# Gregory Sierra, 'Sanford and Son' and 'Barney Miller' actor, dies at 83 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [January 23, 2021, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gregory-sierra-sanford-and-son-and-barney-miller-actor-dies-at-83/931304 "2021-01-23T18:26:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gregory-sierra-sanford-and-son-and-barney-miller-actor-dies-at-83/931304/1 "2021-01-23T18:26:55Z")
> **[Gregory Sierra, 'Sanford and Son' and 'Barney Miller' actor, dies at 83 | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/23/entertainment/gregory-sierra-obituary-trnd/index.html)** > > Actor Gregory Sierra, best known for his roles in "Sanford and Son" and "Barney Miller," died on January 4 from cancer, his widow Helene Tabor confirmed to CNN Friday. He was 83. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gregory-sierra-sanford-and-son-and-barney-miller-actor-dies-at-83/931304/2 "2021-01-23T18:35:22Z")
I vaguely remember him playing a character named Raphael on _Sesame Street_ for a brief period. He was Luiz’s business partner in the Fix It Shop. Am I right, or just hallucinating? ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gregory-sierra-sanford-and-son-and-barney-miller-actor-dies-at-83/931304/3 "2021-01-23T18:35:25Z")
I remember him from a very memorable episode of “All in the Family” ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gregory-sierra-sanford-and-son-and-barney-miller-actor-dies-at-83/931304/4 "2021-01-23T18:49:43Z")
Is that the one where he gets blown up? ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gregory-sierra-sanford-and-son-and-barney-miller-actor-dies-at-83/931304/5 "2021-01-23T18:51:37Z")
His character was also briefly the leader of the “Miami Vice” squad before getting assassinated and replaced by Edward James Olmos. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gregory-sierra-sanford-and-son-and-barney-miller-actor-dies-at-83/931304/6 "2021-01-23T18:54:34Z")
Yes, that’s the one. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gregory-sierra-sanford-and-son-and-barney-miller-actor-dies-at-83/931304/7 "2021-01-23T18:59:38Z")
RIP Mr. Sierra; you done good. He was a very, very talented actor. Some very memorable roles/characters despite limited screen time. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gregory-sierra-sanford-and-son-and-barney-miller-actor-dies-at-83/931304/8 "2021-01-23T19:09:16Z")
> **[1973 - All in the Family: Archie is Branded - Vidéo Dailymotion](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x84a3k)** > > This episode deals with the subject of hatred against Jews and the ways in which Jews retaliate. The Bunkers find that a swastika was painted on there door. Gregory Sierra plays Paul Benjamin of the Hebrew Defense Association who has come to... ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gregory-sierra-sanford-and-son-and-barney-miller-actor-dies-at-83/931304/9 "2021-01-23T21:56:05Z")
He almost survived, **The Towering Inferno** , but, alas. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gregory-sierra-sanford-and-son-and-barney-miller-actor-dies-at-83/931304/10 "2021-01-23T22:00:48Z")
In looking at his entry on IMDB, I realize that I had forgotten that another of his excellent roles was El Puerco, the Central American revolutionary who falls in love with Jessica Tate on _Soap_. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gregory-sierra-sanford-and-son-and-barney-miller-actor-dies-at-83/931304/11 "2021-01-23T22:01:52Z")
Fred Sanford: What does “Sangria” mean? (sipping drink) Julio Fuentes: It means “blood.” Fred Sanford: (spits out drink)