Henry Darrow

Henry Darrow
Born	September 15, 1933 (1933-09-15) (age 76) New York City

Henry Darrow (born Enrique Tomas Delgado, Jr.; September 15, 1933) is a Puerto Rican-American actor. He is probably best remembered for his role as Manolito Montoya in the 1960s television series The High Chaparral.

Early years

Darrow was born in New York City, the first son of Gloria and Enrique Delgado Sr., who worked in the restaurant and clothing businesses.^[1] Darrow's parents emigrated from Puerto Rico to New York in the early 1930s. At the age of eight he played a woodcutter in a school play, experience which convinced him that his destiny was as an actor.^[2]

In 1946, when Darrow was 13, his family returned to Puerto Rico, where he discovered his roots and grew to love a country he had not known. He graduated from high school as class president before enrolling in the University of Puerto Rico (Universidad de Puerto Rico). There he studied political science and acting, and worked as a part-time English-language interpreter. During his third year at the university the Government of Puerto Rico.^[2] awarded him a scholarship (the first of its kind) to attend acting school. Thereupon Darrow moved to Los Angeles, where he enrolled in the "Pasadena Playhouse". He met and married his first wife, Lucy and they went on to have two children, Denise and Tom. Darrow graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in theater arts.^[2]

Acting career

Darrow had already landed small parts in 12 movies and 75 television series when he won the role in a play titled The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit. This brought him to the attention of television producer David Dortort, who immediately recruited him for his TV western series The High Chaparral, casting him as Manolito Montoya. Making its debut on American television in September 1967 NBC, it went on to last four seasons and was screened around the world.

Darrow is the first Latino actor to portray Zorro on television. (Rodolfo de Anda played Zorro in a 1974 Mexican film.) He starred in the series Zorro and Son and also has provided the voice for the animated series of The New Adventures of Zorro.^[3] He replaced Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Zorro's father from 1990-94, in the Family Channel's successful, The New Zorro.

Television appearances

Darrow has also appeared in hundreds of episodes of soap operas, mini-series, sit-coms, and dramas, along with numerous stage plays. TV shows in which he has appeared include:^[3]

• Harry O
• Bearcats!,
• Hawaii Five-O,
• Kojak,
• Kung Fu,
• Mission: Impossible,
• The Waltons,
• The Golden Girls,
• Zorro, and
• The Mod Squad.
• Wonder Woman.
• Star Trek: Voyager, Kolopak
• Magnum, p.i..
• Knight Rider "Knight of a Thousand Devils"
• Star Trek: The Next Generation "Conspiracy", Admiral Saver

Soap opera performances include:

• Santa Barbara,
• General Hospital,
• Dallas,
• One Life to Live and
• A Mexican production titled Crystal Empire.

Filmography

^[3]

• From Bubba with Love (2009)
• Primo (2008)
• A Girl like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story (2006) (TV)
• Angels With Angles (2005)
• The Writer's Pub (2005)
• Tequila Body Shots (1999)
• The Fight in the Fields [doc] (1997)
• Maverick (1994)
• Time Trax (1993) (TV)
• Percy and Thunder (1993) (TV)
• The Last of the Finest (1990)
• L.A. Bounty (1989)
• In Dangerous Company (1988)
• Death Blow (1987)
• Blood Sport (1986) (TV)
• Mission to Kill (1986)
• The Hitcher (1986)
• Losin' It (1983)
• Seguin (1982) (TV)
• St. Helens (1981)
• Attica (1980) (TV)
• A Life of Sin (1979)
• Walk Proud (1979) (TV)
• Centennial (1978) (TV)
• Computer Wizard (1977)
• Where's Willie? (1977)
• Requiem for a Bride (1975) (TV)
• The Invisible Man (1975) (TV)
• Aloha Means Goodbye (1974) (TV)
• Badge 373 (1973)
• Brock's Last Case (1973) (TV)
• Cancel My Reservation (1972)
• Rock's Last Case (1972) (TV)
• Sniper's Ridge (1961)
• The 3rd Voice (1960)
• Holiday for Lovers (1959) (uncredited)

Guest appearances

Darrow also made a guest appearance in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation as a Vulcan Starfleet Admiral named Savar in the season 1 episode '"'Conspiracy (TNG episode)" and two guest appearances in episodes of Star Trek: Voyager as Kolopak, the father of Chakotay in the season 2 episodes "Tattoo" and in "Basics: Part 1". In 1986, he made a cameo appearance in the horror film The Hitcher^[2]

Awards

Darrow's awards include:

• A Bambi Award, Germany's equivalent of the Emmies, for The High Chaparral and an Emmy for his role in the soapie Santa Barbara. Darrow was the inaugural winner of the Ricardo Montalban/Nosotros Award for his contributions in improving Latinos image. The Miller Brewing Company also honored Darrow by portraying him in its 2000 Hispanic-American Calendar.

Later years

Darrow was a member of the board of directors of the "Screen Actors Guild" (SAG) and a member of "SAG's" "Ethnic Minorities Committee. He was also a founder of "Nosotros", an organization helping Latino actors land non-stereotyped parts. Darrow has served on the "Advisory Committee of Bilingual Children's Television".^[2] Darrow is married to Lauren Levian. They live in North Carolina, where they are keenly involved with their community.

See also

Puerto Rico portal

• List of famous Puerto Ricans

References

External links

• Henry Darrow at the Internet Movie Database
• Henry Darrow at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)