Erik Estrada

Henry Enrique "Erik" Estrada[1] (born March 16, 1949) is an American actor, voice actor, and police officer. He is known for his co-starring lead role as California Highway Patrol officer Francis (Frank) Llewelyn "Ponch" Poncherello in the police drama television series CHiPs, which ran from 1977 to 1983. He later became known for his work in Spanish-language telenovelas, his appearances in reality television shows and infomercials and as a regular voice on the Adult Swim series Sealab 2021.

Erik Estrada
Estrada at Dragon Con in 2007
Born
Enrique Estrada

(1949-03-16) March 16, 1949
East Harlem, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
OccupationActor, voice actor, police officer
Years active1970–present
Spouse(s)
Joyce Miller
​
(
m. 1979; div. 1980)

Peggy Rowe
​
(
m. 1985; div. 1990)

Nanette Mirkovich
(
m. 1997)
Children3
Websitewww.erikestrada.com

Early life

Estrada was born on March 16, 1949, in East Harlem, Manhattan, New York, the son of Carmen Moreno, a seamstress, and Renildo Estrada.[1] His parents are of Puerto Rican descent.[2]

Career

1970–2000

In the 1970 film version of The Cross and the Switchblade, Estrada made his film debut in the role of Nicky Cruz alongside Pat Boone, who played the role of David Wilkerson. In 1972, Estrada co-starred with George C. Scott and Stacy Keach as LAPD Officer Sergio Duran in the movie The New Centurions. In 1973, Estrada co-starred in season 5, episode 22, of the CBS TV series Hawaii Five-O: "Engaged to be Buried". In 1974, Estrada took part in the disaster film, Airport 1975, where he played a role as the flight engineer on a Boeing 747. His character was killed in a midair collision. Two years later, he was a player in the military historical epic Midway, as a fictional airman Ens. "Chili Bean" Ramos.

Estrada and Larry Wilcox on CHiPS in 1977.

Starting in 1977, Estrada co-starred as Frank "Ponch" Poncharello in the TV series CHiPs. In 1978, he began training in martial arts with SeishinDo Kenpo instructor Frank Argelander (Frank Landers), to prepare for a two-part episode of the series. The two appeared on the cover of Fighting Stars Magazine that same year, discussing Estrada's training regimen. On Monday, August 6, 1979, Estrada was seriously injured while filming a scene on the set of CHiPs, fracturing several ribs and breaking both wrists after he was thrown from his 600-pound (270 kg) motorcycle.[2]

Later in 1979, Estrada was voted one of "The 10 Sexiest Bachelors in the World" by People magazine and was featured on the cover of the November issue.[2] Following a salary dispute with NBC in the fall of 1981, Estrada was briefly replaced by Olympic Gold Medalist and actor Bruce Jenner. CHiPs was eventually canceled in 1983. In the 1980s, Estrada appeared in a string of low-budget films. He made a return to series television in a 1987 three-part episode of the police drama Hunter.

In the 1990s, Estrada played the role of Johnny, a Tijuana trucker, in the Televisa telenovela Dos mujeres, un camino ("Two women, one road"). He shared the main credits with Mexican actresses/singers Laura Leon and Bibi Gaytán. Originally slated for 100 episodes, the show went to 200-plus episodes and became the biggest telenovela in Latin American history.[2] He was reportedly paid 1 million pesos for that role.[3]

In 1994, Estrada began co-hosting the syndicated outdoor adventure show American Adventurer, which ran until 2004.[4] In 1995, he made a special guest appearance as Ponch in punk rock band Bad Religion's music video "Infected", as well as in the video for the Butthole Surfers's video for "Pepper". He has also been seen on a few episodes of Sabrina, The Teenage Witch as himself, seen in a daydream cloud in Hilda's mind and driving a car as Hilda zapped herself in his car.

