Person Biography:
Luis Contreras was born on September 18, 1950, as the son of actor Roberto Contreras. He had a unique appearance, often sporting a mass of curly hair and a drooping mustache, with piercing dark eyes and an angular face. This distinctive look often led to him being cast in roles such as bums, bikers, criminals, or gang members.
Early Career:
Contreras made his film debut in Steven Spielberg's science fiction classic "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" as a Federale. He also appeared in Spielberg's comedy "1941" as a zoot suiter.
1980s and 1990s:
Luis went on to work prolifically throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He frequently acted in movies for director Walter Hill, including "The Long Riders," "48 HRS.," "Extreme Prejudice," "Red Heat," "Geronimo: An American Legend," and "Last Man Standing."
Notable Roles:
Contreras was especially memorable in several roles, including:
* A grocery store security guard in the cult classic sci-fi black comedy "Repo Man"
* The vicious ringleader of a gang of cocaine cowboys in "Stand Alone"
* A hostile eye-patched biker in the delightfully madcap "Pee-wee's Big Adventure"
* A deranged homeless man who terrorizes a trio of teenage girls in the "A Night on the Town" episode of the hugely enjoyable horror anthology "After Midnight"
Television Appearances:
Luis Contreras also made guest appearances on several TV shows, including:
* "CHiPs"
* "Quincy M.E."
* "T.J. Hooker"
* "Knight Rider"
* "Riptide"
* "Hill Street Blues"
* "Simon & Simon"
* "Night Court"
* "Hunter"
* "Matlock"
* "Carnivale"
Personal Life:
Luis Contreras died of cancer at the tragically young age of 53 on June 20, 2004. He was survived by his daughter Marissa.
