In the 1960s, Padilla was a popular child actor, usually playing the Mexican or Indian boy in TV westerns such as Rawhide, Bonanza and Gunsmoke. He was a regular in the 1960s TV series Tarzan, with actor Ron Ely, in dozens of episodes as native boy Jai, and as also a semi-regular in the TV series, The Flying Nun, with actress Sally Field. In featured films, as an adult, Padilla made appearances in the films, The Great White Hope, American Graffiti, A Man Called Horse, and Scarface, among others.Padilla died unexpectedly at age 52, just after making a public appearance at the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, California, in January 2008.

All movies available from Manuel Padilla Jr.

Poster movie American Graffiti

American Graffiti

Movie
Poster movie More American Graffiti

More American Graffiti

Movie
Poster movie Robin and the 7 Hoods

Robin and the 7 Hoods

Movie
Poster movie Scarface

Scarface

Movie
Poster movie A Man Called Horse

A Man Called Horse

Movie
Poster movie Tarzan

Tarzan

Tv series

Movies unavailable from Manuel Padilla Jr.

Tarzan and the Great River

Pepe

Movie 1967

Cotton Candy

Julio Sanchez

Movie 1978

Tarzan and the Valley of Gold

Ramel

Movie 1966

The Mountains of the Moon

Jai

Movie 1967

Taffy and the Jungle Hunter

Beau

Movie 1965

The Great White Hope

Paco

Movie 1970

The Young and the Brave

Han

Movie 1963

Tarzan's Deadly Silence

Jai

Movie 1970

Tarzan and the Perils of Charity Jones

Jai

Movie 1971

Dime with a Halo

Rafael

Movie 1963

Sylvia

Pancho Guzman (uncredited)

Movie 1965

Tarzan's Jungle Rebellion

Jai

Movie 1967

Cutter's Trail

Paco Avila

Movie 1970

Tv series unavailable from Manuel Padilla Jr.

Gunsmoke

Paco Avila

Tv 1955