Gregory Sierra played Louis “Lou” Rodriguez during some of Miami Vice’s earliest episodes. He is undoubtedly one of the reasons the show got popular in the first place, as his character, the commander of the Vice division, was highly entertaining. However, Rodriguez didn’t last long in the show and was killed after the first few episodes by an assassin who was intending to kill Crockett.
Lou’s death helped set the tone for the show and proved that even major characters are not safe from being killed without prior notice. This made Miami Vice a lot more engaging and kept viewers on the edge of their seats.
Julia Roberts As Polly Wheeler
One of Julia Roberts' first roles was as Polly Wheeler, assistant to the terrifying but suave drug lord, Miguel Manolo. Wheeler helped him run an art gallery, which was actually a front for his illegal activities. The actress appeared in just one episode of the show called "Mirror Image".
It's hard to believe that Roberts went on to become such a successful actress after the show, which just makes her brief appearance as an unknown actress all the more special. She was quite enamored by Sonny Burnett, Detective Crockett's alter ego. It’s a shame that Roberts’ character’s fate was never revealed on the show after her boss got killed by Vice since she had such a great role.
Julia Roberts– After the show
There's no need to introduce Julia Roberts to today’s readers, as the leading actress has managed to become one of the most popular actresses in Hollywood. She has three Golden Globe Awards under her belt and has been nominated for four Academy Awards. The actress has acted in various highly successful films over the years, from Ocean's Eleven to Eat Pray Love.
Roberts was the highest-paid actress in Hollywood during the '90s and is considered one of the world's most beautiful women. She's worth about $170 million today and spends most of her time raising her three beautiful children.
Gregory Sierra– After the show
Before his short role on Miami Vice, Puerto Rican actor Gregory Sierra appeared in many films and TV Shows. You can find him in everything from Beneath the Planet of the Apes to the TV show version of Mission: Impossible. He currently lives in Laguna Woods, California and has mostly retired from acting since the late '90s.
Sierra recently appeared in the experimental film called The Other Side of the Wind after more than two decades of hiatus. If you’re looking to see the actor at his best, you can check out his roles as Detective Sergeant Chano Amenguale on the sitcom show Barney Miller.
Helena Bonham Carter As Dr. Theresa Lyons
Before the beautiful gothic actress Helena Bonham Carter assumed her most iconic roles, she played a small part in Miami Vice as Dr. Theresa Lyons, which ended up lasting two episodes. Lyons fell in love with Sonny Crockett, but their mutual love quickly turned into a crazy obsession.
Dr. Theresa Lyons was eventually sent to treatment at a Drug Abuse Clinic in Connecticut for her addictions, and that was the end of her minor role in Miami Vice. Fortunately, we got to see a whole lot more of the actress, as she ended up assuming some of the most popular roles in Hollywood.