An hour of my time is a tiny price to pay for all the support I've gotten from my fans.
As a Latino growing up in Spanish harlem, it's not easy trying not to be hot-headed.
CHIPs was dubbed into every language imaginable. I was treated with great respect. They hold a special part in my heart.
Don't make the mistakes I've made. If you don't love yourself, you won't be capable of loving another.
For a long time, I had lower back problems, so I can't do the roundhouse comfortably like I used to, but I practice the discipline of mind with karate as much as I can.
Having parents with a Puerto Rican background and growing up in New York, I lost the Spanish language.
I always had a sense of responsiblity becuase of the uniform. And I still do.
I can sing a song in a sense of portraying a character, but I would not try to sing a torch song or sing solo.
I do get a lot of mail. I get a lot of foreign mail because my mail gets mixed with Emilio Estevez.
I had a bad-boy image in Hollywood. I was stuck with the image after CHIPs, and it was difficult for me to get a job.
I had a major motorcycle accident on CHIPs that gave me a 50-50 chance to live. I broke a lot of bones and fractured ribs and broken wrists.
I handled my career and personal life with the knowledge that I had. Whether it was right or wrong, I handled it with what I had.
I have two boys now. I'm totally aware of the responsiblity of a parent.
I know what people are saying, and it hurts. It's unfortunate that people are accusing me of trying to cash in on this trial. It's not unheard of to have other victims come forward after one person reveals his dark secret.
I like working with an actor who doesn't do the oneupmanship. One who has no trick and gives a true, honest performance.
I made some major mistakes. My first marriage, I was absolutely stupid, dumb and ignorant. My second marriage, she got pregnant. I was not in love with her.
I never really chased a singing career because I never felt confident with my voice.
I really love the karate thing I did on CHIPs. I studied with a trainer because I knew we'd do episodes that had karate.
I try to keep my p's and q's in line.
I used to be a cigarette smoker, but no one caught me smoking. I used to go 9 to 10 hours without a smoke because we were on location. I didn't want any kids to see me smoke.
I wanted to thank the Hispanic people in Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South America and here, who supported my soap opera. It was the viewing power that made that soap the #1 soap opera in the world.
I was in the living room, and Michael showed me a book that had male and female genitalia. I think it was a book about psoriasis, but it was still very graphic. I was disturbed by what he was showing me.
I was influenced by a cop when I was a kid, who my mom dated.
I would love to do another series because I love the grind and hours. I would love it to be a Hispanic dramatic cop, but if not, a comedy sitcom.
I'll be doing some book signings.
I'm trying to spend time as I can with my kids because they're at a great age: 9 and 11. I dig my home. I really do.
I'm very proud of the accomplishment of the soap opera. It did more than put me on the TV.
I'm working in the morning, but in the afternoon I'll tone up at the gym, play golf and relax.
I've done some really bad movies that I didn't care for.
If I was a plumber, it would be easy to get a job. But I'm an actor, and to hurt me, they didn't give me work. They created a false image of me as a bad boy.
It was a hard job, but it was a lot of fun and I'll always be grateful to Ponch. He was a part of me.
Ive learned to become patient. As a young kid and struggling actor, I was impatient. I'm impatient with myself.
Kids are the future. I know how important it was for me to be thrilled by somebody on television.
Make your own decision. There's three sides to the story: his, theirs and the truth.
My dad certainly didn't have any influence on me at all. My mother divorced my dad because he become a victim of heroin.
My favorite actors when I was a kid, besides all the cowboy actors, was John Garfield. I always preferred him.
My grandfather taught me generosity. He sold snow cones in Harlem. I went with him at 5 and he let me hand out the change and snow cones. I learned a lot in the couple of years that we did that.
My mother was certainly a great influence. She had to conduct both roles of mother and father.
Now that I'm older, wiser and more comfortable, someone presented me a platform to tell a story. I didn't bitch, whine... just told my side of the story.
Once I learned to speak in proper Spanish, I got great pride.
Thank you for supporting me throught the years.
The pitter patter of conversation can be fun. It's icing on the cake.
There was pleasure doing Make a Wish Foundation where they'd bring a kid and I'd put them on the bike and we'd take off.
They do the soaps differently in Mexico. You just have to know the storyline and not memorize the lines. There would be someone feeding you lines while you were performing.
They'd hold us down for the chase sequences. We felt like dorks.
We didn't do the big heavy stunts, but we did ride the bikes, and I have the broken bones and scars to prove it.
We made six years of CHIPs, and we made a total of 144 episodes, if I'm correct.
When I meet certain people, I get a little bit nervous because I'm a big fan like everyone else.
When I talk to young kids of all ethnic backgrounds, I tell them to get in touch with the language of their forefathers because it's a major push and the key for your future.
When I was being trashed by people who had their own agenda, I never said anything because if I did, I'd give it credibility.
When it comes to other people, I am very patient. You make the time.
You never know what you're gonna get until you're there.
Erik was nominated for a Gold Globe Award for 'Best Actor On a TV Series' for his role on CHiP's in 1980. He was also nominated for an 'ALMA' Award for 'Outstanding Actor in a Movie' for CHiP's 99 in 1999.
Erik speaks out on the behalf of the Heart Association, and for the United way.
Erik was named the international face of D.A.R.E in 2000, which is a campaign against drugs.
Erik has written and released his autobiography, Erik Estrada: My Road from Harlem to Hollywood from William Morrow Publishing.
Erik's nickname from his family is 'Papo', his nickname from his friends is 'Phantom'.
Erik starred in his first spanish language feature film Juana La Cubana in 1982.
Erik appeared in the Off-Broadway production of True West, at the Cherry Lane Theater in New York City.
Erik became a teen heart-throb for teen girls everywhere in the 1980's. His face could be found on: posters, t-shirts, lunch boxes, mugs, toys, towels, magazines, and collector-cards.
Erik was in classic films, such as Airport 75 with Charlton Heston and Midway with Henry Fonda and Robert Wagner. His first film, The cross and the Switchblade is still shown at about 500 youth centers a week across the country, because of it's anti-drug & life changing messages.
Erik joined his high school drama club to get next to a girl that he had a crush on. Soon after, he discovered that he loved to act, and began to pursue roles in plays.
You can share a link to this page with your friend!