Julio Medina Salazar (16 January 1933 – 23 November 2024) was a Colombian actor. He was notable for his debut work in ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centered on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central charact ...

'' and for his award-winning role in ''Las aguas mansas''. For nearly thirty years, Medina worked and lived in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

until moving to Colombia, later basing his acting works there. In his Hollywood career he appeared in numerous television roles ranging from ''

I Dream of Jeannie ''I Dream of Jeannie'' is an American Fantasy television, fantasy sitcom television series created by Sidney Sheldon and starring Barbara Eden as a beautiful but guileless 2,000-year-old Jinn, genie and Larry Hagman as an astronaut with whom s ...

'' to ''

The Partridge Family ''The Partridge Family'' is an American musical sitcom created by Bernard Slade, which was broadcast in the United States from September 1970 to March 1974 on American Broadcasting Company, ABC. After the final first-run telecast on ABC in March ...

''. He was considered to be the first Colombian actor to have a successful Hollywood career in the United States.

Early life

Medina was born in

Chiquinquirá Chiquinquirá is a town and municipality in the Colombian Department of Boyacá, part of the subregion of the Western Boyacá Province. Located some 115 km north of Bogotá, Chiquinquirá is situated above sea level and has a yearly aver ...

, Colombia in 1933. He studied at

Pontifical Xavierian University The Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (English: Xavierian Pontifical University) is a private university in Colombia founded in 1623. It is one of the oldest and most traditional Colombian universities, directed by the Society of Jesus, with its ...

and later at the

Pasadena Playhouse Pasadena Playhouse is a Tony Award-winning historic performing arts venue located 39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engag ...

after moving to the United States in 1954. He was enlisted in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

where he served for two years.

Career

In 1965, Medina moved to Peru to make small movies, but moved to the United States afterwards. He made his acting debut in the television series ''

'' (as Pedro, in S11E8 episode "The Reward"). In his

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...

career he worked alongside

Michael Douglas Michael Kirk Douglas (born September 25, 1944) is an American actor and film producer. He has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and the ...

Hal Holbrook Harold Rowe Holbrook Jr. (February 17, 1925 – January 23, 2021) was an American actor. He first received critical acclaim in 1954 for a one-man stage show that he developed called ''Mark Twain Tonight!'' while studying at Denison University. H ...

David Carradine David Carradine ( ; born John Arthur Carradine Jr.; December 8, 1936 – June 3, 2009) was an American actor, director, and producer, whose career included over 200 major and minor roles in film, television and on stage. He was widely known ...

and

Sally Field Sally Margaret Field (born November 6, 1946) is an American actress. She has performed in movies, Broadway theater, television, and made records of popular music. Known for her extensive work on screen and stage, she has received many accola ...

. In his career in the United States, Medina also appeared in ''

'', ''

Kung Fu Chinese martial arts, commonly referred to with umbrella terms Kung fu (term), kung fu (; ), kuoshu () or wushu (sport), wushu (), are Styles of Chinese martial arts, multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater Ch ...

'', ''

The Rockford Files ''The Rockford Files'' is an American detective drama television series starring James Garner, aired on NBC from September 13, 1974, to January 10, 1980. Garner portrays Los Angeles private investigator Jim Rockford, with Noah Beery Jr. in th ...

'', ''

Wonder Woman Wonder Woman is a superheroine who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in ''All Star Comics'' Introducing Wonder Woman, #8, published October 21, 1941, with her first feature in ''Sensation Comic ...

'', ''

Dallas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

'' and in '' Drug Wars: The Camarena Story''. In 1984, Medina returned to Colombia where he continued to make movies and

telenovela A telenovela is a type of a television serial drama or soap opera produced primarily in Latin America. The word combines ''tele'' (for "television") and ''novela'' (meaning "novel"). Similar Drama (film and television), drama genres around the w ...

s. In Colombia, he is known for his roles in ''Cascabel'' (1985), ''Las Aguas Mansas'' (1994), ''La viuda de Blanco'' (1996) and in ''El pasado no perdona'' (2005). He appeared in the 2016 comedy film ''Malcriados'' as Omar until retiring shortly afterwards.

Personal life and death

In a 2017 interview, Medina stated he lived on his own in solitude in rural Colombia and while asked about his bachelorhood and rumours about him being a homosexual, he said: "I've had friends, very beautiful friends, but marriage?!, Not even for the devil". Medina died aged 91, in

Bogotá Bogotá (, also , , ), officially Bogotá, Distrito Capital, abbreviated Bogotá, D.C., and formerly known as Santa Fe de Bogotá (; ) during the Spanish Imperial period and between 1991 and 2000, is the capital city, capital and largest city ...

on 23 November 2024.

Partial filmography

In the United States: *1965-1972: ''

'' (TV Series) - Pedro / Rodríguez / Fermin *1966: ''

'' (TV Series) - Stranger *1967-1970: ''

The Flying Nun ''The Flying Nun'' is an American fantasy television, fantasy sitcom television series about a community of nuns, which included one who could fly when the wind caught her cornette. It was produced by Screen Gems for American Broadcasting Comp ...

'' (TV Series) - Mayor Salvador Calderon / Farmer / Head Waiter / Juan Cortez / Pedro Caracol / Señor Trotto / Caterer *1968: ''El tesoro de Atahualpa'' *1968-1969: ''

The Wild Wild West ''The Wild Wild West'' is an American Western (genre), Western, spy film, spy, and science fiction on television, science fiction television series that ran on the CBS television network for four seasons from September 17, 1965, to April 11, 19 ...

