. He died of cancer at the age of 82 at his home in Venice, California on January 7, 2016. He guest-starred on many television series, including Mod Squad, Kung Fu, Alias Smith, and Jones, Mission: Impossible, Hawaii Five-O, Gunsmoke, The Greatest American Hero, Soap, Sanford and Son, Barney Miller, Midnight Caller, Miami Vice, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The X-Files, Murder, She Wrote, Hart to Hart and Hill Street Blues. Miguel "Chano" Amenguale on Barney Miller, has died. And he played Carlos El Puerco Valdez, a Malaguayan counter-revolutionist who kidnaps Jessica (Katherine Helmond) on ABCsSoap. Sierra appeared on 12 episodes over three seasons. It's no wonder that the toughest critics of TV cop shows real-life police officers loved it. RIP., 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Jerry Springer revealed his single happiest moment in final interview before death, Stew Leonard, founder of famous grocery chain, dies at 93 after brief illness, Jerry Springer had a fitting, epic cameo in The Simpsons episode, Jerry Springer mourned by celebs and fans: A cultural icon dead at 79. Landesberg maintained a lower profile after the series ran its course, though he provided voices for animated series like "Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law" and enjoyed plum character turns in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," among other projects. A semi-regular for the remainder of Seasons 2 and 3, Dietrich became a series regular in Season 4 and remained with the show until its final episode. After that he spent two years as part of the ensemble cast of Barney Miller, as Detective Sergeant Chano Amengual. A five-time Emmy winner (for "Raymond" and an appearance on "St. Actor: The Towering Inferno. Why dont you try Alaska? Fred responds. [4] He lived in Laguna Woods, California, with his wife, Helen Tabor. He had several roles each year throughout these decades, often portraying law enforcement officers. Lt. Ben Scanlon hailed from the New York Police Department's Internal Affairs division, and investigated alleged improprieties by fellow officers. He logged his final screen appearance in the TV movie "Surrender, Dorothy" in 2006, and died five years later on November 2, 2011, just one day before his 88th birthday. The Brooklyn-born Calfa made his screen debut in experimental comedy features by Robert Downey Sr., including 1972's "Greaser's Palace," before moving into mainstream TV and features in the 1970s. The retrospective concluded with his castmates raising a cup of coffee as a toast to his talent. He had a second wife, Susan, who committed suicide in the 70s. The experience ultimately turned sour one of the subjects of the book sued him for libel but an unbowed Harris was making inroads back to writing by the series' end. Hudson Street. Guest appearances on TV and in films led to "Barney," for which he received three Emmy nominations. The episode, which ends in silence, was among the most memorable from the long-running series. ), 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. The following year he played an Iraqi patrol boat captain in the comedy Hot Shots! Those are the kinds of things we show onBarney Miller.. That's also an apt description for Libertini's three appearances on "Barney Miller": he played a numerology-obsessed man named 1223 in Season 4's "Evaluation," a middle-aged Olympic hopeful who nearly skewers an elderly lady with his javelin, and a man claiming to be a time traveler in "The Child Stealers." Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. His film credits include The Flying Nun, Beneath the Planet of the Apes, Papillon, The Towering Inferno, The Prisoner of Zenda, and The Trouble with Spies. Her TV output in the 1970s alone includes guest shots on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Rhoda," "Soap," and five appearances on "Barney Miller" in two different roles. He had recurring roles in multiple television shows, including Hill Street Blues, Miami Vice, and Murder, She Wrote, and made appearances in a slew of other series. Actor-comedian Ron Carey made also his debut on "Barney Miller" not as a cop, but as a crook: he played a burglar who was pursued through the city sewers by Harris and Wojo in the Season 2 finale, "The Mole." [1] He was raised in Spanish Harlem by an aunt as his parents did not take charge of his care. Gregory Sierra was an American actor known for his roles as Detective Sergeant Chano Amengual on Barney Miller and as Julio Fuentes, the Puerto Rican neighbo. Sierra modeled Julio onSanford and Sunafter an uncle who was a very jolly and very nice man, he once said. After he left that series, Sierra played one of the original detectives working out of the diverse 12th Precinct in Greenwich Village on ABCsBarney Miller, joining Hal Linden, Abe Vigoda, Ron Glass, Max Gail and Jack Soo when the show premiered in 