Erik Estrada, the son of Renildo and Carmen Estrada, (born March 16, 1949 in East Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States) is an American actor of Puerto Rican descent, known for his co-starring lead role in the 1977-1983 US television series CHiPs. He later became known for his work in Spanish language telenovelas, and in more recent years, his appearances in reality television shows and infomercials and as a regular voice on the Cartoon Network show SeaLab 2021.
Played in a Mexican "telenovela" (soap opera) in the early '90s. Unlike many characters he's played, Estrada doesn't speak Spanish, so his lines were fed to him over an earphone during production.
Daughter, Francesca Natalia, born 5 January 2000 in Burbank, CA
Has his own Official Website that he and his wife answer all their fans emails and talk with them on the forum.
Is the face of D.A.R.E., an organization for a drug-free America.
Is a spokesperson for Smoke Signals Communications.
Left "CHiPs" (1977) in the fall of 1981 over a contract salary dispute with NBC and was briefly replaced by 1976 Olympic Decathlon Gold Medalist Bruce Jenner.
(March 2002) appears as a motorist stopped by two chimpanzee motorcycle highway cops in "CHimPs", a Diet Dr. Pepper ad which is a send-up of his signature TV show "CHiPs" (1977).
Once went to Thailand to attempt to circumvent the Screen Actors Guild and secure a sub-union job, the only work he could find.
Puerto Rican by ethnicity.
When he landed Johnny in "Dos mujeres, un camino" (1993) he had to take 30 straight eight-hour days of Berlitz Spanish lessons before he could begin. Originally slated for 100 episodes, the show went to 400-plus episodes, became the biggest telenovela in Latin-American history and revived Estrada's almost non-existent career.
Was the original choice to play 'Carlos' in From Dusk Till Dawn (1996).