In 1997, Estrada wrote his autobiography, Erik Estrada: My Road from Harlem to Hollywood.[5] In 1998, he returned as the character Francis "Ponch" Poncherello in the TNT made-for-TV movie CHiPs '99, along with the rest of the original cast.

2000–present
Estrada poses with a fan during a fundraiser

In 2001, Estrada landed a role on the daytime drama, The Bold and the Beautiful, as Eduardo Dominguez.[6] In 2002, he played a game-show host on the Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire with Hilary Duff. He also made a guest appearance on an episode of Spy TV in 2002. He has also had a regular role doing voiceovers for the Cartoon Network show Sealab 2021, where he would parody himself. He also appeared in an episode of another Cartoon Network show, Space Ghost: Coast to Coast, which features a character named Moltar who has an obsession with Estrada and CHiPS, as a guest. Estrada has also guest-starred on the children's cartoon Maya and Miguel.

Estrada has appeared in music videos, such as Eminem's music video "Just Lose It". A band named after him (Estradasphere) is based in Santa Cruz, California. Estrada also made guest appearances on The Wayans Bros., Unhappily Ever After, the Nickelodeon comedy Drake & Josh, NBC's Scrubs and My Name is Earl, and ABC's According to Jim.

Estrada has done a long-running series of infomercials as a national spokesman for National Recreational Properties, selling undeveloped real estate property in such locations as Siskiyou County, California; Lake Shastina, California; California City, California; Ocean Shores, Washington; Colorado; and recently, Tellico Village, Tennessee and Bella Vista, Arkansas.

Estrada began appearing in Burger King TV commercials in September 2009 where he attended a class on endorsing products led by race car driver Tony Stewart. During the spoof, Estrada seeks to understand why American consumers were not interested in purchasing his "Estrada" sunglasses that noticeably had his last name written boldly across the lens.

Estrada has appeared in recent years in a number of reality television shows. In 2004, he starred in both the second season of The Surreal Life and in Discovery Health Body Challenge. He also starred in the short-lived CBS reality show, Armed & Famous. In 2008, Estrada appeared in Husband for Hire, a television movie starring Nadine Velazquez and Mario López. After a series of specials, in 2010, Estrada and Laura McKenzie began co-hosting a weekly series, The World's Funniest Moments, which began as a myNetworkTV series hosted by Arsenio Hall.

Erik Estrada was contestant on the second season of the Spanish Univision reality show Mira Quien Baila, where 10 contestants are chosen to perform different styles of dancing, and each Sunday, one of them is eliminated. In 2013, he starred in Finding Faith, a film about a young teenager who is kidnapped from a meeting planned online. The story of sexual predation is based on true incidents investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Estrada toured with the film, aiming to educate parents and young people about the dangers of online grooming.[7]

Activism

In 2000, Estrada was named the international "Face" of D.A.R.E. which is a campaign against drugs.[8][9] He also speaks out for the American Heart Association, the United Way, and the C.H.P. 11-99 Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides benefits and scholarships to California Highway Patrol family members, as well as funeral expenses for fallen officers.[9] Estrada's experience in CHiPs led him to become a reserve officer for the Muncie Police Department in Muncie, Indiana.[10] Estrada became spokesperson for the C.H.P.'s "car seat inspection and installation" program. He has made numerous appearances supporting automobile child-seat safety checks across the country.[11] He appeared in Española, New Mexico, on May 28, 2009, to promote the "100 Days and Nights of Summer" traffic safety and anti-DWI campaign that involves the New Mexico State Police.[12]

Law enforcement

Estrada became a reserve police officer for the Muncie (Indiana) Police Department. From there, Estrada moved to Virginia, where he was an I.C.A.C. (Internet Crimes Against Children) investigator for eight years in Bedford County, Virginia.[13][14] As of July 1, 2016, he was a reserve police officer in St. Anthony, Idaho. In the course of his duties, Estrada has been filmed patrolling on a police motorcycle.[15]

