CHiPs Co-Stars Saved Each Other's Lives on Set

Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox's real-life friendship went beyond the TV screen.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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In a recent interview, Erik Estrada revealed that his CHiPs co-star Larry Wilcox saved his life during a dangerous stunt on the set of the classic 1970s action series. Estrada had suffered serious injuries, including punctured lungs and broken bones, after crashing into a car during filming. Wilcox, using his military experience, quickly jumped into action to keep Estrada conscious and stabilize him until a helicopter arrived to transport him to the hospital. The duo's remarkable friendship and on-screen chemistry were a big part of the show's success.

Why it matters

The story of Estrada and Wilcox's real-life heroics highlights the deep bond that can form between co-stars, especially on long-running shows like CHiPs. It also showcases how the camaraderie and teamwork displayed on screen can translate to genuine care and concern off screen as well.

The details

According to Estrada, during a stunt on the set of CHiPs, he "plowed into a car" and suffered serious injuries, including "two punctured lungs, broken wrists, fractured ribs and a cracked jaw." Wilcox, who had military experience, immediately jumped into action, keeping Estrada focused and helping to save his life until a helicopter could arrive to transport him to the hospital. Estrada had initially refused to return to the show after the accident, but was convinced to come back when production promised him a brand-new Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible.

  • The accident occurred during filming for CHiPs, which ran for 139 episodes from 1977 to 1983.

The players

Erik Estrada

The lead actor who played California Highway Patrol officer Frank "Ponch" Poncherello on the TV series CHiPs.

Larry Wilcox

The co-lead actor who played California Highway Patrol officer Jon Baker on the TV series CHiPs, and who used his military experience to help save Estrada's life after a dangerous stunt accident.

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What they’re saying

“I had a little accident, plowed into a car, and then ended up with two punctured lungs, broken wrists, as you can see. Fractured ribs and cracked my jaw a little bit.”

— Erik Estrada (Collider)

“So I hit the ground, and the next thing is Larry jumps on top of me and makes me focus because I'm now bleeding internally and turning blue, and he kept me focused and actually helped start to save my life there because we had to wait for the helicopter to come get me, to take me to UCLA.”

— Erik Estrada (Collider)

What’s next

The duo recently appeared together at a comic convention panel, where they discussed their on-set accident and friendship.

The takeaway

The real-life heroics of Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox demonstrate the deep bonds that can form between co-stars, especially on long-running shows like CHiPs. Their friendship and teamwork went beyond just their on-screen chemistry, showcasing the genuine care and concern they had for one another.