1975. We've received your submission. Nick Yemana, a philosophical detective played by comic and actor Jack Soo, whose dry delivery was a highlight of many episodes. Libertini's boundless enthusiasm made each appearance memorable. Veronique was by his side when he passed. He stayed until 1975. Those that knew him. Sierra died on January 4, 2021, after a long battle with stomach and liver cancer, three weeks before his 84th birthday. Deserted by his parents, Sierra was brought up by an aunt in a rough, predominantly Irish neighbourhood from the age of six. I read this & wept.I thank Olivia for sharing.Gregory Sierra Will forever be with us.Those that knew him. The popularity of the film boosted his screen profile and led to his star-making role as Detective Phil Fish on "Barney Miller.". After school, he worked with the National Shakespeare Company and in the New York Shakespeare Festival before moving to Los Angeles, where he started getting bit parts in television and supporting roles in movies like Beneath the Planet of the Apes, Getting Straight, Papillon and The Towering Inferno.. Lanky, balding, intense American character actor of Puerto Rican ancestry, born in New York's Spanish Harlem. [3] Sierra died on January 4, 2021, after a long battle with stomach and liver cancer, three weeks before his 84th birthday.[2][1]. He died from the disease on January 11, 1979, with a special episode paying tribute to him at the end of Season 5. Gregory Tyree Boyce's cause of death is yet to be confirmed publicly after he and girlfriend Natalie Adepoju were found dead in their Las Vegas apartment - as mystery surrounds their final hours . Glass, who was a devout Buddhist, died from respiratory failure at the age of 71 on November 25, 2016. Since the bodies of a baby, her parents and their dog were found on a steep hiking trail, this part of the Sierra Nevada has been gripped by the mystery of how they died. Calfa's talent for comic delivery and off-kilter characters made each appearance memorable. Gregory's Death And Legacy At the age of 87, Peck died in his sleep on June 12, 2003, after a brief bout with bronchopneumonia. He was 83. His extraordinary artistic ability. That helped the series add a Peabody Award, given to shows of exceptional quality, to its three Emmys and two Golden Globes. It may be comforting to know that God is close to the brokenhearted and He saves those who are crushed in spirit. With his Puerto Rican background, Mr. Sierra was often cast in ethnic roles, including Latinos, Italians and Native Americans. You know what the Puerto Rican national anthem is? One of the most popular players to depart the series during its early years was Gregory Sierra, a talented character actor who played Det. Gregory passed away in January of 2021 from stomach and liver cancer. Born in New York, Sierra kick started his acting career with the National Shakespeare Company and at the New York Shakespeare Festival. Miguel "Chano" Amenguale on Barney Miller, has died. Gregory Sierra of 'Sanford and Son' and 'Barney Miller' hasdied, according to the following statements posted on s. {Click link below to read more. He also landed a few film roles, though the majority of his work was on the small screen. Mr. Sierra infused the character with humor and self-assurance. He was perhaps better known for a ceaseless running gag about the fact that he wasn't dead yet. He acted in off-Broadway plays before relocating to Los Angeles in the late 1960s to pursue a career in television. He later went on to star as Dr. Tony Menzies on the unsuccessful sitcom A.E.S. Close. [1][2], He began his career on the stage, touring with the National Shakespeare Company, and in 1967 appeared as the Duke of Austria in King John at the New York Shakespeare Festival. In 1993, he played an Iraqi patrol boat captain in the comedy Hot Shots! Gregory Sierra, a character actor who navigated easily between comedy and drama but was best known for his supporting roles on the sitcoms "Sanford and Son" and "Barney Miller," died on Jan. 4. An old-school cop with a decidedly backwards approach to police work, Luger, who was Barney's superior officer, attempted to impart wisdom through folksy recollections of his own days as a beat cop and detective. It was hard to study to be a priest during the day and go out and plan gang warfare at night!. Mini Bio (1) Lanky, balding, intense American character actor of Puerto Rican ancestry, born in New York's Spanish Harlem. The man responsible for this hi-test brew was Sgt. His last credited role was for 2018's The Other Side of the Wind, an Orson Welles experimental film that was released after more than 40 years in development. He had over 125 acting credits according to his IMDB page. "Barney Miller" fans knew him for five appearances on the series between 1975 and 1982. Mr. Sierra was not there for the audition, but after performing an improvisation with his friend, it was he and not his friend who got into the school. He landed his first roles in 1969, and by 1970 he was doing regular guest appearances on a variety of shows. Thanks for contacting us. