Actor Erik Estrada will be the guest speaker at the city of Bellflower's BRAVO Awards program in February.
Story Published:
Dec 23, 2009 at 7:24 PM PDT
Story Updated:
Dec 23, 2009 at 7:24 PM PDT
BELLFLOWER — Erik Estrada, who gained fame as Officer Frank Poncherello on the TV series “CHiPs,” and who is a supporter of emergency first responders, will deliver the keynote address at the city’s 16th annual BRAVO Awards, set for 11 a.m. Feb. 11 in the William and Jane Bristol Auditorium, 16600 Civic Center Drive.
The ceremony is free and open to the public, said Lynn Komadina, public affairs manager for the city.
BRAVO stands for Bellflower Recognizes Acts of Valor and Outstanding service and is aimed at honoring individuals for acts of valor, heroism and outstanding service in support of public safety in Bellflower.
In addition, a pair of local high school students will receive $500 scholarships for their winning essays about the importance of public safety and its role in the community, Komadina said.
Raised in a tough neighborhood in New York City’s Spanish Harlem, Estrada’s first major acting break came in 1970 when he was cast as Nicky Cruz — a streetwise gangster — opposite Pat Boone in the movie “The Cross and the Switchblade.”
In 1972, he landed a role as a rookie policeman in the film “The New Centurions,” staring George C. Scott. Estrada went on to appear in several other movie hits before finding international stardom with “CHiPs.”
Estrada played “Ponch,” a California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer, for six seasons on “CHiPs.”
Since then, Estrada has appeared in a variety of movies and TV shows, including the highly successful Spanish-language TV serial “Dos Mujeres, Un Camino,” which was a top-rated series in the United States, Mexico and Latin America in the 1990s.
He was also a regular character on “Sealab 2021” on the Cartoon Network and “The Misadventures of Maya and Miguel” on PBS, and has participated in a pair of popular TV reality shows — “The Surreal Life” and “Armed & Famous.”
The BRAVO Awards program is funded through sponsorships from area businesses and individuals and represents one of Bellflower’s most prestigious honors, Komadina said.
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