Personal life

Estrada was married to Joyce Miller in November 1979; the couple divorced in 1980 and had no children.[1] Estrada was married to Peggy Lynn Rowe, an entertainment executive, songwriter, and producer[1] from 1985 until 1990, when they divorced. The couple had two sons, Anthony Erik (born 1986), and pole-vaulter Brandon Michael-paul (born 1987). In 1997, Estrada married film sound technician[1] Nanette Mirkovich. They have one daughter, Francesca Natalia (born 2000), an aspiring actress.[16] He lives in Studio City, California, U.S.[14][17]

During an episode of Watch What Happens Live in January 2019 Marie Osmond told host Andy Cohen that she had briefly dated Erik.[18]

Estrada is a member of the Blue Knights motorcycle club.[19] He also rides with the Loyal Order of Moose fraternal and service organization.[19]

Estrada endorsed Republican John McCain in the 2008 United States Presidential election.[20]

Estrada was the celebrity guest of the Pekin Marigold Festival in Pekin, Illinois in September 2017.[21]

Filmography

Film
  • 1970: The Cross and the Switchblade as Nicky Cruz
  • 1971: Chrome and Hot Leather (uncredited)
  • 1972: The Ballad of Billie Blue (aka Jail Breakin' ) as Justin
  • 1972: Parades as Chicano
  • 1972: The New Centurions as Sergio
  • 1974: Airport 1975 as Julio
  • 1976: Trackdown as Chucho
  • 1976: Midway as Ensign Ramos
  • 1980: The Line
  • 1982: Honeyboy (TV Movie) as Rico 'Honeyboy' Ramirez
  • 1983: Where Is Parsifal? as Henry Board II
  • 1985: Light Blast as Inspector Ronn Warren
  • 1985: The Repenter as Salvo Lercara
  • 1987: Hour of the Assassin as Martin Fierro
  • 1988: Andy Colby's Incredible Adventure
  • 1989: Alien Seed as Dr. Stone
  • 1989: The Lost Idol
  • 1990: Twisted Justice as Commander Gage
  • 1990: A Show of Force as Machado
  • 1990: Night of the Wilding as Joseph
  • 1990: Caged Fury as Victor
  • 1990: Spirits as Father Anthony Vicci
  • 1990: Guns as Juan Degas / Jack of Diamonds
  • 1991: Earth Angel
  • 1991: Do or Die as Richard 'Rico' Estevez
  • 1991: Gang Justice as Billy's Father
  • 1992: The Last Riders as Johnny
  • 1992: The Divine Enforcer as Monsignor
  • 1992: Tuesday Never Comes as Micelli
  • 1992: The Naked Truth as Gonzales
  • 1992: The Sounds of Silence as Lester Maldonado
  • 1993: National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1 as Officer Francis Poncherello
  • 1993: Angel Eyes as Johnny Ventura
  • 1993: Dos mujeres un camino as Johnny (Juan Daniel)
  • 1994: Juana la puta
  • 1995: The Misery Brothers as Himself
  • 1995: The Final Goal as Rameriez
  • 1998: Visions as Detctive Francisco Moreno
  • 1998: The Modern Adventures of Tom Sawyer as Joe
  • 1998: Shattered Dreams as Fredrick
  • 1998: Lost in Hollywood
  • 1999: King Cobra as Bernie Alvarez
  • 2000: Oliver Twisted as Dr. Castaneda
  • 2000: Destroying America
  • 2000: We Married Margo as Himself
  • 2001: UP, Michigan! as Edward Manchester
  • 2002: National Lampoon's Van Wilder as Himself
  • 2004: Border Blues as Mexican Cop Morales
  • 2007: Kickin It Old Skool
  • 2007: Mother Goose Parade as Honorary Grand Marshall
  • 2007: Husband for Hire (TV Movie) as Victor Diaz
  • 2008: 2nd Semester of Spanish, Spanish Love Song
  • 2011: Horrorween as Contractor
  • 2012: Highway (2012) as Sanchez
  • 2012: Spring Break '83 as Himself
  • 2012: Cool Cat Stops Bullying as Himself
  • 2012: Cool Cat in the Hollywood Christmas Parade as Hollywood Parade MC (uncredited?)
  • 2013: Finding Faith[7] as Sheriff Brown
  • 2013: Chupacabra vs. The Alamo (TV Movie) as Carlos Seguin
  • 2013: This Is Our Time as Mr. Rowley
  • 2013: Templar Nation as Alfred De Molay
  • 2014: Planes: Fire & Rescue as Nick 'Loop'n' Lopez (voice)
  • 2015: Cool Cat Saves The Kids as Himself (reused footage from Cool Cat Stops Bullying and Cool Cat in the Hollywood Christmas Parade)[6]
  • 2015: Virtuous as Jack Evans
  • 2015: Uncommon[22] as Marc Garcia
  • 2016: El Americano: The Movie as Punch (voice)
  • 2017: CHiPs as Paramedic (uncredited)
  • 2018: Cool Cat Kids Superhero as Himself (re-cut of Cool Cat Saves the Kids)

