Erik Estrada

Erik Estrada - Hispanic Men, Career and Facts

Violet FieldHome › AmericanErik EstradaMarch 16, 1949667 views

0 based on 0 rates
Erik Estrada Biography Stories 

Erik Estrada's Personal Details

Erik Estrada is an American actor best known for his role in the police drama television series ‘CHiPs’

InformationDetail
BirthdayMarch 16, 1949
NationalityAmerican
FamousFilm & Theater Personalities, Actors, Hispanic Men
SpousesJoyce Miller, Nanette Mirkovic, Peggy Rowe
Known asHenry Enrique Estrada, Henry Enrique
ChildrensAnthony Eric Estrada, Brandon Michael-Paul Estrada, Francesca Natalia Estrada, Lyric Alysia Estrada
Universities
  • American Musical and Dramatic Academy
Birth PlaceEast Harlem
ReligionCatholicism
Height177
GenderMale
FatherRenildo Estrada
MotherCarmen Estrada
Net Worth$2 million as of Apr 9,2017
Sun SignPisces
Born inEast Harlem
Famous asActor

// Famous Hispanic Men

Oscar Isaac

Oscar Isaac

Oscar Isaac is a Guatemalan-American actor and a musician. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and other facts about his life.

Jean-Michel Basquiat

Jean-Michel Basquiat

Jean-Michel Basquiat was an American graffiti artist who was one of the leading lights of the neo expressionist era in the 1980s. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso was one of the greatest painters of the 20th century. With this biography, explore his life, childhood, profile and timeline.

Erik Estrada's photo

Who is Erik Estrada?

Erik Estrada is an American actor best known for his role in the police drama television series ‘CHiPs’. His claim to fame was his portrayal of Frank “Ponch” Poncherello in the television drama which made him one of the most popular television stars in America in the late 1970s and early 1980s. After having captured the hearts of millions with this role, he went on to star in numerous other popular television programs and motion pictures. Born into a family of Puerto Rican descent in the US, he was raised in the Spanish Harlem neighborhood of New York City. His childhood was difficult as his parents split up when he was just a toddler and he rarely had any contact with his father. As a teenager, he became interested in the show business and realized that he possessed a natural flair for acting. He became active in his high school Drama Club and studied at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy following his graduation. He got his big break when he was selected to play a role in the film ‘The Cross and the Switchblade’ which earned him rave reviews. He went on to touch even greater heights of fame when years later he grabbed a major role in the television series ‘CHiPs. As a popular celebrity, he puts his fame to good use and is an active campaigner against drugs.

// Famous Film & Theater Personalities

Jacob Elordi

Jacob Elordi

Jacob Elordi is an Australian actor. Let’s take a look at his childhood, family, personal life, career, etc.

Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller is an American actor and screenwriter who achieved recognition for his role in the TV series ‘Prison Break’.

Skai Jackson

Skai Jackson

Skai Jackson is an American child actress with huge fan following. Find more about her family & personal life, relationships, facts and more.

Childhood & Early Life

Henry Enrique "Erik" Estrada was born on March 16, 1949, to Carmen, a seamstress, and Renildo Estrada, in East Harlem, Manhattan, New York City. He is of Puerto Rican descent.

He parents separated when he was just two and he went to live with his mother, siblings and grandfather. He rarely saw his father after his parents’ breakup though his grandfather tried his best to provide the boy with fatherly guidance.

He had a tough childhood growing up in a neighborhood that was notorious for its gang activities and violence. As a teenager he aspired to become a police officer.

While in high school he enrolled in the Drama Club and it did not take him long to realize that he was naturally gifted with acting skills. He easily landed the lead roles in the school plays and decided to pursue a career as an actor.

He studied at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy following his high school graduation.

Career

Erik Estrada received his first big break when actor cum director Don Murray selected him to play Nicky, a gang leader, in the film adaptation of the book ‘The Cross and the Switchblade’ in 1970. The film garnered much attention because of its powerful anti-drug and life-changing message, and earned Estrada positive reviews from critics.

