Erik Estrada

As a Latino growing up in Spanish harlem, it's not easy trying not to be hot-headed. ”

It was a hard job, but it was a lot of fun and I'll always be grateful to Ponch. He was a part of me. ”

This happens to a lot of kids from different backgrounds - they lose a lot of their parents' and grandparents' teachings, language and culture because they have to deal with another language and culture 24/7. By the time I was 44, I was terrible at Spanish. I was always intimidated whenever I had to speak it. ”

Listen, the Latin people, I love the Latin people. They are so loyal to you. Even if you haven't been on TV for thirty years, they still love you. And they cherish you and give you respect. You're not fast food in the Latin market. ”

Top Model' is pretty good, because it gives these girls an opportunity to chase their passion and possibly get a contract. ”

I really love the karate thing I did on CHIPs. I studied with a trainer because I knew we'd do episodes that had karate. ”

Playing a positive role on a network television show, it was great. I took it as a responsibility. Poncherello was supposed to be Poncherelli, and then when I got this part I said, 'You know what, this guy isn't going to be Italian-American, he's gonna be Hispanic American.' And they went with it. ”

I like working with an actor who doesn't do the oneupmanship. One who has no trick and gives a true, honest performance. ”

My grandfather taught me generosity. He sold snow cones in Harlem. I went with him at 5 and he let me hand out the change and snow cones. I learned a lot in the couple of years that we did that. ”

My new passion is to get Internet education mandated in all schools. We've got to start teaching our kids how to be safe in the 40,000 plus chat rooms that are out there. Because they're being had. These sexual predators groom the kids. I know, I've arrested enough of them. ”