Television
gollark: Think about it. So many bad things use UTF-16. Windows. JavaScript. Java.
gollark: UEFI uses UTF-16, thus bad.
gollark: I guess I could run it under the same account.
gollark: If I make a faster markov bot with more soul harvesting will it be installinated?
gollark: um. sure.

References
  1. "Erik Estrada Biography (1949-)". Film Reference. Advameg, Inc. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  2. "Erik Estrada biography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on November 2, 2011.
  3. "Erik Estrada". Incredible-People.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-19.
  4. "American Adventurer: Episodes". Couchville.com. Archived from the original on July 31, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  5. Estrada, Erik; Seay, Davin (1997). Erik Estrada: My Road from Harlem to Hollywood. William Morrow & Company. ISBN 0-688-14293-1.
  6. Erik Estrada on IMDb
  7. Metro News "Erik Estrada travels with Finding Faith"
  8. Yahoo Estrada Profile Archived November 2, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  9. "Erik Estrada Bio". erikestrada.com.
  10. ""Erik Estrada to patrol with Indiana police" MSNBC " December 4 2004". Today.msnbc.msn.com. December 4, 2008. Archived from the original on December 6, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  11. "FHP Teams Up with TV Star and 21st Century to Promote Child Safety" Archived January 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
  12. "‘Ponch’ Lends a Hand" July 2009 Traffic Safety News. New Mexico Department of Transportation – Traffic Safety Bureau Archived September 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  13. "For CHiPs' Estrada, Life Imitates Art". CBS News. February 11, 2009.
  14. "Picture Perfect Mysteries: Dead Over Diamonds Cast – Erik Estrada". Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Crown Media. n.d. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  15. Smith, Lisa Dayley (June 19, 2018). "'Superman' Dean Cain joins St. Anthony Police Department reserves". Idaho State Journal. St. Anthony, Idaho. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  16. "lacasting". home.lacasting.com. L.A. Casting.
  17. Mills, Nancy (August 19, 1986). "TRUE CONFESSIONS' EPISODE : ESTRADA PLAYS A TV ROLE HE'S SUITED FOR: FATHER". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  18. "Did Marie Osmond Date Erik Estrada?". youtube.com. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  19. Keller, Joel (May 20, 2016). "Erik Estrada on His 'Liv and Maddie' Guest Spot and Why He's a Cop In Real Life". TV Insider. NTVB Media, Inc.
  20. Oinounou, Mosheh (July 1, 2008). "Ponch endorses McCain". FOXNews.com. Archived from the original on July 5, 2008. Retrieved July 1, 2008.
  21. "Pekin Marigold Festival". Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  22. "Uncommon, a Liberty Counsel Film". Archived from the original on February 21, 2015.
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