Adolfo Larrue Martínez III (born September 27, 1948), credited as A Martinez, is an American actor and singer. He had roles in the daytime soap operas Santa Barbara, General Hospital, One Life to Live, The Bold and the Beautiful, and Days of Our Lives, and the primetime dramas L.A. Law, Profiler, Longmire and Dark Winds. His feature films include The Cowboys (1972), Powwow Highway (1989), Curse of Chucky (2013), Ambulance (2022) and <bdi>Far Haven (2023).</bdi>
Early life and education
Martinez was born Adolfo Larrue Martínez III in Glendale, California. His family referred to him as "A", "Little Adolfo", and "Little A" as a child to distinguish him from his father and grandfather. Over time, "A" became the name he would use. His heritage is Mexican and Apache on his father's side, and Piegan Blackfeet and Northern European on his mother's side.
Martinez attended Sunland Elementary School and Mt. Gleason Junior High School in Sunland/Tujunga, where he played Kiwanis youth softball each summer (he was a formidable pitcher) and starred in numerous school musical productions. He graduated from Verdugo Hills High School in Tujunga. In high school, he was in a rock band and on the track team.
After intending to study political science at UCLA, he turned to acting instead.
Career
After graduating college, he played on a semi-pro baseball team for five seasons.. Martinez has also worked on prime time television, including starring roles in series such as Profiler and L.A. Law.
In September 2008, Martinez joined the cast of the ABC daytime drama One Life to Live in the role of Ray Montez and was written out in June 2009.
In February 2011, Martinez appeared in several episodes of the CBS daytime drama The Bold and the Beautiful as Dr. Ramon Montgomery. He returned in January 2012 for a few additional episodes.
In 2012, he landed the recurring role of Jacob Nighthorse in the A&E Network television series Longmire.
Starting in 2023, he played Sheriff Gordo Sena in the second, third and fourth seasons of Dark Winds.
In 2025, Martinez joined the cast of the series Blue Ridge, managed under INSP Network and airing originally on the Cowboy Way Channel, now rebranded as Western Bound. Martinez plays the role of Connor McGrath and is part of its main ensemble. The first season premiered on the Cowboy Way Channel and later became available on Amazon Prime Video, where it became a sleeper hit, ranking among the service’s Top 10 most-watched shows.
Awards
Over the years, Martinez has been nominated for numerous awards, and received some, including a Daytime Emmy Award, a Red Nation Film Award of Excellence, an award as Best Supporting Actor at the Red Dirt International Film Festival (for his own written short film called "Four Winds), He moved from Malibu to Thousand Oaks, California in 2014.
Filmography
Film
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
!Year
!Title
!Role(s)
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1968
|The Young Animals
|Johnny
|
|-
|1969
|Change of Habit
|Second Teen
|Uncredited
|-
|1972
|The Cowboys
|Cimarron
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|1973
|Starbird and Sweet William
|Starbird
|
|-
|Once Upon a Scoundrel
|Luis Manuel
|
|-
|1974
|The Take
|Tallbear
|
|-
|1976
|Joe Panther
|Billy Tiger
|
|-
|1978
|Shoot the Sun Down
|Sunbearer
|
|-
|1983
|The Honorary Consul
|Aquino
|
|-
|1985
|Walking the Edge
|Tony
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|1989
|Powwow Highway
|Buddy Red Bow
|
|-
|She-Devil
|Garcia
|
|-
|1995
|One Night Stand
|Jack Gilman
|
|-
|1997
|Double Tap
|Johnny Escobar
|
|-
|2000
|What's Cooking?
|Daniel
|
|-
|2001
|Ordinary Sinner
|Father Ed
|
|-
|2005
|Once Upon a Wedding
|El Comandante
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|2009
|Fist of the Warrior
|Anthony Black
|
|-
|The Terminators
|Sheriff Carpenter
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|2012
|California Solo
|Warren
|
|-
|California Winter
|Miguel Morales
|
|-
|rowspan="3"|2013
|Four Winds
|Old Man
|Short film
|-
|Jimmy P: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian
|Bear Willie Claw
|
|-
|Curse of Chucky
|Father Frank
|
|-
|2014
|Before Your Eyes
|Berto Galvan
|Short film
|-
|2021
|Symphoria
|Carl Witting
|
|-
|2022
|Ambulance
|Papi
|
|-
|2023
|Far Haven
|Abraham
|
|}
Television
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
!Year
!Title
!Role(s)
! class="unsortable"|Notes
|-
|rowspan="4"|1969
|The Outcasts
|The Indian
|Episode: "A Time of Darkness"
|-
|Mission: Impossible
|Young Man
|Episode: "The Code"
|-
|The New People
|Gradis
|Episode: "Murderer!"
