Julio Medina

Julio Medina Salazar (16 January 1933 – 23 November 2024) was a Colombian actor. He was notable for his debut work in Gunsmoke and for his award-winning role in Las aguas mansas. For nearly thirty years, Medina worked and lived in Los Angeles until moving to Colombia, later basing his acting works there.

In his Hollywood career he appeared in numerous television roles ranging from I Dream of Jeannie to The Partridge Family. He was considered to be the first Colombian actor to have a successful Hollywood career in the United States.

Early life Medina was born in Chiquinquirá, Colombia in 1933. He studied at Pontifical Xavierian University and later at the Pasadena Playhouse after moving to the United States in 1954. He was enlisted in the United States Navy where he served for two years.

Career In 1965, Medina moved to Peru to make small movies, but moved to the United States afterwards.

He made his acting debut in the television series Gunsmoke (as Pedro, in S11E8 episode "The Reward").

In his Hollywood career he worked alongside Michael Douglas, Hal Holbrook, David Carradine and Sally Field.

In 1984, Medina returned to Colombia where he continued to make movies and telenovelas. 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 and death In a 2017 interview, Medina stated he lived on his own in solitude in rural Colombia and while asked about his bachelorhood and rumours 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: Gunsmoke (TV Series) - Pedro / Rodríguez / Fermin 1966: I Dream of Jeannie (TV Series) - Stranger 1967-1970: The Flying Nun (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 (TV Series) - Townsman / Don Carlos 1969: It Takes a Thief (TV Series) - Greeter / Haberdasher 1969-1970: The High Chaparral (TV Series) - First Man / Sanchez 1970: The Partridge Family (TV Series) - Chavez 1971: Bearcats! (TV Series) - Ramirez 1972: Banacek (TV Series) - Padre Borda 1973-1975: Kung Fu (TV Series) - Padre / Father Salazar 1974: The Streets of San Francisco (TV Series) - Nick Solano 1974-1976: Harry O (TV Series) - Legation Official / Jesus Quinlan / Dr. Troy 1974-1977: Chico and the Man (TV Series) - Doctor Spanola / Banker Sanchez / Mr. Delgado 1975: The Rockford Files (TV Series) - Gardener 1976-1977: Delvecchio (TV Series) - Jorge 1977: Wonder Woman (TV Series) - Captain Gaitan 1977: The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (TV Series) - Clerk 1978: ABC Weekend Specials (TV Series) - Martín 1978: Police Story (TV Series) - Pedro 1979: Centennial (TV Series) - Padre Gravez 1981: Zoot Suit - Lowrider's Father 1981: The New Adventures of Zorro (TV Series) - Miguel 1982-1986: Dallas (TV Series) - Henry Figueroa 1983: The Greatest American Hero, Vanity Says The Preacher (TV Series) - Dr. Romero 1984: Scarecrow and Mrs. King (TV Series) - Caesar Varga 1984: Airwolf (TV Series) - Col. Arias 1985: Latino - Salazar 1987: Starman (TV Series) - Pepe 1988: Little Nikita - Soccer Announcer 1989: Hard Time on Planet Earth (TV Series) - Gardener 1990: Drug Wars: The Camarena Story (TV Series) - Benjamin Piza 1996: Ilona Arrives with the Rain - 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