CINEFILER

Henry Darrow

Born
September 15, 1933
Died
March 14, 2021
Henry Darrow is a Nuyorican (a New York-born Puerto Rican) character actor of stage and film known for his role as Manolito "Mano" Montoya on the 1960s television series, The High Chaparral. In film, Darrow played the corrupt and vengeful Trooper Hancock in The Hitcher. 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 television western series The High Chaparral, casting him as Manolito Montoya. Making its debut on American television in September 1967, it went on to last four seasons and was screened around the world. While on the show, both he and series' lead, Cameron Mitchell, became household names as the breakout stars of the show. Darrow is the first Latino actor to portray Zorro on television. He starred in the series Zorro and Son and also has provided the voice for the animated series of The New Adventures of Zorro. He replaced Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. as Zorro's father from 1990–1994, in the Family Channel's successful series, The New Zorro. During the 1970s and 1980s, he was seen in numerous guest starring television roles. In 1972, Darrow co-founded the Screen Actors Guild Ethnic Minority Committee with actors Ricardo Montalbán, Edith Diaz and Carmen Zapata. In 1974-75, Darrow portrayed police detective Manny Quinlan in the first season of Harry O, starring David Janssen. The character was killed off at the end of the first season in a re-tooling of the series. In 1986, he appeared in the horror film The Hitcher as Trooper Hancock, a ruthless and vengeful policeman who would go above the law to kill the main protagonist (who was framed for the crimes by the main antagonist). Darrow replaced Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Zorro's father Don Alejandro de la Vega in the 1990s television series Zorro.
Known For
The Hitcher
(1986)
Trooper Hancock
Runaway Jury
(2003)
Sebald
Maverick
(1994)
Riverboat Poker Player
Losin' It
(1982)
Sheriff
Attica
(1980)
Herman Badillo
Summer and Smoke
(1961)
Drunk on Porch (uncredited)
The Last of the Finest
(1990)
Captain Joe Torres
Full Filmography
Acting
Holiday for Lovers
(1959)
Station wagon driver
Curse of the Undead
(1959)
Roberto Robles (uncredited)
Summer and Smoke
(1961)
Drunk on Porch (uncredited)
The Glass Cage
(1964)
Police Lab Man
The Dream of Hamish Mose
(1969)
Mex
Cancel My Reservation
(1972)
Joe Little Cloud
Badge 373
(1973)
Sweet William
Brock's Last Case
(1973)
Arthur Goldencorn
Portrait: A Man Whose Name Was John
(1973)
Calheiros de Menezes
Hitchhike!
(1974)
Gardner
Night Games
(1974)
D.A. Jaimie Martinez
Aloha Means Goodbye
(1974)
Dr. David Kalani
The Invisible Man
(1975)
Dr. Nick Maggio
Halloween with the New Addams Family
(1977)
Pancho Addams
Where's Willie?
(1978)
Sheriff Charlie Wade
Walk Proud
(1979)
Mike Serrano
Life of Sin
(1979)
When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion
(1979)
Self
Attica
(1980)
Herman Badillo
Birds of Paradise
(1981)
Mario, 'The Jackal'
Beyond the Universe
(1981)
Coblenz
Losin' It
(1982)
Sheriff
Rooster
(1982)
Dr. Sanchez
St. Helens
(1982)
Lloyd Wagner
Seguin
(1982)
Don Erasmo
The Hitcher
(1986)
Trooper Hancock
Mission Kill
(1986)
Senor Borghini
W.A.R.: Women Against Rape
(1987)
Chief Medina
In Dangerous Company
(1988)
Alex Aguilar
L.A. Bounty
(1989)
Lt. Chandler
Zorro: The Legend Begins
(1990)
The Last of the Finest
(1990)
Captain Joe Torres
Percy & Thunder
(1993)
Manuel Valencia
Maverick
(1994)
Riverboat Poker Player
Criminal Passion
(1994)
Captain Ramoz
The Fight In The Fields
(1997)
Narrator
Mom, Can I Keep Her?
(1998)
Mr. Willard
Enemy Action
(1999)
Doctor
Tequila Body Shots
(1999)
Doc
Runaway Jury
(2003)
Sebald
A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story
(2006)
Papi
Primo
(2008)
Dr. Vasquez
Soda Springs
(2012)
El Quijano
Data provided by TMDB