Luis Contreras
Luis Contreras

Luis Contreras

Born: September 18, 1950 - Died: June 20, 2004 (53 years)
San Juan, Puerto Rico

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.

Movies as Actor (39)
Criminal

Criminal

as Carlos

Sep 10, 2004

Wednesday Afternoon

Wednesday Afternoon

as The Bartender

Jun 9, 2004

Missing Pieces

Missing Pieces

as Beggar

Jan 1, 2001

American Tragedy

American Tragedy

as Bum

Nov 12, 2000

Across the Line

Across the Line

as Timex

Feb 1, 2000

Last Man Standing

Last Man Standing

as Comandante Ramirez

Sep 20, 1996

The Winner

The Winner

as Guy in Couple

Sep 13, 1996

Dragstrip Girl

Dragstrip Girl

as Raoul

Sep 2, 1994

Geronimo: An American Legend

Geronimo: An American Legend

as Rurale Officer

Dec 10, 1993

Rio Diablo

Rio Diablo

as Pedro Almenzar

Feb 28, 1993

Bound by Honor

Bound by Honor

as Realthing

Feb 5, 1993

Desert Kickboxer

Desert Kickboxer

Nov 14, 1992

Dollman

Dollman

as Jackson

Nov 27, 1991

Lower Level

Lower Level

as Street Person

Oct 5, 1991

Suburban Commando

Suburban Commando

as Ringo

Oct 4, 1991

El Diablo

El Diablo

as Pestoso

Jul 22, 1990

After Midnight

After Midnight

as The Dogs' Master (segment "A Night on the Town")

Nov 3, 1989

Red Heat

Red Heat

as Lupo

Jun 17, 1988

Sunset

Sunset

as Jail Inmates

Apr 29, 1988

Walker

Walker

as Benito

Dec 4, 1987

Straight to Hell

Straight to Hell

as Sal

Jun 26, 1987

Police Story: The Freeway Killings

Police Story: The Freeway Killings

as Apartment Manager

May 3, 1987

Extreme Prejudice

Extreme Prejudice

as Lupo

Apr 24, 1987

Running Scared

Running Scared

as Thug (uncredited)

Jun 27, 1986

Big Trouble

Big Trouble

as Terrorist #2

May 30, 1986

Blue City

Blue City

as Lieutenant Ortiz

May 2, 1986

Stand Alone

Stand Alone

as Look-Out

Sep 1, 1985

Pee-wee's Big Adventure

Pee-wee's Big Adventure

as Biker #2

Jul 26, 1985

Walking the Edge

Walking the Edge

as Jesus

Jan 11, 1985

A Touch of Scandal

A Touch of Scandal

as Eugenio Salvador

Nov 27, 1984

Repo Man

Repo Man

as Mr. Humphries' Security Guard

Mar 2, 1984

48 Hrs.

48 Hrs.

as Gang Member

Dec 7, 1982

Barbarosa

Barbarosa

as Angel

Feb 19, 1982

Borderline

Borderline

Dec 19, 1980

The Long Riders

The Long Riders

as Man at the Bar

May 16, 1980

Heart Beat

Heart Beat

as Mexican Junkie

Apr 25, 1980

The Last Married Couple in America

The Last Married Couple in America

as Party Guest

Apr 3, 1980

1941

1941

as Zoot Suiter

Dec 14, 1979

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

as Federale

Dec 14, 1977