Antonio Juan Fargas Bio: Wife, Movies, Age, Height, Ethnicity, Parents, Net Worth, Awards

Antonio Juan Fargas, widely recognized as Antonio Fargas, is a veteran American actor celebrated for his charismatic performances in 1970s blaxploitation films such as Putney Swope (1969), Shaft (1971), Across 110th Street (1972), Foxy Brown (1974), and I’m Gonna Git You Sucka (1988), as well as his iconic role as the streetwise informant Huggy Bear on the hit television series Starsky & Hutch (1975–1979).

With a career spanning nearly six decades, he has brought memorable energy to both dramatic and comedic roles across film, television, and theater, earning enduring cult status among fans of classic action, comedy, and hip-hop culture.

Profile

• Full Name: Antonio Juan Fargas
• Stage Name: Antonio Fargas
• Born: 14 August 1946
• Age: 79 years old
• Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Actor
• Height: 1.85m
• Parents: Manuel Fargas and Mildred Fargas (née Bailey)
• Siblings: 10
• Spouse: Taylor Hastie (m. 1979–1988), Sandra Reed (m. 1989–2023)
• Children: 4
• Relationship: Widowed
• Net Worth: $1 million

Early Life and Education

Antonio Juan Fargas was born on August 14, 1946, in New York City. He grew up in Spanish Harlem as one of 11 children to Manuel Fargas, a Puerto Rican who worked for the City of New York, and Mildred Fargas (née Bailey), who was from Trinidad and Tobago. He has ten siblings.

Fargas graduated from Fashion Industries High School in 1965. He is of mixed Puerto Rican and Trinidadian descent and was raised in a vibrant, working-class environment that shaped his early exposure to performance.

Career

Antonio Fargas launched his acting career as a teenager, making his film debut at age 14 in Shirley Clarke’s The Cool World (1963), a raw drama about Harlem youth.

He built momentum in the late 1960s with a breakout role in the satirical comedy Putney Swope (1969), which showcased his comedic timing.

In the early 1970s, he became a staple in the blaxploitation genre, delivering strong supporting turns in films like Shaft (1971), Across 110th Street (1972), Cleopatra Jones (1973), and Foxy Brown (1974), often playing street-smart characters that highlighted his lanky frame and sharp charisma.

These roles established him as a reliable presence in urban action and crime stories.

Fargas achieved widespread fame in 1975 when he landed the recurring role of Huggy Bear, the flamboyant, golden-hearted informant, on Starsky & Hutch.

The part, originally intended as a one-off, became a series regular across 92 episodes through 1979, thanks to his chemistry with stars David Soul and Paul Michael Glaser.

The character’s flashy style and street wisdom turned him into a cultural icon, influencing hip-hop and later parodies.

During this period, he also appeared in Car Wash (1976) and took on soap opera work with a recurring role as Les Baxter on All My Children (1982–1987), expanding his television footprint.

Antonio Fargas has sustained a versatile career into later decades, appearing in comedy spoofs like I’m Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) and Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996), guest spots on sitcoms such as Living Single, Martin, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and The Steve Harvey Show, and a regular role as Doc on Everybody Hates Chris (2006–2009).

He has continued with film work including Sucker Punch (2008) and Beyond Skyline (2017), voice roles, theater productions like August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and international projects such as British reality TV and stage tours.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: Unknown
• Facebook Handle: Antonio Fargas
• Twitter Handle: Unknown

Personal Life

Antonio Juan Fargas married fashion designer Taylor Hastie in 1979, and they had one son, Justin Fargas, a former NFL running back for the Oakland Raiders, before divorcing in 1988. He later married Sandra Reed in 1989; they had three more children together and remained together until her passing in 2023.

Fargas keeps much of his private life out of the spotlight, focusing on family, restoration of historic homes, and advocacy for African-American arts through board positions at cultural centers.

Filmography

• The Cool World (1963)
• Putney Swope (1969)
• Shaft (1971)
• Across 110th Street (1972)
• Cleopatra Jones (1973)
• Foxy Brown (1974)
• Car Wash (1976)
• I’m Gonna Git You Sucka (1988)
• Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996)
• Beyond Skyline (2017)

Net Worth

Antonio Fargas has an estimated net worth of $1 million. His primary sources of income come from a long career in acting, including iconic television roles like Huggy Bear on Starsky & Hutch with ongoing residuals, numerous film appearances in blaxploitation and comedy genres, recurring TV parts, guest spots, and theater work over nearly 60 years.