Name
Luis Contreras
Known For
Acting
Birthday
1950-09-18
Deathday
2004-06-20 (54 years old)
Place of Birth
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Biography
Tall, lean, and wiry, 6-foot-4 Euro-Indigenous Latino American character actor. The son of Euro-Indigenous Latino American character actor, Roberto Contreras. Luis Contreras was born on September 18, 1950. Lean and wiry, often sporting a mass of curly hair and drooping mustache, with his piercing dark eyes and angular face Contreras ranged between portraying various criminals and police officers. Contreras made his film debut as a Federale in Steven Spielberg's wonderful science fiction classic "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." He also popped up as a zoot suiter in Spielberg's hilarious all-star comedy "1941." Contreras frequently acted in movies for director Walter Hill: "The Long Riders," "48 HRS.,""Extreme Prejudice," "Red Heat," "Geronimo: An American Legend," and "Last Man Standing." Contreras was especially memorable as a grocery store security guard in the cult classic sci-fi black comedy "Repo Man," the vicious ringleader of a gang of cocaine cowboys in "Stand Alone," a hostile eye-patched biker in the delightfully madcap "Pee-wee's Big Adventure," and a deranged homeless man who terrorizes a trio of teenage girls in the "A Night on the Town" episode of the hugely enjoyable horror anthology "After Midnight." Contreras also did guest appearances on the TV shows "CHiPs," "Quincy M.E.," "T.J. Hooker," "Knight Rider," "Riptide," "Hill Street Blues," "Simon & Simon," "Night Court," "Hunter," "Matlock," and "Carnivale", regularly working through the 1970s and 1980s. Luis Contreras died of cancer at the tragically young age of 53 on June 20, 2004.
Known For
6.7
The origins, exploits and the ultimate fate of the James gang is told in a sympathetic por...
8.2
Based on the true life experiences of poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, the film focuses on half-b...
7.4
After an encounter with UFOs, an electricity linesman feels undeniably drawn to an isolate...
6.4
John Smith is a mysterious stranger who is drawn into a vicious war between two Prohibitio...
6.5
The eccentric and childish Pee-wee Herman embarks on a big adventure when his beloved bicy...
- 1982 48 Hrs. as Gang Member
- 1977 Close Encounters of the Third Kind as Federale
- 1987 Extreme Prejudice as Lupo
- 1980 The Long Riders as Man at the Bar
- 1991 Suburban Commando as Ringo
- 1996 Last Man Standing as Comandante Ramirez
- 1984 A Touch of Scandal as Eugenio Salvador
- 1991 Dollman as Jackson
- 1992 Desert Kickboxer
- 2004 Wednesday Afternoon as The Bartender
- 1994 Dragstrip Girl as Raoul
- 2000 Across the Line as Timex
- 1993 Bound by Honor as Realthing
- 1987 Walker as Benito
- 1993 Rio Diablo as Pedro Almenzar
- 1988 Sunset as Jail Inmates
- 1986 Running Scared as Thug (uncredited)
- 1987 Straight to Hell as Sal
- 1991 Lower Level as Street Person
- 1980 The Last Married Couple in America as Party Guest
- 1980 Heart Beat as Mexican Junkie
- 1986 Big Trouble as Terrorist #2
- 1989 After Midnight as The Dogs' Master (segment "A Night on the Town")
- 1993 Geronimo: An American Legend as Rurale Officer
- 1985 Walking the Edge as Jesus
- 1990 El Diablo as Pestoso
- 1986 Blue City as Lieutenant Ortiz
- 2004 Criminal as Carlos
- 1988 Red Heat as Lupo
- 1985 Stand Alone as Look-Out
- 1980 Borderline
- 1984 Repo Man as Mr. Humphries' Security Guard
- 1979 1941 as Zoot Suiter
- 1985 Pee-wee's Big Adventure as Biker #2
- 1987 Police Story: The Freeway Killings as Apartment Manager
- 1996 The Winner as Guy in Couple
- 1982 Barbarosa as Angel
- 2001 Missing Pieces as Beggar
- 2000 American Tragedy as Bum
- 1999 Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman: The Movie as Mario
- 1981 Falcon Crest ( 1 episode ) as Inmate Tony
- 1984 Night Court ( 1 episode ) as Defendant #2
- 1977 CHiPs ( 1 episode )
- 2003 Carnivàle ( 1 episode ) as Proprietor
- 1993 The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. ( 1 episode ) as El Gato
- 1982 T. J. Hooker ( 1 episode ) as Cezar Moro
- 1986 Matlock ( 2 episodes ) as Inmate #2
- 1981 Simon & Simon ( 3 episodes )
- 1982 Knight Rider ( 1 episode ) as Coyote
- 1976 Quincy, M.E. ( 1 episode )
- 1982 Tales of the Gold Monkey ( 1 episode )
- 1984 Hunter ( 1 episode ) as Gunman
- 1951 Hallmark Hall of Fame ( 1 episode ) as Beggar
- 1987 The Oldest Rookie ( 1 episode )
- 1982 Knight Rider ( 1 episode ) as Voice #2
- 1984 Airwolf ( 1 episode ) as Mule
- 1984 Night Court ( 1 episode ) as Mr. Alvarez
- 1986 Heart of the City ( 1 episode ) as Desk Clerk
- 1982 T. J. Hooker ( 1 episode ) as Louis Pordeo
