Hudson Street. Gregory Sierra's Death - Cause and Date - The Celebrity Deaths He did not like Miami and some of the people he worked with, his wife said by phone. The Clark County Coroner's Office found that an accidental drug overdose . 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. 4:05 AM EST, Sat January 23, 2021, Gregory Sierra in a 1975 episode of "Barney Miller", Gregory Sierra (left) as neighbor Julio Fuentes in an episode from "Sanford and Son". 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. Anyone can read what you share. His laughter His wit His kindness His extraordinary artistic ability.He was a friend a Mentor a force of nature that I was so grateful to have known & worked with. Give it a watch. Death Records - Death Records Search Online By Name He later went on to star as Dr. Tony Menzies on the unsuccessful sitcom A.E.S. Actor Gregory Sierra of 'Barney Miller' and 'Sanford and Son' dies at Sierra died Jan. 4 in Laguna Woods, California, after a battle with cancer, family spokesman Rick Voll told The Hollywood Reporter. 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 was 83. 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. Gregory Sierra, who was a key part of two major 1970s sitcoms as Julio Fuentes on Sanford and Son and Sgt. A five-time Emmy winner (for "Raymond" and an appearance on "St. He was 83.. Gregory Sierra was an actor best known for his roles in the sitcoms "Barney Miller" and "Sanford and Son." . Powered by. Calfa died from natural causes at his home in Yucca Valley, California, on December 1, 2016, two days before his 77th birthday. A young family,. In the plot, he volunteers in helping to chase away neo-Nazi thugs who spray-painted a swastika on the Bunkers' front door. 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 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. Death. 1. CNNs Travis Caldwell contributed to this report. Gregory Sierra's Death - Cause and Date Born (Birthday) January 25, 1937 Death Date January 4, 2021 Age of Death 83 years Cause of Death Cancer Profession TV Actor The TV actor Gregory Sierra died at the age of 83. Vigoda never achieved the same degree of fame after "Barney Miller"; his career was relegated to supporting roles in features like "Cannonball Run II" and "Look Who's Talking," along with guest shots on dozens of TV series. Their performances keep "Barney Miller" alive and relevant four decades after it ran its course. Many of the actors, like Linden and Gail, are still with us and working; others are not. Though he clearly viewed himself as a sage, experienced figure, Inspector Frank Luger's appearances at the 12th Precinct were noted more for their disruptive qualities. The more Fred tried to get under Julios skin, the more Julio got the better of him. 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. 2," the third episode of Season 3, which marked his debut as Officer Carl Levitt. He was cast as South American anti-Communist revolutionary El Puerco whose friends simply call him El on the serial spoof Soap, figuring prominently in the series unresolved final episode in 1981. In 1973, Sierra guest-starred in an unusually dramatic episode of All in the Family in the role of Paul Benjamin, who was a Jewish activist with the "Hebrew Defense Association" (based on the Jewish Defense League) fighting antisemitism in the neighborhood. Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Character actor George Murdock played Scanlon in 11 episodes of "Barney Miller," which marked only a fraction of his long film and TV careers. He worked his way up from the New York club circuit to appearances on variety and talk shows and eventual feature and TV roles. James Gregory (December 23, 1911 - September 16, 2002) was an American character actor known for his deep, . When I was a baby, we were a typical Puerto Rican family, he said. His laughter. Here is all you want to know, and more! His widow toldCNN that Sierra wanted to continue acting after that, but he was having trouble memorizing his lines. Soo was diagnosed with esophageal cancer during the fourth season of "Barney Miller," and he was forced to take leave from the series after the ninth episode of Season 5, "The Vandal." He was 83. Sierra's last screen credit was Orson Welles' long-gestating final feature, "The Other Side of the Wind," which was released in 2018; the 83-year-old actor died January 4, 2021 from stomach and liver cancer. The cancer persisted for quite a while and he was doing the best he could and just couldnt do it