Hechter's first movie was The Cross and the Switchblade (1970) which is based on a true story. He was featured as Moonlight, a gang member in the Mau Mau's. He is credited under his birth name, Hector Mercado, for that role.
Hechter was raised in Harlem, New York.
Had a successful career under his birth name, Hector Mercado, until he discovered that there was another actor with the exact same name. In 1983 he changed his name to Hechter Ubarry.