|-
|Ironside
|Manolo Rodriguez
|Episode: "The Machismo Bag"
|-
|rowspan="4"|1970
|Hunters Are for Killing
|Jimmy Ramirez
|TV movie
|-
|Adam-12
|Lauro Perez
|Episode: "Log 114: The Hero"
|-
|Mannix
|Pancho Salinas
|Episode: "Time Out of Mind"
|-
|Bonanza
|Luís Valdez
|Episode: "Gideon the Good"
|-
|1970–1971
|Storefront Lawyers
|Roberto Alvarez
|Main cast
|-
|rowspan="3"|1971
|The Smith Family
|Ramon Sanchez
|Episode: "Chicano"
|-
|The Man and the City
|Tony
|Episode: "Reprisal"
|-
|The Bold Ones: The Lawyers
|Carlos Estrada
|Episode: "Justice Is a Sometime Thing"
|-
|rowspan="3"|1972
|The Streets of San Francisco
|Rafael Diaz
|Episode: "Hall of Minors"
|-
|Probe
|Carlos Lobos
| TV movie
|-
|The Sixth Sense
|Billy
|Episode: "Echo of a Distant Scream"
|-
|rowspan="2"|1973
|Hawaii Five-O
|Pepe Olivares
|Episode: "A Bullet for El Diablo"
|-
|Police Story
|Bermudez
|Episode: "Man on a Rack"
|-
|rowspan="3"|1974
|The Cowboys
|Cimarron
|Main cast
|-
|Nakia
|George
|Episode: "The Non-Person"
|-
|Movin' On
|Manolo Higgins
|Episode: "The Cowhands"
|-
|1974–1975
|Kung Fu
|Tigre Cantrell
|2 episodes
|-
|rowspan="2"|1975
|McCloud
|Larry Moreno
|Episode: "Sharks"
|-
|Petrocelli
|Mando Rivera
|Episode: "The Gamblers"
|-
|rowspan="2"|1975–1976
|rowspan="2"|The Streets of San Francisco
|Officer Vega
|Episode: "False Witness"
|-
|Rudy Costa
|Episode: "Alien Country"
|-
|1976
|Columbo
|Curro Rangel
|Episode: "A Matter of Honor"
|-
|rowspan="2"|1976–1977
|rowspan="2"|Barnaby Jones
|Carlos Rojas
|Episode: "Shadow of Guilt"
|-
|Tomás Aguillar
|Episode: "Deadly Homecoming"
|-
|rowspan="7"|1977
|The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries
|Henry Salazar
|Episode: "Mystery of the Fallen Angels"
|-
|Exo-Man
|Raphael Torres
|TV movie
|-
|Wonderbug
|Johnny Littlecloud
|Episode: "Oil or Nothing"
|-
|The Krofft Supershow
|Johnny Littlecloud
|Segment: "Wonderbug"
|-
|All in the Family
|Manuel
|2 episodes
|-
|Baretta
|Frank
|Episode: "Por nada"
|-
|Police Woman
|Dimi
|Episode: "The Buttercup Killer"
|-
|1978
|The Young Pioneers
|Circling Hawk
|Episode: "Sky in the Window"
|-
|rowspan="5"|1979
|Centennial
|Tranquillino Marquez
|3 episodes
|-
|The Incredible Hulk
|Rick
|Episode: "Kindred Spirits"
|-
|Barnaby Jones
|Tony Sierra
|Episode: "Cry for Vengeance"
|-
|Barney Miller
|Claudio Ortez
|Episode: "The DNA Story"
|-
|B. J. and the Bear
|Melendez
|Episode: "The Murphy Contingent"
|-
|1979–1980
|Quincy, M.E.
|Dr. Tony Carbo
|3 episodes
|-
|1980
|Police Story: Confessions of a Lady Cop
|Julio Mendez
|TV movie
|-
|rowspan="4"|1981
|The White Shadow
|Officer Ramirez
|Episode: "Cops"
|-
|Barney Miller
|Joseph
|Episode: "The Doll"
|-
|CHiPs
|Dr. Rhodes
|Episode: "A Simple Operation"
|-
|Fantasy Island
|Manuel Lopez
|Episode: "Paquito's Birthday/Technical Advisor"
|-
|rowspan="3"|1982
|American Playhouse
|Juan
|Episode: "Seguin"
|-
|Cassie & Co.
