‘Sanford and Son’ and ‘Barney Miller’ actor Gregory Sierra dies at 83

‘Sanford and Son’ and ‘Barney Miller’ actor Gregory Sierra dies at 83

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“It was wonderful and my heart broke into 400 million pieces,” said Tabor. The cancer persisted “for a long time and he was doing the best he could and he just couldn’t do it anymore,” she said.

Originally from New York, Sierra moved to California, pursuing a film and stage career that spanned five decades. His most prominent roles were in sitcoms from the 1970s.

In NBC’s “Sanford and Son”, he was a regular on the show as Sanford’s neighbor, Julio Fuentes. He later played Miguel “Chano” Amanguale, a detective on ABC’s “Barney Miller” program.

Gregory Sierra (left) as neighbor Julio Fuentes in an episode of "Sanford and Son"

Sierra also had supporting or guest roles in “All in the Family”, “Hill Street Blues”, “Miami Vice” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”.

Film credits include “Beneath the Planet of the Apes”, “Papillon” and “The Towering Inferno”.

Tabor called Sierra “a brilliant actor” and said he had still received letters from fans since his death. His last role as an actor with credit was in 2018. Tabor said he decided to retire because, although he still enjoyed acting, he had difficulty remembering his lines.

Tabor said he was “the first person to help anyone who needed help and he cared a lot about people”.

Sierra also left two stepdaughters and one stepdaughter, all of whom, Tabor said, “loved him and called him ‘father'”.

CNN’s Travis Caldwell contributed to this report.

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