Best known for his starring role in the 1970s television series CHiPs,
Erik Estrada was born on March 16, 1949, in New York City. Of mainly Puerto Rican descent, he became known for starring in Spanish telenovelas, a host of informercials, and even a voice acting job on a Cartoon Network show, after his stint on CHiPs ended.
Estrada made his big screen debut in the 1970 action film The Cross and the Switchblade opposite Pat Boon. Four years later in 1974, he starred on the blockbuster hit disaster film Airport 1975. In 1977, he started playing what would turn out to be his most notable role as a rambunctious California Highway Patrol officer. This role landed him a spot in People magazine's “Ten Sexiest Bachelors in the World” in the same year. In a mediocre comeback in 1994, he starred in the Spanish language telenovela Dos Mujeres, Un Camino, which went on to become the biggest telenovela in Latin American history.
He is also known for supporting several causes, such as the promotion of automobile child-seat safety checks around the country and campaigns against illegal drugs. Reminiscent of his role in CHiPs, he supports a foundation that provides benefits and scholarships to members of the California Highway Patrol.
In 2004, Estrada was cast in VH1 reality show
The Surreal Life season 2, touted as the best season yet. The show features celebrities who are said to be past their primes and puts them in a Hollywood Hills mansion for two weeks. As if this were not enough, unforgiving cameras also follow their every move. Estrada made a good impression on viewers from the very start. One of the first challenges was to run a restaurant and he was the only person who was serious about the task at hand. He was also game in another challenge, in which they had to play volleyball in a nudist colony, where he played topless to earn extra points.
(Photo courtesy of VH1)