Luis Contreras
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
All Movies (39)
- Criminal2004 · as Carlos
- Wednesday Afternoon2004 · as The Bartender
- Missing Pieces2001 · as Beggar
- American Tragedy2000 · as Bum
- Across the Line2000 · as Timex
- Last Man Standing1996 · as Comandante Ramirez
- The Winner1996 · as Guy in Couple
- Dragstrip Girl1994 · as Raoul
- Geronimo: An American Legend1993 · as Rurale Officer
- Rio Diablo1993 · as Pedro Almenzar
- Bound by Honor1993 · as Realthing
- Desert Kickboxer1992
- Dollman1991 · as Jackson
- Lower Level1991 · as Street Person
- Suburban Commando1991 · as Ringo
- El Diablo1990 · as Pestoso
- After Midnight1989 · as The Dogs' Master (segment "A Night on the Town")
- Red Heat1988 · as Lupo
- Sunset1988 · as Jail Inmates
- Walker1987 · as Benito
- Straight to Hell1987 · as Sal
- Police Story: The Freeway Killings1987 · as Apartment Manager
- Extreme Prejudice1987 · as Lupo
- Running Scared1986 · as Thug (uncredited)
- Big Trouble1986 · as Terrorist #2
- Blue City1986 · as Lieutenant Ortiz
- Stand Alone1985 · as Look-Out
- Pee-wee's Big Adventure1985 · as Biker #2
- Walking the Edge1985 · as Jesus
- A Touch of Scandal1984 · as Eugenio Salvador
- Repo Man1984 · as Mr. Humphries' Security Guard
- 48 Hrs.1982 · as Gang Member
- Barbarosa1982 · as Angel
- Borderline1980
- The Long Riders1980 · as Man at the Bar
- Heart Beat1980 · as Mexican Junkie
- The Last Married Couple in America1980 · as Party Guest
- 19411979 · as Zoot Suiter
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind1977 · as Federale
All TV Shows (19)
- Carnivàle2003 · as Proprietor
- The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.1993 · as El Gato
- The Oldest Rookie1987
- Heart of the City1986 · as Desk Clerk
- Matlock1986 · as Inmate #2
- Hunter1984 · as Gunman
- Airwolf1984 · as Mule
- Night Court1984 · as Defendant #2
- Night Court1984 · as Mr. Alvarez
- Knight Rider1982 · as Coyote
- Knight Rider1982 · as Voice #2
- Tales of the Gold Monkey1982
- T. J. Hooker1982 · as Cezar Moro
- T. J. Hooker1982 · as Louis Pordeo
- Falcon Crest1981 · as Inmate Tony
- Simon & Simon1981
- CHiPs1977
- Quincy, M.E.1976
- Hallmark Hall of Fame1951 · as Beggar





