Biography
More important than the teeth and the hair and the preteen Ponch mania, was the simple fact that Estrada's appeal transcended ethnic lines at a time when Hispanic lead actors were not commonplace. After fading into relative obscurity for a decade or so, he resurfaced as an anti-drug advocate and rode a wave of retro popularity into TV reunions, music video appearances and a regular role on a Spanish daytime soap opera.
Of Puerto Rican decent, …
Latest Tv Credits
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Career Milestones
2004 | Signed on to shed excess pounds for Discovery Health Channel's "Body Challenge: Hollywood," a 12-week health and fitness competition | |
2004 | Portrayed himself on the hit reality show "The Surreal Life 2" | |
2002 | Had cameo in "National Lampoon's Van Wilder" | |
2001 | Joined the cast of the CBS daytime drama "The Bold and the Beautiful" | |
1997 | Published autobiography "Erik Estrada: My Life from Harlem to Hollywood" | |
| 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 | ||
| Appeared on the CBS sitcom "The Nanny" as himself | ||
1993 | 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 | |
1993 | Had cameo as himself in "National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon I" | |
1990 | Starred in straight-to-video movies "The Lost Idol", "Caged Fury" (also associate producer) and "The Wilding" | |
1989 | Debut as associate producer for the straight-to-video "Alien Seed"; also played Dr Stone | |
1988 | Portrayed Carmen D'Agostino in the NBC movie "The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission" | |
1984 | Made Off-Broadway acting debut in Sam Shepard's "True West" | |
1982 | Played Rico 'Honeybunny' Ramirez, young boxer from the barrio, in NBC movie "Honeybunny" | |
1981 | 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 | |
1979 | Injured in a motorcycle accident in August | |
1977 | Starred as Francis 'Ponch' Poncherello in "CHiPs" (NBC) | |
1976 | Portrayed Santos on short-lived NBC Western series "The Quest" | |
1975 | Acted the part of Navigator Julio in "Airport 1975" | |
1972 | Played Sergio in "The New Centurions" | |
1970 | Feature debut in "The Cross and the Switchblade" | |
| Appeared with a Los Angeles dance troupe in the late 1960s | ||
| Grew up in NYC's East Harlem | ||
Awards
1979 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama in CHiPs |