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. In 1976, he married Susan Pollock, and they remained wed until her death in 1978. Toward the end of the 1960s, Sierra moved to California to pursue a career in television acting. Gregory Sierra, a character actor who navigated easily between comedy and drama but was best known for his supporting roles on the sitcoms Sanford and Son and Barney Miller, died on Jan. 4 at his home in Laguna Woods, Calif. Chano Amenguale, Mr. Sierra earned particular praise for a 1975 episode which he was emotionally devastated and nearly broke down after killing two gunmen. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter, The New York native also portrayed a Jewish vigilante on a sobering episode of 'All in the Family.'. I come from New York City and I can live in any of the 50 states I want, Julio answers. Forever enshrined in pop culture history as the father of Violet Beauregarde in "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," Leonard Stone was a near-ubiquitous face on TV from the 1950s to the mid-2000s. Stanley died at the age of 79 due to complications from a stroke on October 3, 2009. In 2009, Mr. Sierra returned to the stage after 40 years as a British police officer in a production of See How They Run at the theater at Laguna Woods Village, the retirement community where he lived. The Clark County Coroner's Office found that an accidental drug overdose . After he left that series, Sierra played one of the original detectives working out of the diverse 12th Precinct in Greenwich Village on ABCsBarney Miller. He was written out of the series after the second season to star in A.E.S. Sgt. Murdock also played the God entity in "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier." Well take Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island too Fred complains to his son, Lamont (Demond Wilson), when he learns whos moving in next door. He moved to Los Angeles, made his onscreen debut in a nonspeaking role as a jewelry fence on a 1969 episode ofIt Takes a Thiefand then appeared on other shows likeMedical Center,The High Chaparral,Mod SquadandThe Flying Nun. Dr. Gregory Michael, a 56-year-old obstetrician and gynecologist in Miami Beach, received the vaccine at Mount Sinai Medical Center on Dec. 18 and died 16 days later from a brain hemorrhage, his. He was 83. James Gregory (December 23, 1911 - September 16, 2002) was an American character actor known for his deep, . Chano was a dedicated cop with an emotional side that was showcased in the Season 1 closing episode, "The Hero." Boyce, 30, was found dead on May 13 alongside his girlfriend Natalie Adepoju, 27. Lighting Design by Clarke Dunham. Abe Vigoda had been working steadily, if near-anonymously, on the New York stage and the occasional television series (including a handful of appearances on "Dark Shadows") from the mid-1940s until 1972, when he was cast as the doomed mobster Tessio in "The Godfather." A Warner Bros. People reported that Sierra began his career as a Shakespearean actor in New York. The mix of law and order, chaos and control, and life and death elevated "Barney Miller" above the sitcom crowd and into the realm of something different: a show which entertained as it reflected on the human condition. He worked with both the National Shakespeare Company and the New York Shakespearean festival before doing some other stage acting in New York City. That dont sound like no name that sounds like somethin you get from drinkin their water.. Stanley's distinctive gravel tones made her a natural for animated projects after "Barney" and "Fish," and she contributed voices to "Dinosaurs" and "Family Guy," among other shows. After serving in the Air Force, Mr. Sierra went with a friend to an acting school audition in Manhattan. Eccentrics seemed to be actor Richard Libertini's specialty. Once on the west coast, Sierra appeared on shows such as It Takes a Thief, Medical Center, The High Chaparral, Mod Squad, The Flying Nun and Kung Fu. For her debut in Season 3's "Sex Surrogate," she played a woman who shoots her husband for visiting a sex clinic, and then returned the following year for the first of four turns as the harried Harriet Brauer, whose frustrations with husband Philip (Peter Hobbs) drove her to extremes. Lt. Lou Rodriguez onMiami Viceand Lt. Gabriel Cacereson Murder, She Wrote. He was 83. He was 83. Scanlon, however, took not only a hardline approach to these cases, but appeared to relish the opportunity to put Barney and others in the hot seat. )#RIPGregorySierra https://t.co/ytgjfGPUy1 pic.twitter.com/2ioYuJzlxB, Charlie Rengel (@Charles_Rengel) January 23, 2021. He made his final TV appearance in "Miracle Day: Dead of