In 1972, he got the chance to play a rookie officer in the film ‘The New Centurions’. The film marked his first role as a cop, one that he would reprise in several of his future films and television shows. Over the next few years he appeared in films such as ‘Airport’ (1975), ‘Trackdown’ (1976), and ‘Midway’ (1976).

Handsome and talented, he soon won the hearts of his audience and garnered a huge fan following. During the 1970s he also made many guest appearances in television shows such as ‘Medical Center’, ‘Hawaii Five-O’, and ‘Baretta’.

The year 1977 was a very eventful year for him as he grabbed the role of the macho police officer Frank Llewellyn "Ponch" Poncherello in the television drama ‘CHiPs’, which followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol. Actor Larry Wilcox portrayed his straitlaced partner, Officer Jonathan "Jon" Baker.

The show became an immediate success with the audiences and soon Estrada was catapulted to international stardom, winning admiration for his brooding good looks, muscular body, and on-screen exploits. The much loved series ran for 139 episodes over six seasons, ending in May 1983.

After the show’s ending, he went on to appear in a series of other roles, but could not repeat the success he had enjoyed in ‘CHiPs’. In the late 1980s he acted in several low-budget films in mostly forgettable roles. He returned to television in a three-part episode of the police drama ‘Hunter’ in 1987.

His fortunes changed for the better in the 1990s when he was approached with the role of Johnny in the television series ‘Two Women, One Road’ (Dos mujeres, un camino). He took 30 days of Berlitz Spanish lessons to prepare for this role. His hard work paid off and the series became a resounding success, running for over 400 episodes.

Estrada is also a voice actor and had lent his voice to several cartoon shows for children. He parodied himself in the Cartoon Network show ‘Sealab 2021’ for which he did voiceovers. He also did a voiceover for the show ‘Space Ghost: Coast to Coast’.

In recent years he has appeared in a number of reality television shows, including the short-lived CBS reality show, ‘Armed & Famous’. He began co-hosting a weekly series, ‘The World's Funniest Moments’ with Laura McKenzie in 2010 and starred in the film ‘Finding Faith’ in 2013.

Major Works

Erik Estrada is best known for his role as Frank Llewellyn "Ponch" Poncherello in the television drama series ‘CHiPs’ in which he played a motorcycle police officer of the California Highway Patrol. The show became highly popular and ran for six seasons, establishing Estrada as a highly marketable and famous television star.

Awards & Achievements

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 in 1979.

Personal Life & Legacy

His first marriage was to Joyce Miller in 1979. It was however very short-lived and ended in divorce after a few months in 1980.

He tied the knot with Peggy Lynn Rowe, an entertainment executive, songwriter, and producer, in 1985. The couple had two sons before divorcing in 1990.

Erik Estrada is currently married to sound technician Nanette Mirkovich whom he wed in 1997. They have one daughter.

He is also active in campaigning for social causes close to his heart and was named the international "Face" of D.A.R.E. which is a campaign against drugs in 2000. In addition, he speaks out for the American Heart Association and the United Way, and also supports automobile child-seat safety checks across the country.

Net Worth

As of 2015, Erik Estrada has an estimated net worth of $2 million.

// Famous Actors

Jacob Elordi

Jacob Elordi

Jacob Elordi is an Australian actor. Let’s take a look at his childhood, family, personal life, career, etc.

Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller is an American actor and screenwriter who achieved recognition for his role in the TV series ‘Prison Break’.

Shemar Moore

Shemar Moore

Shemar Moore is a model turned actor best known for his role in the television series ‘The Young and the Restless’. This biography of Shemar Moore provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Erik Estrada biography timelines

