Julio Medina Salazar (born 16 January 1933) is a retired Colombian actor. He is 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 centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central character ...

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

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

until moving to

Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...

since then has based his acting works there. In his Hollywood career he has appeared in numerous television roles ranging from ''

I Dream of Jeannie ''I Dream of Jeannie'' is an American fantasy sitcom television series, created by Sidney Sheldon that starred Barbara Eden as a sultry, 2,000-year-old genie and Larry Hagman, as an astronaut with whom she falls in love and eventually marrie ...

'' to ''

The Partridge Family ''The Partridge Family'' is an American musical sitcom starring Shirley Jones and featuring David Cassidy. Jones plays a widowed mother, and Cassidy plays the oldest of her five children, in a family who embarks on a music career. It ran from Se ...

''. He is 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 above sea level and has a yearly average temp ...

, Colombia in 1933. He studied at

Pontifical Xavierian University The Pontifical Xavierian University (in Spanish Pontificia Universidad Javeriana) is a private higher education institution founded in 1623. It is one of the oldest, most traditional, and prestigious Colombian universities, directed by the Societ ...

and later at the

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

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

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

where he served for two years.

Career

In 1965, he moved to

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

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 has 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 AF ...

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

David Carradine David Carradine ( ; born John Arthur Carradine Jr.; December 8, 1936 – June 3, 2009) was an American actor best known for playing martial arts roles. He is perhaps best known as the star of the 1970s television series ''Kung Fu'', playi ...

and

Sally Field Sally Margaret Field (born November 6, 1946) is an American actress. She has received many awards and nominations, including two Academy Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Cannes Film F ...

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

'', ''

Kung Fu Chinese martial arts, often called by the umbrella terms kung fu (; ), kuoshu () or wushu (), are multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common ...

'', ''

The Rockford Files ''The Rockford Files'' is an American detective drama television series starring James Garner that aired on the NBC network from September 13, 1974 to January 10, 1980, and remains in syndication. Garner portrays Los Angeles private investigator ...

'', ''

Wonder Woman Wonder Woman is a superhero created by the American psychologist and writer William Moulton Marston (pen name: Charles Moulton), and artist Harry G. Peter. Marston's wife, Elizabeth Holloway Marston, Elizabeth, and their life partner, Olive Byr ...

'', ''

Dallas Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...

'' 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 genres around the world include '' teleserye'' ...

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

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

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 sitcom about a community of nuns which included one who could fly when the wind caught her cornette. It was produced by Screen Gems for ABC based on the 1965 book ''The Fifteenth Pelican,'' written by Tere Rio ...

'' (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, espionage, and science fiction television series that ran on the CBS television network for four seasons from September 17, 1965, to April 11, 1969. Two satirical comedy television film sequels w ...

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

The High Chaparral ''The High Chaparral'' television series, which was broadcast on NBC from 1967 to 1971, is an American Western action adventure drama set in the 1870s. It stars Leif Erickson and Cameron Mitchell. The series was made by Xanadu Productions in ...

'' (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 World War ...

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

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

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

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

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

'' (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 broadcast ...

'' (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 Janu ...

'' (TV Series) - Clerk *1978: ''

ABC Weekend Specials ''ABC Weekend Special'' is a weekly 30-minute American television anthology series for children that aired Saturday mornings on ABC from 1977 to 1997, which featured a wide variety of stories that were both live-action and animated. Similar to bo ...

'' (TV Series) - Martín *1978: '' Police Story'' (TV Series) - Pedro *1979: ''

Centennial {{other uses, Centennial (disambiguation), Centenary (disambiguation) A centennial, or centenary in British English, is a 100th anniversary or otherwise relates to a century, a period of 100 years. Notable events Notable centennial events at a ...

'' (TV Series) - Padre Gravez *1981: '' Zoot Suit'' - 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 fiction, superhero television series that aired on American Broadcasting Company, ABC. Created by producer Stephen J. Cannell, it premiered as a two-hour pilot movie on March 1 ...

''
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 September 10, 1987, on CBS. The show starred Kate Jackson and Bruce Boxleitner, as divorced housewife Amanda King and top-level "Agency" operative ...

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

Airwolf ''Airwolf'' is an American action military drama television series that centers on a high-technology military helicopter, code-named ''Airwolf'', and its crew. The show follows them as they undertake various exotic missions, many involving esp ...

'' (TV Series) - Col. Arias *1985: ''

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

'' - Salazar *1987: ''

Starman ''StarMan'' is a 1996 fantasy novel by Australian writer Sara Douglass. It follows the second book in the series, '' Enchanter'', with Axis marching north with his army to confront a formidable enemy. Background ''StarMan'' was first published ...

'' (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 Jef ...

'' - 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 and was created by Jim Thomas (scree ...

'' (TV Series) - Gardener *1990: '' Drug Wars: The Camarena Story'' (TV Series) - Benjamin Piza *1996: ''

Ilona Arrives with the Rain ''Ilona Arrives with the Rain'' ( es, Ilona llega con la lluvia, it, Ilona arriva con la pioggia) is a 1996 Colombian-Spanish-Italian drama film directed by Sergio Cabrera. It premiered at the 53rd Venice International Film Festival, in which it ...

'' - 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 Living people Colombian film actors Colombian male television actors People from Chiquinquirá Pontifical Xavierian University alumni Colombian emigrants to the United States United States Navy sailors