In the 1990s, Estrada played the role of Johnny, a Tijuana trucker, in the Televisa telenovela Dos mujeres, un camino ("Two women, one road"). He made a return to series television in a 1987 three-part episode of the police drama Hunter. In the 1980s, Estrada appeared in a string of low-budget films. Following a salary dispute with NBC in the fall of 1981, Estrada was briefly replaced by Olympic Gold Medalist and actor Bruce Jenner. Later in 1979, Estrada was voted one of "The 10 Sexiest Bachelors in the World" by People magazine and was featured on the cover of the November issue. On Monday, 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. The two appeared on the cover of Fighting Stars Magazine that same year, discussing Estrada's training regimen. In 1978, he began training in martial arts with SeishinDo Kenpo instructor Frank Argelander (Frank Landers), to prepare for a two-part episode of the series. Starting in 1977, Estrada co-starred as Frank "Ponch" Poncharello in the TV series CHiPs. "Chili Bean" Ramos.Įstrada and Larry Wilcox on CHiPs in 1977. Two years later, he was a player in the military historical epic Midway, as a fictional airman Ens. His character was killed in a midair collision. In 1974, Estrada took part in the disaster film, Airport 1975, where he played a role as Julio the flight engineer on a Boeing 747. In 1973, Estrada co-starred in season 5, episode 22, of the CBS TV series Hawaii Five-O: "Engaged to be Buried".
Scott and Stacy Keach as LAPD Officer Sergio Duran in the movie The New Centurions. In 1972, Estrada co-starred with George C. In the 1970 film version of The Cross and the Switchblade, Estrada made his film debut in the role of Nicky Cruz alongside Pat Boone, who played the role of David Wilkerson. Estrada was born on March 16, 1949, in East Harlem, Manhattan, New York, the son of Carmen Moreno, a seamstress, and Renildo Estrada.