Actor. A former child star who began his acting career at the age of eight, he was best known for playing the character roles of young boys, Mexican boys, and Indian boys, usually in adventure films or western films. He eventually began to play adolescent roles and adult roles when he became older. He will be best remembered for playing the role of 'Beau' in the family adventure film, "Taffy And The Jungle Hunter" (1965). The film which was directed by Terry O. Morse, which was written for Arthur Hoerl, Al Zimbalist, and Donald Zimbalist, and which also starred Jacques Bergerac, Robert DoQui, Shary Marshall, and Hari Rhodes, tells the story of a hunter, who captures wild animals for zoos, and who takes his young son and the boy's widowed governess on his latest expedition. The boy and his pet chimp, in company with a baby elephant his father has captured, run away from camp and experience many thrilling adventures. He is also best remembered for playing the role of 'Jai' in 56 episodes of the action-adventure television series, "Tarzan," which originally aired from 1966 to 1968, and which also starred Ron Ely, Rockne Tarkington, Woody Strode, and Virgil Richardson, tells the story of Tarzan (AKA Lord Greystoke), who is already well educated and fed up with civilization, he returns to the jungle and, more or less assisted by chimpanzee Cheetah and orphan boy Jai, wages war against poachers and other bad guys. He was born one of two children as Manuel Arias Padilla Jr. in Los Angeles, California, to Manuel Padilla and his wife Ernestine Padilla on March 13, 1955. He began his acting career at a young age and was educated locally at the Abraham Lincoln High School in Los Angeles, California. He made his actual television debut playing the role of 'Joey Cairo' in the episode entitled, "Seventeen Gypsies And A Sinner Named Charlie," of the television series drama, "Sam Benedict," which originally aired on Mach 2, 1963, and which also starred Edmond O'Brien, Richard Rust, Barry Livingston, Maria O'Brien, and a young Kurt Russell, tells the story of a con man who has swindled large sums of money from local charities states that he only took the money to support his seventeen children whom he claims to have adopted. Besides, playing the role of 'Beau' in the family adventure film, "Taffy And The Jungle Hunter" (1965), his many other film credits include, "Dime With A Halo" (1963), "The Young And The Brave" (1963), "4 For Texas" (1963), "Robin And The 7 Hoods" (1964), "Sylvia" (1965), "Black Spurs" (1965), "Tarzan And The Valley Of Gold" (1966), "Tarzan And The Great River" (1967), "Tarzan's Jungle Rebellion" (1967), "Tarzan's Deadly Silence" (1970), "Cutter's Trail" (1970), "A Man Called Horse" (1970), "The Great White Hope" (1970), "The Boy And The Turtle" (1971), "Tarzan And The Perils Of Charity Jones" (1971), "American Graffiti" (1973), "Cotton Candy" (1973), "More American Graffiti" (1979), and "Moving" (1988). Besides, playing the role of 'Jai' in 56 episodes of the action-adventure television series, "Tarzan," which originally aired from 1966 to 1968, and which also starred Ron Ely, Rockne Tarkington, Woody Strode, and Virgil Richardson, tells the story of Tarzan (AKA Lord Greystoke), who is already well educated and fed up with civilization, he returns to the jungle and, more or less assisted by chimpanzee Cheetah and orphan boy Jai, wages war against poachers and other bad guys, his many other television credits include, "The Littlest Hobo," "Dr. Kildare," "Insight," "Rawhide," "Slattery's People," "The Outcasts," "The Flying Nun," "Then Came Bronson," "The Immortal," "Bonanza," "Gunsmoke," "Happy Days," "Police Story," "The White Shadow," and "Alice." His last film was playing 'Kid #2' in the crime film drama, "Scarface" (1983). The film which was directed by Brian De Palma, which was written for the screen by Oliver Stone, and which also starred Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Steven Bauer, tells the story of a determined Cuban immigrant named Tony Montana who takes over a drug cartel and succumbs to greed in Miami, Florida, in 1980. He retired from acting shortly thereafter. During his acting career, he also used the name Manuel Padilla and Manuel Padilla Jr. On an interesting note, he was a longtime resident of Burbank, California, and he appeared at the third annual weekend-long celebration of the movie, "American Graffiti" (1973), in Petaluma, California, along with other American Graffiti cast members. Some of the film's exteriors were shot in Petaluma, California. He was diagnosed with colon cancer in his later years and he passed away just after making a public appearance at the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, California, on January 29, 2008, at the age of 52. His funeral service was held through Valley Funeral Home in Burbank, California, and at the St. Finbar Catholic Church in Burbank, California. Following his death, he was cremated and his ashes were given to his father, Manuel Padilla. He was survived by his five children, Stephanie Padilla, Manuel Padilla, Melissa Padilla, Nicholas Padilla, and Christopher Padilla, his nephews Vincent Padilla and Paul Padilla, and his grandson who was born shortly before his death.