Night" from Season 4 of "Torchwood" in 2011; Murdock died the following year on April 30 at the age of 81. In addition to guest roles like Marty, DeLeon was a prolific voice-over actor for animated projects, including the Rankin-Bass adaptation of "The Hobbit," the 1967 "Fantastic Four" series, and the 1981 "Spider-Man" series, for which he voiced Kraven the Hunter. Dick Van Dyke's 4 Children: Everything to Know, The Cast of 'Yellowjackets': Everything to Know, Paying Tribute to the Celebrities Who Have Died in 2023, Every Best Actor Winner in the History of the Oscars, From Longtime to Listed! Miguel "Chano" Amanguale on Barney Miller and Julio Fuentes on Sanford and Son, has died at the age of 83. Thank you for visiting DeathrecordsByName.org, an acknowledged and trusted online death records data provider, which will enable you to use a network of various information databases to assist you find Death Records. She also worked steadily in live-action projects, including recurring roles on "My Two Dads" (which she also directed), Warren Beatty's "Bulworth" and "Down With Love." You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Miami Vice star Edward James Olmos tweeted that he read news of Sierras death and wept. Gregory Sierra Born: 25-Jan - 1941 Birthplace: New York City Died: 4-Jan - 2021 Location of death: Laguna Woods, CA Cause of death: unspecified Gender: Male Race or Ethnicity: Hispanic Occupation: Actor Nationality: United States Executive summary: Det. In the plot, he volunteers in helping to chase away neo-Nazi thugs presiding in the neighborhood who spray-painted a swastika on the Bunkers front door. See Inside the Homes Stars Are Selling After Living There for Many Years, The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video to Stream Now, Tom Brady and Gisele Bndchen's Relationship Timeline. All Rights Reserved. A New York native, Sierras breakthrough came when he was cast as Julio Fuentes, the Puerto Rican neighbor to Redd Foxxs Fred Sanford on Sanford and Son.. He earned a new fan base with his role as Shepherd Book on "Firefly" and its sequel film, "Serenity," and was a highlight in episodes of "Friends," the '80s edition of "Twilight Zone," "Star Trek: Voyager," and "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." He played a doctor in the series, which made its debut in 1978. He then moved to Los Angeles in the late 1960s to work in film and television.[1]. In it, Chano struggles to balance praise from his fellow officers for killing two bank robbers in a hostage situation with his own anguished emotions over a life-and-death act. DeLeon, who also performed under the name Christopher Weeks, died at the age of 81 from complications of heart and kidney disease on October 16, 2006. Sierra died Jan. 4 from cancer, a . Dee Bell January 28, 2021. Aug. 11, 2003. Melanie Lynskey Says Cate Blanchett, Sarah Paulson Lent Their Trailers on Mrs. Sierra's film credits include The Flying Nun (1969), Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), Papillon (1973), The Towering Inferno (1974), The Prisoner of Zenda (1979) and The Trouble with Spies (1987). Toni Morrisons Husband Wiki, Bio, Age, Kids, Death, Family, Parents, Net Worth, Jamaican Architect, Nationality and Obituary, Joyner Lucas Wiki, Bio, Age, Girlfriend, Parents, Net Worth, Height, Ethnicity, Race, Instagram, Twitter and Songs. Actor Gregory Sierra has died at the age of 83. "He. Barney and his detectives Fish (Abe Vigoda), Harris (RonGlass), Stanley "Wojo" Wojciehowicz (Max Gail) were convincing as cops: they looked unglamorous and overworked, sounded cynical and stressed out, and had deep and real moral cores. A savage wit with a talent for withering putdowns, Harris finally achieved his dream with the publication of "Blood on the Badge," a hot-blooded tell-all based on his own police career. Moments after Paul leaves the Bunkers house, he is killed by a car bomb. He was 83 years old. Case in point: his attempt to root out graft accusations with a lie detector test in Season 5's "Voice Analyzer," which is defeated by Harris's unflappable cool and Dietrich's bemused assertion than he's an alien, and therefore unable to reveal emotion. Wikipedia The film did very well on the festival circuit, garnering several nominations and wins. 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. Calfa played a different perpetrator in each appearance among them, a deranged bomber in Season 3's "Group Home," a desperate repeat offender who locks the detectives in a holding cell in Season 4's "Hostage" (directed by Hal Linden), and a former master thief whose hold-up attempt is undone by his recent brain surgery in Season 6's "The Desk." He was 83. He attended the Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception, a Brooklyn prep school for boys aiming for the priesthood. Tabor also called Sierra "a brilliant actor," noting that he was still receiving fan mail after his death. Even fans who dont recognize Sierra probably remember his incredible portrayal of Entek. 