anymore, she said. Born Goro Suzuki in 1917, the Japanese-American Soo worked as a comic and emcee in San Francisco nightclubs prior to World War II; he, along with his family and thousands of other Japanese-Americans, was held at two internment camps during the war years, but returned to comedy and singing after the war. Lanky, balding, intense American character actor of Puerto Rican ancestry, born in New York's Spanish Harlem. He was frequently cast as management types called in to smooth over problems caused by their employees: a school vice principal with a suicidal history teacher in Season 4's "Tunnel," or the boss of mailman Stuart Pankin, who is arrested for non-delivery of mail for eight years in "Uniform Day" from Season 6. Sierra died on January 4, 2021, after a long battle with stomach and liver cancer, three weeks before his 84th birthday. He was 83 years old. Gregory Sierra, best known for his roles on Sanford and Son and Barney Miller, has died. However, in 1969, Sierra decided to move to Hollywood and began acting in episodic television where he was initially typecast as Latino heavies or cops. Gregory Tyree Boyce's cause of death as he and Natalie Adepoju found I aint Jewish.. Bookmark. He appeared in episodes of numerous other television shows, including The X-Files, Hawaii Five-O, and All in the Family. Tabor also called Sierra "a brilliant actor," noting that he was still receiving fan mail after his death. Fox Says Battle With Parkinsons Disease Keeps Getting Tougher: Im Not Going to Be 80, Channel Your Inner Queen Charlotte with This Star-Loved British Brands Exclusive Skincare Kit, Naomi Watts Just Wore These Under-$100 PJs from Two Star-Loved Brands And Theyre the Perfect Mothers Day Gift for Stylish Travelers, The Best Signet Rings for Adding a Red Carpet-Ready Touch to Your Jewelry Stack, The Best Gifts New Moms Really Want, From Cozy Robes to Virtual Escapes, James Gunns Guardians: How Chris Pratt and His Marvel Castmates Rescued Their Directors Career, The Whispers Behind NBCUniversals Jeff Shell Firing, Diane Keaton: Youre Gonna Pray to Get Off This Call, The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News. Stanley died at the age of 79 due to complications from a stroke on October 3, 2009. Gregory Sierra, a longtime character actor who appeared in television shows and movies, most notably on "Barney Miller" and "Sanford and Son," died Jan. 4 in Laguna Woods, Calif., from. Close. He was 83. The TV actor Gregory Sierra died at the age of 83. In NBCs Sanford and Son, he was a series regular as the Sanfords neighbor Julio Fuentes. "He was quite wonderful, and my heart is broken into 400 million pieces," she told CNN, explaining the cancer persisted "for quite a while and he was doing the best he could and just couldn't do it anymore.". Boyce, 30, was found dead on May 13 alongside his girlfriend Natalie Adepoju, 27. 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." Nick Yemana, a philosophical detective played by comic and actor Jack Soo, whose dry delivery was a highlight of many episodes. 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. The film was the last ever made by iconic director Orson Welles and was finally completed 40 years after his death. Dietrich follows him there and is introduced to Bernice, who was played by Doris Belack of "Law and Order" fame. Sierra was of Puerto Rican descent. Gregory Sierra, the actor best known for his roles in Sanford and Son and Barney Miller, has died. Cast: Of Puerto Rican descent, Sierra feigned a noticeable accent in, May 16, 1976 - January 30, 1978 (her death). "He was a friend a Mentor a force of nature that I was so grateful to have known & worked with," the Miami Vice star continued. Lanky, balding, intense American character actor of Puerto Rican ancestry, born in New York's Spanish Harlem. Tabor said he decided to retire because, while he still loved acting, he had difficulty remembering his lines. Originally from New York, Sierra relocated to California, pursuing a film and stage career that ultimately spanned five decades. "He. He was 83. Gregory Sierra dead: Star Trek and Miami Vice star dies at 83 after As part of his mission to tie a high-level Cardassian official to an underground rebellion, Entek kidnapped Kira Nerys and surgically altered her so she looked Cardassian. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Gregory Sierra Wiki, Biography, Age, Career, Relationship, Net Worth 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. He later settled in Laguna Woods, California.