'' (TV Series) - Townsman / Don Carlos *1969: '' It Takes a Thief'' (TV Series) - Greeter / Haberdasher *1969-1970: ''

The High Chaparral ''The High Chaparral'' is an American Western action-adventure drama television series that aired on NBC from 1967 to 1971, starring Leif Erickson and Cameron Mitchell. The series was made by Xanadu Productions in association with NBC Produc ...

'' (TV Series) - First Man / Sanchez *1970: ''

'' (TV Series) - Chavez *1971: ''

Bearcats! ''Bearcats!'' is an American Western television series broadcast on the CBS television network during the fall 1971 television season. It starred Rod Taylor and Dennis Cole as troubleshooters in the period before the American entry into Wor ...

'' (TV Series) - Ramirez *1972: ''

Banacek ''Banacek'' is an American detective television series starring George Peppard that aired on NBC from 1972 to 1974. The series was part of the rotating '' NBC Wednesday Mystery Movie'' anthology. It alternated in its time slot with several othe ...

'' (TV Series) - Padre Borda *1973-1975: ''

'' (TV Series) - Padre / Father Salazar *1974: ''

The Streets of San Francisco ''The Streets of San Francisco'' is an American television crime drama filmed on location in San Francisco and produced by Quinn Martin, with the first season produced in association with Warner Bros. Television (QM produced the show on its ow ...

'' (TV Series) - Nick Solano *1974-1976: ''

Harry O ''Harry O'', sometimes spelled ''Harry-O'', is an American private detective series that aired for two seasons on ABC from 1974 to 1976. The series starred David Janssen, and Jerry Thorpe was executive producer. ''Harry O'' followed the broad ...

'' (TV Series) - Legation Official / Jesus Quinlan / Dr. Troy *1974-1977: ''

Chico and the Man ''Chico and the Man'' is an American sitcom television series that aired on NBC for four seasons from September 13, 1974, to July 21, 1978. It stars Jack Albertson as Ed Brown (the Man), the cantankerous owner of a run-down garage in an East Los ...

'' (TV Series) - Doctor Spanola / Banker Sanchez / Mr. Delgado *1975: ''

'' (TV Series) - Gardener *1976-1977: '' Delvecchio'' (TV Series) - Jorge *1977: ''

'' (TV Series) - Captain Gaitan *1977: ''

The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries ''The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries'' (re-titled ''The Hardy Boys'' for season three) is an American television mystery series based on the '' Hardy Boys'' and ''Nancy Drew'' juvenile novels. The series, which ran from January 30, 1977, to Ja ...

'' (TV Series) - Clerk *1978: '' ABC Weekend Specials'' (TV Series) - Martín *1978: '' Police Story'' (TV Series) - Pedro *1979: ''

Centennial A centennial, or centenary in British English, is a 100th anniversary or otherwise relates to a century. Notable events Notable centennial events at a national or world-level include: * Centennial Exhibition, 1876, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ...

'' (TV Series) - Padre Gravez *1981: ''

Zoot Suit A zoot suit (occasionally spelled zuit suit) is a men's Suit (clothing), suit with high-waisted, wide-legged, tight-cuffed, wikt:pegged pants, pegged trousers, and a long coat with wide lapels and wide padded shoulders. It is most notable for its ...

'' - Lowrider's Father *1981: '' The New Adventures of Zorro'' (TV Series) - Miguel *1982-1986: ''

'' (TV Series) - Henry Figueroa *1983: ''

The Greatest American Hero ''The Greatest American Hero'' is an American comedy-drama superhero television series that aired on ABC. Created by producer Stephen J. Cannell, it premiered as a two-hour pilot movie on March 18, 1981, and ran until February 2, 1983. The seri ...

''
Vanity Says The Preacher
(TV Series) - Dr. Romero *1984: ''

Scarecrow and Mrs. King ''Scarecrow and Mrs. King'' is an American television series that aired from October 3, 1983, to May 28, 1987, on CBS. The music underscore was composed by Arthur B. Rubinstein. The show starred Kate Jackson and Bruce Boxleitner, as divorced ...

'' (TV Series) - Caesar Varga *1984: ''

Airwolf ''Airwolf'' is an American action military drama television series. It centers on a high-technology attack helicopter, code-named '' Airwolf'', and its crew. They undertake various exotic missions, many involving espionage, with a Cold War the ...

'' (TV Series) - Col. Arias *1985: '' Latino'' - Salazar *1987: '' Starman'' (TV Series) - Pepe *1988: ''

Little Nikita ''Little Nikita'' is a 1988 American thriller film directed by Richard Benjamin and starring River Phoenix and Sidney Poitier. The film marks the first collaboration between Phoenix and Poitier (the second being ''Sneakers'' in 1992). Plot ...

'' - Soccer Announcer *1989: ''

Hard Time on Planet Earth ''Hard Time on Planet Earth'' is an American science fiction television series that aired on CBS as a midseason replacement from March 1 to June 21, 1989. Airing for 13 episodes, the series starred Martin Kove; it was created by Jim and John ...

'' (TV Series) - Gardener *1990: '' Drug Wars: The Camarena Story'' (TV Series) - Benjamin Piza *1996: '' Ilona Arrives with the Rain'' - Wito *1998: ''Rizo'' - Ataúlfo *2002: ''After Party'' *2004: ''Colombianos, un acto de fe'' *2005: ''El trato'' *2006: ''Karmma, el peso de tus actos'' - Juan Diego Valbuena *2011: ''Gordo, calvo y bajito'' - Pedro

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Medina, Julio 1933 births 2024 deaths Colombian male film actors Colombian male television actors People from Chiquinquirá Pontificia Universidad Javeriana alumni Colombian emigrants to the United States United States Navy sailors 20th-century Colombian male actors 21st-century Colombian male actors Colombian male telenovela actors