2. Deserted by his parents, Sierra was brought up by an aunt in a rough, predominantly Irish neighbourhood from the age of six. Invariably, though, his efforts were thwarted by his own single-mindedness and the detectives' clever minds. His career breakthrough came in 1972 when he was cast as the easygoing Julio, junkman Fred Sanfords Puerto Rican neighbor, on NBCsSanford and Son, developed byAll in the Familycreators Bud Yorkin and Norman Lear. Character actor James Gregory stole virtually every scene in which he appeared as Luger, who recurred throughout the series' network run. Forever enshrined in zombie movie history as jittery mortician Ernie Kaltenbrunner in 1985's "Return of the Living Dead," character actor Don Calfa also appeared in numerous other features and television series, including seven episodes of "Barney Miller." She had him arrested for liquidating their assets in Season 4's "The Sighting," and then lodged complaints against him for becoming a mercenary (the Season 5 two-parter "Wojo's Girl") and a nudist (Season 7's "Agent Orange"). He also played a man named Villanazul in the low-budget 1998 movie The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit. Dietrich follows him there and is introduced to Bernice, who was played by Doris Belack of "Law and Order" fame. They were residents of Laguna Woods, California. The cancer persisted for quite a while and he was doing the best he could and just couldnt do it anymore, she said. appreciated. Written by J.J. Coyle. On his episode ofAll in the Family, after a swastika is painted on his front door, Archie (Carroll OConnor) is visited by Sierras Paul Benjamin. Lanky, balding, intense American character actor of Puerto Rican ancestry, born in New York's Spanish Harlem. He was a friend, a Mentor, a force of nature that I was so grateful to have known & worked with. Did you encounter any technical issues? Gregory Sierra Death: and Cause of Death On January 4, 2021, Gregory Sierra died of non-communicable disease. Miguel "Chano" Amanguale on the ABC police series "Barney Miller" and as Julio Fuentes on the NBC sitcom "Sanford and Son," has died, his wife,. He later toured with the National Shakespeare Company and appeared as the King of Austria in King John at the New York Shakespeare Festival (now Shakespeare in the Park) in 1967. Aaron Carter's cause of death . Gregory Sierra, who endeared himself to 1970s sitcom fans as the genial Julio Fuentes on Sanford and Son and the impassioned Sgt. Sierra was with a friend who was auditioning for an acting class when the teacher invited him to try some improvisation and was impressed. He played an Armenian onKung Fu, an Italian onBanacek, a Native American onGunsmokeand a Hawaiian onHawaii Five-O. Believing that the ignorant, bigoted Archie has been the victim of anti-Semitism, Paul tells him to his confusion and consternation You sure dont look Jewish., Well theres a good reason for that, Archie says. He gave up a lot to leave the show.. Its believed to be the only episode of the famed sitcom to end with stark silence rather than applause from the studio audience. The unique character seemed to have expert knowledge on any subject imaginable and also known for his deadpan humor and quick-witted responses. He was of American nationality and of Puerto Rican descent. He also appeared as Corbin Entek in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Second Skin". Gregory Sierra was an American actor known for his roles as Detective Sergeant Chano Amenguale on Barney Miller and as Julio Fuentes, the Puerto Rican neighbor of Fred G. Sanford on Sanford and Son. Actor Edward James Olmos recently paid tribute to Sierra in the wake of news of his death, writing on his Twitter, "Gregory Sierra Will forever be with us. Hudson Street, about an emergency service hospital in Manhattan. She told them that hed been battling cancer for a long time before he passed. While the portrayal of Marty and Driscoll is broad by current TV standards and Wojo's confusion over their orientation is occasionally cringe-worthy both are treated by the show's writers as people, not caricatures, which is notable for '70s TV. Chano was written out of the series at the end of the second season so that Sierra could star in a new sitcom fromBarney Millercreator Danny Arnold, this one set in a frenetic New York emergency room. In NBCs Sanford and Son, he was a series regular as the Sanfords neighbor Julio Fuentes. Libertini played a wide range of offbeat roles throughout his career, including turns in "Popeye," "Fletch" (as Chevy Chase's editor), and "Awakenings," among many other projects, and was a member of the famed Second City improvisational troupe. In addition to his wife, Mr. Sierra is survived by his stepdaughters, Kelly and Jill, and a step-granddaughter.