Luis Ávalos

Luis Ávalos (September 2, 1946 – January 22, 2014) was an American character actor. A Cuban-American, he made numerous film and television appearances, most notably in the 1971–1977 children's television show The Electric Company.

Early years After being born in Havana, Cuba, Ávalos came to the United States with his family when he was a child. He earned a degree in theater from New York University.

Career Ávalos acted with the Lincoln Center Repertory Theater.

In 1972, Avalos was a cast member on the PBS children’s TV show The Electric Company, most notably playing Doctor Doolots (a play on Doctor Dolittle). He joined the show in its second season and stayed until the show’s cancellation in 1977. He was good friends with fellow Electric Company star Rita Moreno. His most notable movie role was as Ramon in the 1979 comedy Hot Stuff, in which he starred alongside Jerry Reed, Dom DeLuise, and Suzanne Pleshette.

Ávalos also starred as Jesse Rodriguez on the short-lived situation comedy Condo with McLean Stevenson and as Dr. Tomas Esquivel on the short-lived situation comedy E/R with Elliott Gould and Mary McDonnell. He played Dr. Sanchez on Highcliffe Manor on NBC in 1979 and Crecencio Salos in Ned Blessing: The True Story of My Life on CBS in 1993. Additionally, he starred as Stavi in the comedy The Ringer with Johnny Knoxville.

Avalos appeared on Barney Miller. He was in the episode "Chase" in 1977 and the episode "Bones" in 1982.

In 1989, Avalos made a guest appearance as a judge on Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder.

In 2000, he founded the Americas Theatre Arts Foundation in Los Angeles to support Latin American-inspired dramatic productions.

Death Avalos died on January 22, 2014, of heart failure, after a heart attack. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) in Los Angeles at Burbank.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1973 Badge 373 Chico 1979 Hot Stuff Ramon 1980 The Hunter Poker Player #3 1980 Sunday Lovers (segment "Skippy")1980 Stir Crazy Chico 1982 Love Child Tony 1986 Ghost Fever Benny 1989 Criminal Act Coroner 1991 Fires Within Victor Hernandez 1991 The Butcher's Wife Luis 1995 Lone Justice 2 Crecencio 1996 Lone Justice: Showdown at Plum Creek 1997 Jungle 2 Jungle Abe 1999 Love Stinks Judge 2002 Wishcraft Mayor Phelan 2003 Hollywood Homicide Det. Willie Palmero 2005 The Ringer Stavi 2008 Five Dollars a Day Martinez (final film role)