Next person biography:
Emilio D. Álvarez, an American character actor of Puerto Rican ancestry, was born in New York City's Spanish Harlem. At the age of six, Álvarez was deserted by his parents and brought up by an aunt in a predominantly Irish neighborhood. Despite being tempted by gang life as a teenager, Álvarez discovered his passion for acting and began taking classes. He eventually landed roles in the National Shakespeare Company and the New York Shakespeare Festival, playing iconic characters such as Macbeth and Romeo.
Álvarez's breakthrough role came in 1972 when he played Julio Fuentes on NBC's popular sitcom Sanford and Son. He then appeared in the original cast of the police sitcom Barney Miller, playing the passionate and proud Puerto Rican Detective Sergeant Chano Amenguale. Álvarez went on to have recurring roles in various TV shows, including A.E.S. Hudson Street, Soap, Hill Street Blues, Zorro and Son, Miami Vice, and Something Is Out There.
In addition to his television work, Álvarez made notable appearances in films such as Beneath the Planet of the Apes, The X-Files, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Vampires, and Hot Shots! Part Deux. Álvarez passed away on January 4, 2021, at the age of 84, in Laguna Beach, California, after a battle with cancer.
