Trinidad Silva

• Name — Trinidad Silva • Birth Name — Trinidad Silva Jr. • Born — 30 January 1950 • Birthplace — Mission, Texas, U.S. • Died — 31 July 1988 • Place of death — Whittier, California, U.S. • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1977–1988

Silva was born in Mission, Texas.

On July 31, 1988, Silva, his wife, and toddler son had gone out to lunch after Sunday church services, and were returning home when a drunken driver drove through a red light into the driver's side of the family's pickup truck at an intersection in Whittier, California. Silva and his son, who allegedly were not wearing seatbelts, were both thrown from the vehicle. His son survived the crash with abrasions and bruising but no major injuries. Silva, however, flew 100 ft before striking the pavement, and died instantly. He was 38 years old. His wife also survived with minimal injury. Douglas Robert Owens pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter, drunken driving, and hit-and-run charges. Owens was sentenced to 10 years in state prison, which was the maximum allowed under the law. Silva's death occurred during production of the 1989 "Weird Al" Yankovic film UHF. Parts of the film had to be rewritten since he had not finished filming his scenes. The film was dedicated to his memory. Yankovic would later reveal on his Ask Al website that the circumstances of Silva's death had contributed to his refusal to do advertisements for alcohol. He is buried at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1977 — Baretta — Harold — 1 episode • 1977 — Police Story — Chicano #3 — 1 episode • 1977 — Visions — Domingo — 1 episode • 1979 — Visions — Joe — 1 episode • 1979 — The White Shadow — Julio — 1 episode • 1981 — Lou Grant — Venice Knights gangleader — 1 episode • 1981–1987 — Hill Street Blues — Jesus Martinez — guest star 28 episodes • 1981 — Barney Miller — Puente — 1 episode • 1982 — T. J. Hooker — Ramon Cruz — 1 episode • 1984 — Maximum Security — Puck — pilot only • 1986 — Stir Crazy — Juan — 1 episode • 1986 — Hunter — Hector Rivas — 1 episode • 1988 — Stones for Ibarra — Basilio Garcia — TV movie • 1988 — Home Free — Eddie Fuentes — TV movie