I grew up in New York in an English-speaking environment.

I had a major motorcycle accident on CHIPs that gave me a 50-50 chance to live. I broke a lot of bones and fractured ribs and broken wrists.

Oh my God… I worked with George C. Scott, way before ‘Chips,’ in ‘The New Centurion.’ I co-star in that movie. It was great working with him. I worked with Charlton Heston, Glenn Ford, Robert Mitchum. Stacy Each. The old Hollywood. I met John Wayne, and that was a thrill. I was working next door to him.

I never rode a motorcycle before ‘CHiPs.’

I really love the karate thing I did on CHIPs. I studied with a trainer because I knew we’d do episodes that had karate.

Top Model‘ is pretty good, because it gives these girls an opportunity to chase their passion and possibly get a contract.

I always loved Ponch, man. It was so much fun to be him, to put on my duds and get on that bike and bust the bad guys and help out the kids. And get the babes.

Long time ago, I was going to be a New York cop, then got involved with this girl who was into acting, then got bit by the acting bug myself.

I like to watch the Fox News Network. I like ‘Nightline.’ I like to watch ‘The Sopranos,’ of course. That is one of my favorite shows. ‘Entourage‘ is another one. I like ‘The Shield.’

I wanted to be a New York City cop before I became an actor.

Listen, the Latin people, I love the Latin people. They are so loyal to you. Even if you haven‘t been on TV for thirty years, they still love you. And they cherish you and give you respect. You’re not fast food in the Latin market.

An hour of my time is a tiny price to pay for all the support I’ve gotten from my fans.

Playing a positive role on a network television show, it was great. I took it as a responsibility. Poncherello was supposed to be Poncherelli, and then when I got this part I said, ‘You know what, this guy isn’t going to be Italian–American, he‘s gonna be Hispanic American.’ And they went with it.

My grandfather taught me generosity. He sold snow cones in Harlem. I went with him at 5 and he let me hand out the change and snow cones. I learned a lot in the couple of years that we did that.

‘Top Model‘ is pretty good, because it gives these girls an opportunity to chase their passion and possibly get a contract.

It was a hard job, but it was a lot of fun and I’ll always be grateful to Ponch. He was a part of me.

I do get a lot of mail. I get a lot of foreign mail because my mail gets mixed with Emilio Estevez.

I’m a deputy sheriff.

Respect other people regardless of the level they are at… or the level you are at. When you hand out respect, you get it back.

Sergio Leone‘s ‘Once Upon a Time in America’ is a brilliant movie. It’s about four hours long, but it’s so well done.