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Pepe Serna

Pepe Serna

Durable Mexican-American actor Pepe Serna has appeared in more than 100 feature films and 300 television shows, but is most recognized for his gritty support performances in a variety of motion pictures, including Scarface (1983) as Al Pacino's ill-fated cocaine partner, as well as the western Silverado (1985) with Kevin Costner, the crime yarn The Rookie (1990) starring Clint Eastwood and Charlie Sheen, and the drama American Me (1992) starring Edward James Olmos. In a career surpassing five decades, Pepe's characters have played on both sides of the law -- from drug peddlers to sheriffs.

He was born (and raised) in Corpus Christi, Texas on July 23, 1944, the son of a naval base interpreter for Latin American pilots and a hairdresser. His desires to become an actor happened early in life, moving to Hollywood in 1969 to finally pursue his dreams. He didn't have to wait long to find steady Latino work on film and TV.

Making an inauspicious debut in the exploitation film The Student Nurses (1970), Pepe found more "A" quality work after being discovered by producer Hal B. Wallis for the coming-of-age film Tim Belcher starring Richard Thomas and Catherine Burns and the western Shoot Out (1971) starring Gregory Peck. Specializing in urban, streetwise roles, he went on to mix a number of popular films (The New Centurions (1972), The Day of the Locust (1975), Car Wash (1976), A Force of One (1979), Walk Proud (1979), Honeysuckle Rose (1980), Inside Moves (1980), Deal of the Century (1983), Red Dawn (1984), Caddyshack II (1988)) with a slew of popular TV crime dramas such as "Mannix," "Police Story," "Adam-12," "The Rookies," "The Rockford Files," "Baretta," "Kojak," "CHiPs," "Barney Miller," "Scarecrow & Mrs. King," "T.J. Hooker," "Simon & Simon," "Hill Street Blues," "Miami Vice," "Cagney & Lacey" and "Diagnosis Murder."

Long married to wife Diane, Pepe is a noted keynote teacher and motivational speaker who tours colleges and universities. His strong sideline as a painter has been met with critical success, having been commissioned quite frequently. His vibrant paintings and one-man stage shows reflect a serious return to his Mexican roots and was the subject of the 2015 short documentary "Life Is Art."

Say a Little Prayer

2024

Moe

2023

Flamin' Hot

2023

as Abuelito

Green Ghost and the Masters of the Stone

2022

as Rancher

With Love

2021

as Luis Delgado

The Planters

2019

as Jesús

The Margarita Man

2019

as Jose Martinez

From the Dead

2019

as Rodrigo

Flavor of Life

2019

Downsizing

2017

as Señor Cárdenas

Lowriders

2017

as Pepe

Dimension 404

2017

as Wally Nash

Monday Nights at Seven

2016

as Paul

Under Water: Dive Deep

2016

as Lil' Big Me

Restored Me

2016

as Manny

Superpowerless

2016

as Dr. George Holst

Kill or Be Killed

2016

as Rudy Goebel

Road to Juarez

2015

as Fortunato

Cake

2014

as Nuncio

Man from Reno

2014

as Paul Del Moral

The Black Dahlia

2006

as Tomas Dos Santos

Big Dreams Little Tokyo

2006

as Mr. Gonzalez

Criminal Minds

2005

as Ruben Garcia

Latin Dragon

2004

as Hector Sanchez

Exposed

2003

as Raoul

Deadly Swarm

2003

as Commandante Alvarez

Kingpin

2003

Justice League

2001

as Shifflet (voice)

Along for the Ride

2001

as Dr. Sanchez

The Zeta Project

2001

Daybreak

2000

as Herman Ortiz

The Princess and the Barrio Boy

2000

as Bum

Bread and Roses

2000

as Restaurateur

Picking Up the Pieces

2000

as Florencio

The PJs

1999

as Mr. Sanchez

Jesse

1998

as Pappa Vasquez

The Brave

1997

as Alessandro

Sliders

1995

as Roberto

In the Flesh

1995

as Harlan Ramirez

Hotel Malibu

1994

A Million to Juan

1994

as Mr. Ortiz

Second Chances

1993

as Salvador Lopez

Diagnosis: Murder

1993

as Capt. Collins

Dudley

1993

as Santana

Jonny's Golden Quest

1993

as Agent Menendez

American Me

1992

as Mundo

Only You

1992

as Dock Official

Conagher

1991

The Rookie

1990

as Lt. Ray Garcia

Postcards from the Edge

1990

as Raoul

DEA

1990

Bad Jim

1990

as Virgilio Segura

The Forgotten

1989

as Sgt. Pepe Gutierrez

Quantum Leap

1989

as Manuel Vega

Break of Dawn

1988

as Hector

Caddyshack II

1988

as Carlos

The Fortunate Pilgrim

1988

as John Colucci

Human Error

1988

The Three Kings

1987

as Alex Sweetwood

A Year in the Life

1987

as Carlos

Out of Bounds

1986

as Murano

Streets of Justice

1985

as Det. Almos

Hell Town

1985

as Enrique

Fandango

1985

as Gas Station Mechanic

Hunter

1984

as Roberto Sanchez

Miami Vice

1984

Miami Vice

1984

as Zabado

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension

1984

as Reno Nevada

Red Dawn

1984

as Aardvark's Father

Best Kept Secrets

1984

as Jim Ramos

Scarface

1983

as Angel

Deal of the Century

1983

as Vardis

Scarecrow and Mrs. King

1983

The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez

1983

as Romaldo Cortez

The A-Team

1983

as Tómas Jefferson

White Water Rebels

1983

as Harry Cutter

Knight Rider

1982

as Lupo

Cagney & Lacey

1982

T. J. Hooker

1982

as Frank Fierro

Seguin

1982

as Manuel Flores

Vice Squad

1982

as Pete Mendez

Simon & Simon

1981

Joe Dancer II: The Monkey Mission

1981

as Vito

The Greatest American Hero

1981

Hill Street Blues

1981

300 Miles for Stephanie

1981

as Bobby Hernandez

Inside Moves

1980

as Herrada

Honeysuckle Rose

1980

as Rooster

City in Fear

1980

as Raymond Zavala

The Jerk

1979

as Punk #1

The Streets of L.A.

1979

as Sgt. Castro

Walk Proud

1979

as Cesar

A Force of One

1979

as Orlando

Roots of Blood

1979

as Juan

The Paper Chase

1978

Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo

1977

as Migrant Worker (uncredited)

Lou Grant

1977

CHiPs

1977

Rafferty

1977

Car Wash

1976

as Chuco

The Killer Inside Me

1976

as Johnny Lopez

Swashbuckler

1976

as Street Entertainer

The Deadly Tower

1975

as Mano

The Day of the Locust

1975

as Miguel

Bronk

1975

The Desperate Miles

1975

as Ruiz

Barney Miller

1975

as Julio Rodriguez

Baretta

1975

The Gun

1974

as Natcho

The Rockford Files

1974

as Ray Ochoa

The Last Angry Man

1974

as Charlie Parelli

Miracle on 34th Street

1973

as Y Leader

Kojak

1973

as Enorio Patias

Kojak

1973

as Rudy Diaz

Police Story

1973

Group Marriage

1973

as Ramon

Kung Fu

1972

The Rookies

1972

The New Centurions

1972

as Young Mexican Man

Cannon

1971

Shoot Out

1971

as Pepe

The Student Nurses

1970

as Luis

Adam-12

1968

as Roger

Mannix

1967

Three Years Gone