  • // 16th Mar 1949
    Henry Enrique "Erik" Estrada was born on March 16, 1949, to Carmen, a seamstress, and Renildo Estrada, in East Harlem, Manhattan, New York City. He is of Puerto Rican descent.
  • // 1970
    Erik Estrada received his first big break when actor cum director Don Murray selected him to play Nicky, a gang leader, in the film adaptation of the book ‘The Cross and the Switchblade’ in 1970. The film garnered much attention because of its powerful anti-drug and life-changing message, and earned Estrada positive reviews from critics.
  • // 1972
    In 1972, he got the chance to play a rookie officer in the film ‘The New Centurions’. The film marked his first role as a cop, one that he would reprise in several of his future films and television shows. Over the next few years he appeared in films such as ‘Airport’ (1975), ‘Trackdown’ (1976), and ‘Midway’ (1976).
  • // 1977
    The year 1977 was a very eventful year for him as he grabbed the role of the macho police officer Frank Llewellyn "Ponch" Poncherello in the television drama ‘CHiPs’, which followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol. Actor Larry Wilcox portrayed his straitlaced partner, Officer Jonathan "Jon" Baker.
  • // 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 in 1979.
  • // 1979 To 1980
    His first marriage was to Joyce Miller in 1979. It was however very short-lived and ended in divorce after a few months in 1980.
  • // May 1983
    The show became an immediate success with the audiences and soon Estrada was catapulted to international stardom, winning admiration for his brooding good looks, muscular body, and on-screen exploits. The much loved series ran for 139 episodes over six seasons, ending in May 1983.
  • // 1985 To 1990
    He tied the knot with Peggy Lynn Rowe, an entertainment executive, songwriter, and producer, in 1985. The couple had two sons before divorcing in 1990.
  • // 1987
    After the show’s ending, he went on to appear in a series of other roles, but could not repeat the success he had enjoyed in ‘CHiPs’. In the late 1980s he acted in several low-budget films in mostly forgettable roles. He returned to television in a three-part episode of the police drama ‘Hunter’ in 1987.
  • // 1997
    Erik Estrada is currently married to sound technician Nanette Mirkovich whom he wed in 1997. They have one daughter.
  • // 2000
    He is also active in campaigning for social causes close to his heart and was named the international "Face" of D.A.R.E. which is a campaign against drugs in 2000. In addition, he speaks out for the American Heart Association and the United Way, and also supports automobile child-seat safety checks across the country.
  • // 2010 To 2013
    In recent years he has appeared in a number of reality television shows, including the short-lived CBS reality show, ‘Armed & Famous’. He began co-hosting a weekly series, ‘The World's Funniest Moments’ with Laura McKenzie in 2010 and starred in the film ‘Finding Faith’ in 2013.
  • // 2015
    As of 2015, Erik Estrada has an estimated net worth of $2 million.

// Famous American peoples

Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller is an American actor and screenwriter who achieved recognition for his role in the TV series ‘Prison Break’.

Jason Simpson

Jason Simpson

Jason Simpson is the son of former NFL running back, broadcaster and actor O. J. Simpson. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family, life, and little known facts about him.

Melissa Brim

Melissa Brim

Melissa Brim is the ex-girlfriend of former professional boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.

Skai Jackson

Skai Jackson

Skai Jackson is an American child actress with huge fan following. Find more about her family & personal life, relationships, facts and more.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer is a Christian author and speaker. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline

Zoe LaVerne

Zoe LaVerne

Zoe LaVerne is an American musical.ly star. Check out this biography to know more about her family, personal life, including her age, birthday, etc.

Erik Estrada's FAQ

  • What is Erik Estrada birthday?

    Erik Estrada was born at 1949-03-16

  • Where is Erik Estrada's birth place?

    Erik Estrada was born in East Harlem

  • What is Erik Estrada nationalities?

    Erik Estrada's nationalities is American

  • Who is Erik Estrada spouses?

    Erik Estrada's spouses is Joyce Miller, Nanette Mirkovic, Peggy Rowe

  • Who is Erik Estrada childrens?

    Erik Estrada's childrens is Anthony Eric Estrada, Brandon Michael-Paul Estrada, Francesca Natalia Estrada, Lyric Alysia Estrada

  • What was Erik Estrada universities?

    Erik Estrada studied at American Musical and Dramatic Academy

  • What is Erik Estrada's religion?

    Erik Estrada's religion is Catholicism

  • How tall is Erik Estrada?

    Erik Estrada's height is 177

  • Who is Erik Estrada's father?

    Erik Estrada's father is Renildo Estrada

  • Who is Erik Estrada's mother?

    Erik Estrada's mother is Carmen Estrada

  • What is Erik Estrada's sun sign?

    Erik Estrada is Pisces

  • How famous is Erik Estrada?

    Erik Estrada is famouse as Actor