Henry Enrique Estrada (born March 16, 1949) is an American actor, and former police officer. He is widely known for his co-starring lead role as California Highway Patrol officer Francis (Frank) Llewelyn "Ponch" Poncherello in the police drama television series CHiPs, which aired from 1977 to 1983. He later became known for his work in Spanish telenovelas, his appearances in reality television shows and infomercials, and as a regular voice on the series Sealab 2021, on Adult Swim.
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Early life
Estrada was born on March 16, 1949, in East Harlem, an area of Manhattan, New York to Carmen Moreno, a seamstress, and Renildo Estrada. He is of Puerto Rican descent. Growing up, he thought about becoming a police officer, turning to acting after joining the drama club at Louis D. Brandeis High School on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
Career
Acting
In 1970, Estrada made his film debut in the role of Nicky Cruz alongside Pat Boone, in the independent film The Cross and the Switchblade. In 1972, Estrada appeared in a small role as a police officer in The New Centurions, followed by a significant role in a major motion picture, the disaster film, Airport 1975, directed by Jack Smight, where he played Julio, a womanizing flight engineer on a Boeing 747. In 1975, he again worked with Smight in Midway, a successful military historical epic, as a fictional airman Ensign "Chili Bean" Ramos.
Beginning in 1977, Estrada co-starred as Frank "Ponch" Poncharello in CHiPs, a television series. In 1978, he began training in martial arts with SeishinDo Kenpo instructor Frank Argelander (Frank Landers), preparing for a two-part episode of CHiPs. The two appeared on the cover of Fighting Stars Magazine, also in 1978 talking about Estrada's training regimen. On August 6, 1979, Estrada was seriously injured while filming a scene on the set of CHiPs, fracturing several ribs and breaking both wrists after he was thrown from his 600-pound (270 kg) motorcycle.
Later in 1979, Estrada was voted one of "The 10 Sexiest Bachelors in the World" by People and was featured on the cover of the November issue. After a salary dispute with NBC in the fall of 1981, Estrada was briefly replaced by Olympic gold medalist and actor Bruce Jenner. Larry Wilcox, a co-star, left the series in 1982 amid behind-the-scenes friction. Estrada carried the remaining season of CHiPs without most of the supporting cast from the previous four seasons (who were fired due to budget costs). The show was eventually canceled in 1983. In the 1980s, he appeared in a string of low-budget films. He made a return to series television in a 1987 three-part episode of the police drama Hunter.
In the 1990s, Estrada played the role of Johnny, a Tijuana trucker, in a telenovela Dos mujeres, un camino ("Two women, one path"), on Televisa. He shared the main credits with Mexican actresses/singers Laura Leon and Bibi Gaytán. Originally slated for 100 episodes, the show had 200-plus episodes and became the biggest telenovela in Latin American history. He was reportedly paid one million pesos for the role.
In 1994, Estrada began co-hosting the syndicated outdoor adventure show American Adventurer, which ran until 2004. In 1995, he made a special guest appearance as Ponch in punk rock band Bad Religion's music video, "Infected", as well as in the video for Butthole Surfers's video for "Pepper". He has been seen on a few episodes of Sabrina the Teenage Witch as himself, seen in a daydream cloud in Hilda's mind and also when Hilda zapped herself in his car while he drives it.
Activism
In 2000, Estrada was named the international "Face" of D.A.R.E., which is a campaign against drugs. He speaks in support of the American Heart Association, the United Way, and the CHP 11-99 Foundation, a nonprofit organization providing benefits and scholarships to the California Highway Patrol family members, as well as funeral expenses for fallen officers. Estrada's experience in CHiPs led him to become a reserve officer for the Muncie Police Department in Muncie, Indiana. He became the spokesperson for the C.H.P.'s "car seat inspection and installation" program. He made numerous appearances supporting automobile child-seat safety checks across the country. He appeared in Española, New Mexico on May 28, 2009, to promote the "100 Days and Nights of Summer" traffic safety and anti-DWI campaign that involves the New Mexico State Police.
Law enforcement
Estrada became a reserve police officer for the Muncie Police Department, depicted on Armed & Famous. He moved to Virginia, where he was an I.C.A.C. (Internet Crimes Against Children) investigator for eight years in Bedford County, Virginia. As of July 1, 2016, he has been a reserve police officer in St. Anthony, Idaho. While working in the department, Estrada has been filmed patrolling on a police motorcycle.
Personal life
Estrada was married to Joyce Miller in November 1979; the couple divorced in 1980 and had no children. Estrada was married to Peggy Lynn Rowe, an entertainment executive, songwriter, and producer from 1985 until 1990, when they divorced. The couple had two sons, Anthony Erik (born 1986) and pole vaulter Brandon Michael-Paul (born 1987). In 1997, Estrada and film sound technician Nanette Mirkovich married. They have a daughter, Francesca Natalia (born in 2000). He lives in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles.
During an episode of Watch What Happens Live in January 2019, Marie Osmond told host Andy Cohen that she had briefly dated Estrada. Estrada is a member of the Blue Knights motorcycle club. He also rides with the Loyal Order of Moose fraternal and service organization.
Estrada endorsed Republican John McCain in the 2008 United States presidential election. Estrada was the celebrity guest of the Pekin Marigold Festival in Pekin, Illinois, in September 2017.