Henry Darrow


Henry Darrow was an American 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. During the 1970s and 1980s, he was seen in numerous guest starring television roles. Darrow replaced Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Zorro's father Don Alejandro de la Vega in the 1990s television series Zorro.

Early years

Darrow's parents had moved from Puerto Rico to New York in the early 1930s. At the age of eight, he played a woodcutter in a school play, an experience which convinced him that his destiny was as an actor.
In 1946, when Darrow was 13, his family returned to Puerto Rico, where he discovered his roots and grew to love the island he had not known. He graduated from Academia del Perpetuo Socorro high school in Miramar, Puerto Rico, as class president before enrolling in the University of Puerto Rico. There he studied political science and acting, and worked as a part-time English-language interpreter. During his third year at the university, he was awarded a scholarship to attend acting school. Thereupon Darrow moved to Los Angeles, where he enrolled in the Pasadena Playhouse. He met and married his first wife, Louise whom he referred to as Lucy, and they went on to have two children, Denise and Tom. Darrow graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in theater arts.

Acting career

Darrow had already landed small parts in 12 movies and 75 television series when he won the role in a 1965 stage production of 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 lasted 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 was the first Latino Americans|Latino] actor to portray Zorro on television. He starred in the series Zorro and Son and also provided the voice for the animated series of Zorro (1981)|The New Adventures of Zorro]. He replaced Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. as Zorro's father from 1990 to 1994 in the Family Channel's successful series The New Zorro.
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 retooling 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.

Later years

Darrow was a member of the board of directors of the Screen Actors Guild and a member of SAG's Ethnic Minorities Committee. He was also a founder of Nosotros, an organization helping Latino actors land non-stereotyped parts. Darrow served on the Advisory Committee of Bilingual Children's Television. In his later years, Darrow had cut back on his public appearances.

Death

Darrow died of natural causes on March 14, 2021, at the age of 87.

Filmography

Film appearance

Curse of the Undead - Roberto Robles Holiday for Lovers - Station Wagon Driver Revenge of the Virgins - Gunslinger Wade ConnorThe 3rd Voice - Hotel Papacio Clerk Cage of Evil - 2nd Mexican Policeman Sniper's Ridge - Pvt. TontoMan-Trap - 1st Mexican Policeman Summer and Smoke - Drunk on Porch The Glass Cage - Police Lab ManThe Dream of Hamish Mose - MexCancel My Reservation - Joe Little CloudBrock's Last Case - Arthur GoldencornBadge 373 - Sweet WilliamAloha Means Goodbye - Dr. David KalaniExit Dying Halloween with the New Addams Family - Pancho AddamsComputer Wizard Where's Willie? - Sheriff Charlie WadeWalk Proud - Mike SerranoA Life of Sin Attica - Herman BadilloBeyond the Universe - CoblenzSt. Helens - Lloyd WagnerBirds of Paradise - Mario, 'The Jackal'Rooster - Dr. SanchezLosin' It - SheriffThe Hitcher - Trooper HancockMission to Kill - Senor BorghiniDeath Blow - Chief MedinaIn Dangerous Company - Alex AguilarL.A. Bounty - Lt. ChandlerBlue Heat - Captain Joe TorresPercy and Thunder - Manuel ValenciaMaverick - Riverboat Poker Player #4Criminal Passion - Captain RamozThe Fight in the Fields - DocTequila Body Shots - DoctorRunaway Jury - SebaldThe Writer's Pub - Old TimerAngels with Angles - RaulA Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story - PapiPrimo - Dr. VasquezFrom Bubba with Love Soda Springs - El Quijano

Television appearance

Darrow also appeared in hundreds of episodes of soap operas, miniseries, sitcoms and dramas, along with numerous stage plays. Television series in which he has appeared include: Wagon Train - Benito DeVarga Stoney Burke - Mexican Border PolicemanT.H.E. Cat - Gregory Tyrole / Cosmo PumbolGunsmoke - Ross Segurra / OroThe Wild Wild West - Archduke MauriceBonanza - AmigoThe High Chaparral - Manolito MontoyaDaniel Boone - GideonThe Big Valley Top of the Pops - guest on February 26 editionMission: Impossible - Gregory TolanNight Gallery - Dr. Juan Munos Bearcats! - Raoul Estaban - 2 episodesHawaii Five-O - Stewart Longworth / Billy Madrid / Johnny OportaThe Mod Squad - Israel RiveraKung Fu - Don Emilio FierroKojak - Kevin Le JeuneHarry O - Lt. Manuel 'Manny' QuinlanThe Invisible Man - Dr. Nick MaggioMcMillan and Wife - Inspector Jacques ArnaudThe Streets of San Francisco - Ramon MontoyaSara - AngeloBaretta - DelgadoThe Six Million Dollar Man - Byron FalcoQuincy, M.E. - Dr. Tony Avila / Dr. Edward Herrera / Dr. RiveraWonder Woman - David Allen / Walter LampkinHalloween with the New Addams Family Pancho Addams Centennial - AlvarezThe Waltons - Barry StoneThe Incredible Hulk - PatreroSimon & Simon - Alejandro Agilar / Manuel FernandezThe New Adventures of Zorro - Don Diego / Zorro Seguin - Don ErasmoT.J. Hooker - Gus Kalioki / Miguel Gomez / Dr. Frank MartinezBorn to the Wild - Lost RobeBenson - GeneralissimoZorro and Son - Don Diego de la VegaTales of the Gold Monkey - The MagistrateJennifer Slept Here - EnriqueAirwolf - Philip MauriceMagnum, P.I. - Will KenikowaFresno - CommandanteKnight Rider - Roderigo DeLorcaStar Trek: The Next Generation - Adm. SavarThe Golden Girls - Fidel SantiagoZorro - Don Alejandro de la VegaTime Trax - The ChiefStar Trek: Voyager - KolopakBabylon 5 - Dr. William Indiri
Soap opera performances include:General Hospital - Ambassador Tabris / DVX-backed Colonel Dynasty - - Ramon Dallas - GarciaOne Life to Live - Dante MedinaSanta Barbara - Rafael Castillo The Bold and the Beautiful - Dr. Carlos Nunez

Music videos

In 1982, Darrow appeared as the prize wheel spinner in the music video for Santana's "Hold On", which was released as the lead single from their album Shangó. It was directed by John Mark Robinson.

Awards