|Benny Silva
|Main cast
|-
|Falcon Crest
|Julio Delgado
|Episode: "Victims"
|-
|1983
|Hart to Hart
|Jose
|Episode: "Straight Through the Hart"
|-
|1983–1984
|Whiz Kids
|Lt. Neal Quinn
|Main cast
|-
|rowspan="2"|1984
|Remington Steele
|Guy Nickerson
|Episode: "High Flying Steele"
|-
|The Yellow Rose
|Raoul Padilla
|Episode: "Chains of Fear"
|-
|1984–1992
|Santa Barbara
|Cruz Castillo
|Main cast
|-
|1989
|Manhunt: Search for the Night Stalker
|Lt. Gil Carillo
|TV movie
|-
|1990
|ABC Afterschool Specials
|Emanuel Jensen
|Episode: "Testing Dirty"
|-
|1990–1994
|L.A. Law
|Daniel Morales
|Main cast (seasons 7–8)
|-
|1991
|In the Nick of Time
|Charlie Minsch
|TV movie
|-
|1994
|Deconstructing Sarah
|Kenny
|TV movie
|-
|rowspan="4"|1996
|Touched by an Angel
|Jon Mateos
|Episode: "Rock 'n' Roll Dad"
|-
|Grand Avenue
|Steven
|TV movie
|-
|Sweet Dreams
|Chief Doug Harrison
|TV movie
|-
|The Cherokee Kid
|Juan Cortina
|TV movie
|-
|1996–1997
|Profiler
|Agent Nick Cooper
|Recurring role (seasons 1–2)
|-
|1997
|Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
|Emperor (voice)
|Episode: "The Shoemaker and the Elves"
|-
|rowspan="2"|1998
|Welcome to Paradox
|Agent Rasheed Kay
|Episode: "News from D Street"
|-
|Last Rites
|Matt Santos
|TV movie
|-
|rowspan="2"|1999
|The Magnificent Seven
|Raphael Cordero Martinez
|Episode: "Love and Honor"
|-
|A Memory in My Heart
|Joe Vega
|TV movie
|-
|1999–2002
|General Hospital
|Roy DiLucca
|Recurring role
|-
|2000
|The Hunger
|Peter Deutch
|Episode: "The Falling Man"
|-
|2002–2003
|For the People
|Michael Olivas
|Main cast
|-
|rowspan="2"|2003
|Killer Instinct: From the Files of Agent Candice DeLong
|Bobby
|TV movie
|-
|The Law and Mr. Lee
|Anthony Delgado
|TV movie
|-
|2005
|JAG
|Chief Aurelio Pudero
|Episode: "JAG: San Diego"
|-
|2005–2007
|CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
|Danilo Zamesca
| 4 episodes
|-
|rowspan="2"|2006
|Huff
|Jorge Corrales
|2 episodes
|-
|Desolation Canyon
|Arturo Zetta
|TV movie
|-
|rowspan="2"|2007
|Raines
|Aurelio Sanchez
|Episode: "Meet Juan Doe"
|-
|Viva Laughlin
|Armando
|Episode: "What a Whale Wants"
|-
|2008
|Little Girl Lost: The Delimar Vera Story
|Angel Cruz
|TV movie
|-
|2008–2009
|One Life to Live
|Ray Montez
|Recurring role
|-
|2009
|Criminal Minds
|Bunting
|Episode: "Retaliation"
|-
|rowspan="2"|2010
|Miami Medical
|Garrett
|Episode: "An Arm and a Leg"
|-
|Castle
|César Calderón
|Episode: "Anatomy of a Murder"
|-
|2011
|Mega Python vs. Gatoroid
|Dr. Diego Ortiz
|TV movie
|-
|2011–2012
|The Bold and the Beautiful
|Ramon Montgomery
|Recurring role
|-
|2012–2017
|Longmire
|Jacob Nighthorse
|Recurring role
|-
|2014
|The Night Shift
|Joacquin De La Cruz
|Episode: "Storm Watch"
|-
|2015
|NCIS
|Tomas Orlando
|Episode: "Patience"
|-
|2015–2020
|Days of Our Lives
|Eduardo Hernandez
|Recurring role
|-
|2018
|Queen of the South
|Sheriff Mayo
|3 episodes
|-
|2019
|Christmas on the Range
|Brick McCree
|TV movie
|-
|2021
|Cowboy Bebop
|Stax
|Episode: "Blue Crow Waltz"
|-
|2023–present
|Dark Winds
|Sheriff Gordon Sena
|Recurring role (seasons 2–present)
|-
|rowspan="2"|2024
|Avatar: The Last Airbender
|Master Pakku
|2 episodes
|-
|The Rookie
|Gundo
|2 episodes
|-
|2024–present
|Blue Ridge
|Connor McGrath
|Main cast
|}
Web
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
!scope="col"|Year
!scope="col"|Title
!scope="col"|Role(s)
!scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|2014–present
|The Bay
|Nardo Ramos
|Recurring role (season 1), main role (season 2-present)
|}