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."
Acted in
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
Ana Maria in Novela Land
2015
as Father Miguel
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 Sanchez (voice)
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
