René Enríquez (November 24, 1933 – March 23, 1990) was a Nicaraguan-born American television actor of the 1970s and 1980s. He is best remembered for his role as Lt. Ray Calletano in the long-running television series ''

Hill Street Blues ''Hill Street Blues'' is an American serial police procedural television series that aired on NBC in prime-time from January 15, 1981, to May 12, 1987, for 146 episodes. The show chronicles the lives of the Metropolitan Police Department staff ...

'' (1981–1987).

Career

Co-star Daniel J. Travanti reminisced that, during his time on ''Hill Street Blues'', Enríquez was "sad, unhappy because they were not thrilled with him, they kept saying that it was difficult to understand him. He was really crushed when they let him go. ... He was sweet, sweet natured and grateful for what he had there but saddened by being let go." Enríquez died on March 23, 1990, from

AIDS The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...

, the first of two ''Hill Street Blues'' stars to die that year, as Kiel Martin succumbed to

lung cancer Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma, is a malignant tumor that begins in the lung. Lung cancer is caused by genetic damage to the DNA of cells in the airways, often caused by cigarette smoking or inhaling damaging chemicals. Damaged ...

on December 28. Original reports said Enríquez died of

pancreatic cancer Pancreatic cancer arises when cell (biology), cells in the pancreas, a glandular organ behind the stomach, begin to multiply out of control and form a Neoplasm, mass. These cancerous cells have the malignant, ability to invade other parts of ...

. However, upon publication of his

death certificate A death certificate is either a legal document issued by a medical practitioner which states when a person died, or a document issued by a government civil registration office, that declares the date, location and cause of a person's death, a ...

, his cause of death was revealed to be complications resulting from AIDS. As reported on a 1992 episode of ''

Entertainment Tonight ''Entertainment Tonight'' (or simply ''ET'') is an American Broadcast syndication, first-run syndicated news broadcasting news magazine, newsmagazine program that is distributed by CBS Media Ventures throughout the United States and owned by Par ...

'', this was not a surprise to his ''Hill Street Blues'' costar

Charles Haid Charles Maurice Haid III (born June 2, 1943) is an American actor and television director, with notable work in both movies and television. He is best known for his portrayal of Officer Andy Renko in ''Hill Street Blues''. Formative years Haid ...

, as Enríquez had disclosed to Haid the true nature of his affliction.

Partial filmography

*'' Girl of the Night'' (1960) – Ricardo *''

Bananas A banana is an elongated, edible fruit – berry (botany), botanically a berry – produced by several kinds of large treelike herbaceous flowering plants in the genus ''Musa (genus), Musa''. In some countries, cooking bananas are called pla ...

'' (1971) – Diaz *''

Serpico ''Serpico'' is a 1973 American biographical crime drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Al Pacino in the title role. The screenplay was adapted by Waldo Salt and Norman Wexler from the book written by Peter Maas, with the assistan ...

'' (1973) – Cervantes Teacher (uncredited) *''

Harry and Tonto Harry may refer to: Television * ''Harry'' (American TV series), 1987 comedy series starring Alan Arkin * ''Harry'' (British TV series), 1993 BBC drama that ran for two seasons * ''Harry'' (New Zealand TV series), 2013 crime drama starring Oscar K ...

'' (1974) – Grocery Clerk *'' Night Moves'' (1975) – (voice, uncredited) *''Blood Bath'' (1976) *''

The Great American Traffic Jam ''The Great American Traffic Jam'' (alternate title ''Gridlock'') is a 1980 American made-for-television movie which first aired on NBC on October 2, 1980. The comedy revolves around a large "all-star" cast getting stuck in a massive Los Angeles ...

'' (1980,

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

) - Mayor Julio Escontrerez *'' Under Fire'' (1983) – President Anastasio Somoza *'' Choices of the Heart'' (1983, television film) - Archbishop Oscar Romero *'' The Evil That Men Do'' (1984) – Max *''

Dream West ''Dream West'' is a 1986 American television miniseries starring Richard Chamberlain and directed by Dick Lowry. Development The seven-hour miniseries was broken into three parts (2 hours, 2 hours, and 3 hours). Part 1 aired on Sunday, April 1 ...

'' (TV Mini-series 1986) – General Castro *''

'' (1981–1987, TV series) – Lt. Ray Calletano / Captain Ray Calletano *''

Bulletproof Bulletproofing is the process of making an object capable of stopping a bullet or similar high velocity projectiles (e.g. shrapnel). The term bullet resistance is often preferred because few, if any, practical materials provide complete protecti ...

'' (1988) – Gen. Maximiliano Brogado

Notes

References

External links

* 1933 births 1990 deaths Nicaraguan emigrants to the United States American male film actors American male television actors AIDS-related deaths in California 20th-century American male actors {{US-tv-actor-1930s-stub