficulty remembering his lines.
Tabor said he was "the first person to help anybody that needed help and he cared about people very much."
Sierra is also survived by two stepdaughters and a step-granddaughter, all of whom, Tabor said, "loved him and called him 'Dad.'"
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Rest in Peace "Mr. Fuentes"
Sanford & Son was one of those early programs showing that brown people lived exactly like white folks.
No politics please.
I remember him on All In The Family a few times. He was willing to be a face for hispanic people at that time on television and he did it well.
I remember him in Sanford & Son and Barney Miller, both great shows
Sanford and Sons and Barney Miller were two of my favorite tv programs.
RIP