Richard Chaves

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Richard Chaves
Richard Chaves as Poncho in Predator.
Birth name	Richard Chaves
Born	October 9, 1951 (age 55) Jacksonville, Florida
Notable roles	"Poncho" in Predator "Col. Ironhorse" in War of the Worlds

Richard Chaves (born October 9, 1951 in Jacksonville, Florida) is an American actor. Also a Vietnam veteran, 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 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 ^[1].

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 Norton Drake were killed off.

In the early 1990s, Chaves became the subject of a stalker. To protect his family, friends, and himself, he followed the advice of police by refraining from attending conventions and closing his official website.

He has not been seen acting since 1998.

Chaves has also made virtually no public appearance over the years since being stalked. However, in late 2006 he was photographed with Frances Fisher at the Flags of our Fathers premiere. He is also scheduled as a guest at Gallifrey One in February of 2007 ^[2], his first convention appearance since the incident.