Richard Chaves

Richard John Chaves (born October 9, 1951) is an American actor. Chaves helped write the critically acclaimed stage drama Tracers. In the early eighties, he began work as an actor taking on various soap opera roles until he gained a notable role in 1987 as Poncho in the science fiction film Predator. Soon afterward his career got another boost as he won the role of Lt. Colonel Ironhorse in the War of the Worlds TV series. Aside from having a char... more

Richard John Chaves (born October 9, 1951) is an American actor. Chaves helped write the critically acclaimed stage drama Tracers. In the early eighties, he began work as an actor taking on various soap opera roles until he gained a notable role in 1987 as Poncho in the science fiction film Predator. Soon afterward his career got another boost as he won the role of Lt. Colonel Ironhorse in the War of the Worlds TV series. Aside from having a character that allowed him to get in touch with both his Native American heritage as well as a military history, the series also garnered him a large fanbase. Chaves once figured that the amount of fan mail he received outnumbered the rest of the cast members by a four or five to one ratio. However his career hit a bump when War of the Worlds was given new creative management for its second season. The new executives did not think that the Ironhorse character worked with the format they wanted to direct the show, so his character and that of... less