Erik Estrada

Portrayed himself on the hit reality show "The Surreal Life 2"

Signed on to shed excess pounds for Discovery Health Channel's "Body Challenge: Hollywood," a 12-week health and fitness competition

Had cameo in "National Lampoon's Van Wilder"

Joined the cast of the CBS daytime drama "The Bold and the Beautiful"

Published autobiography "Erik Estrada: My Life from Harlem to Hollywood"

Had cameo as himself in "National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon I"

Offered the role of Latino heartthrob Johnny in the Mexican telenovela (soap opera) "Dos Mujeres, Un Camino/Two Women, One Direction"; learned Spanish in 30 straight 8-hour days of Berlitz; originally slated for 100 episodes, went 400 plus--four years--becoming the biggest telenovela in Latin American history, rejuvinating Estrada's career

Starred in straight-to-video movies "The Lost Idol", "Caged Fury" (also associate producer) and "The Wilding"

Debut as associate producer for the straight-to-video "Alien Seed"; also played Dr Stone

Portrayed Carmen D'Agostino in the NBC movie "The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission"

Made Off-Broadway acting debut in Sam Shepard's "True West"

Played Rico 'Honeybunny' Ramirez, young boxer from the barrio, in NBC movie "Honeybunny"

Became involved in contract dispute with MGM (studio behind "CHiPs"; sued by MGM for breach of contract; briefly replaced on the series by Bruce Jenner; returned to work after seven weeks

Injured in a motorcycle accident in August

Starred as Francis 'Ponch' Poncherello in "CHiPs" (NBC)

Portrayed Santos on short-lived NBC Western series "The Quest"

Acted the part of Navigator Julio in "Airport 1975"

Played Sergio in "The New Centurions"

Feature debut in "The Cross and the Switchblade"

Appeared on the CBS sitcom "The Nanny" as himself

Appeared with a Los Angeles dance troupe in the late 1960s

Grew up in NYC's East Harlem

Played Mr. Dork in UPN's "Home Boys in Outer Space" and appeared as himself in series like the WB's "Unhappily Ever After" and "The Wayans Bros"; also appeared in a Butthole Surfers music video