Biography of Erik Estrada

(Frank




Poncherello)




Erik was born on March 16, 1949 as Henry Enrique




Estrada in NY City. Back around 1968, he was in a




dance troupe and earned $38 a week with free lunches




and all the acting lessons he could take. In return, he had




to perform daily in downtown Los Angeles. He had a




10-day hospital stay in August 1979 caused by on-set




accident when he was thrown from his motorcycle and the




900-pound bike landed on him. At 5'10'', 160 pounds, he




was an inch shorter and 15 pounds lighter than Wilcox.




But his physical fitness routine helped him rebound from




his injury: 240 situps and 120 push ups on a daily basis.




He is going through custody disputes about his two boys




and he has "a steady girl".




Erik was voted as one of "The 10 Sexiest Bachelors in the




World" in People Magazine on November 19, 1979. The




cover features Erik towering above the other men (Willie




Ames included) at the top of the page, cutting into the




People sign, with nothing but a big smile and a towel lying




across his shoulder. The magazine says,




For all his raw physical appearance, Estrada




regards himself as "gentle, kind and




considerate." He buys his dates jewelry and




treats them to champagne and sushi




evenings. But Estrada has grown cunning. "In




the past, women I've dated always decided




to be actresses. I was just a means to an end




for them." So what does he really look for in




a woman? The actor flashes a huge smile.




"T&A"




Erik lives out in the San Fernando Valley. He's up in the




hills behind the...