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Pepe Serna

Actor | * 07/23/1944 (79) | Corpus Christi (United States of America (USA))
Pepe Serna (born July 23, 1944) is an American film and television actor and artist. Serna's first break in movies came in 1970 on the Roger Corman directed film The Student Nurses. Over the years Serna has appeared in over 100 films. In the blockbuster comedy The Jerk, he appeared as a lowrider-driving criminal who cons a naive Steve Martin out of money and new tires. Another notable role was in Scarface directed by Brian De Palma. Serna played Tony Montana's friend Angel Fernandez, who is dismembered with a chainsaw. In the award-winning comedy Aguruphobia, Pepe played the charismatic guru Nanak. Pepe co-produced Aguruphobia. Aguruphobia had a limited theatrical run, and is now available on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and Verizon Fios. He has also appeared on stage, including his solo show El Ruco, Chuco, Cholo, Pachuco which is Serna's version of the panorama of Latino cultural history. Serna has been honored by the Screen Actors Guild Heritage Achievement Award; the League of United Latin American Citizens, and the Estrella Award for Arts & C... ()
Photo of 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.".

Most frequent genres for this person: Drama | Crime | Comedies

Known for these Movies & Shows

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Movies with Pepe Serna as Actor(70)

as Abuelito2023 Flamin' Hot
2023 Moe
as Rodrigo2019 From the Dead
as Jose Martinez2019 The Margarita Man
as Señor Cárdenas2017 Downsizing
as Dr. George Holst2016 Superpowerless
as Rudy Goebel2016 Kill or Be Killed
as Manny2016 Restored Me
as Lil' Big Me2016 Under Water: Dive Deep
as Paul Del Moral2015 Man from Reno
as Fortunato2015 Road to Juarez
as Nuncio2014 Cake
as Tomas Dos Santos2006 The Black Dahlia
as Mr. Gonzalez2006 Big Dreams Little Tokyo
as Hector Sanchez2004 Latin Dragon
as Raoul2003 Exposed
as Commandante Alvarez2003 Deadly Swarm
as Dr. Sanchez2001 Along for the Ride
as Herman Ortiz2000 Daybreak
as Alessandro1997 The Brave
as Mr. Ortiz1994 A Million to Juan
as Agent Menendez1993 Jonny's Golden Quest
as Mundo1992 American Me
as Dock Official1992 Only You
as Lt. Raymond Garcia1990 The Rookie
as Virgilio Segura1990 Bad Jim
as Sgt. Pepe Gutierrez1989 The Forgotten
as Carlos1988 Caddyshack II
as Hector1988 Break of Dawn
as Alex Sweetwood1987 The Three Kings
as Murano1986 Out of Bounds
as Gas Station Mechanic1985 Fandango
as Det. Almos1985 Streets of Justice
as Jim Ramos1984 Best Kept Secrets
as Mr. Mondragón1984 Red Dawn
as Angel1983 Scarface
as Romaldo Cortez1983 The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez
as Harry Cutter1983 White Water Rebels
as Pete Mendez1982 Vice Squad
as Bobby Hernandez1981 300 Miles for Stephanie
as Herrada1980 Inside Moves
as Raymond Zavala1980 City in Fear
as Rooster1980 Honeysuckle Rose
as Punk #11979 The Jerk
as Orlando1979 A Force of One
as Cesar1979 Walk Proud
as Sgt. Castro1979 The Streets of L.A.
as Juan1978 Roots of Blood
as Migrant Worker (uncredited)1977 Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo
as Chuco1976 Car Wash
as Johnny Lopez1976 The Killer Inside Me
as Street Entertainer1976 Swashbuckler
as Mano1975 The Deadly Tower
as Miguel1975 The Day of the Locust
as Charlie Parelli1974 The Last Angry Man
as Natcho1974 The Gun
as Y Leader1973 Miracle on 34th Street
as Ramon1973 Group Marriage
as Young Mexican Man1972 The New Centurions
as Pepe1971 Shoot Out
as Luis1970 The Student Nurses

TV Shows/Series with Pepe Serna as Actor(38)

as Wally Nash2017 Dimension 404
as Ruben Garcia2005 Criminal Minds
2003 Kingpin
as Shifflet (voice)2001 Justice League
as Mr. Sanchez1999 The PJs
1998 Jesse
as Roberto1995 Sliders
as Capt. Collins1993 Diagnosis: Murder
as Salvador Lopez1993 Second Chances
as Manuel Vega1989 Quantum Leap
as John Colucci1988 The Fortunate Pilgrim
as Roberto Sanchez1984 Hunter
as Tómas Jefferson1983 The A-Team
as Frank Fierro1982 T. J. Hooker
as Lupo1982 Knight Rider
1977 CHiPs
as Julio Rodriguez1975 Barney Miller
1975 Baretta
1975 Bronk
as Ray Ochoa1974 The Rockford Files
as Enorio Patias1973 Kojak
as Rudy Diaz1973 Kojak
1972 Kung Fu
1971 Cannon
1967 Mannix

Movies with Pepe Serna as Crew(2)

Production/Associate Producer2019 From the Dead
Production/Associate Producer2016 Kill or Be Killed

Full Name: Pepe Serna
Born: Sunday, 07/23 1944 (July) in Corpus Christi (United States of America (USA)) (current age: 79 years + 249 days)
Zodiac sign: Leo (Chinese zodiac sign: Monkey)
Languages: English (EN, native language)
Educated at: W. B. Ray High School, Del Mar College
Pepe Serna frequently works together with these people:
Al Ruscio (19x, Actor)
Stephen J. Cannell (18x, Crew)
James Whitmore Jr. (16x, Crew)
Alan Fudge (16x, Actor)
Eric Server (15x, Actor)
William Smith (14x, Actor)
Carmen Argenziano (14x, Actor)
Stanley Kamel (14x, Actor)
Paul Mantee (14x, Actor)
Kenneth Tigar (14x, Actor)
Marc Alaimo (14x, Actor)
Edward James Olmos (10x, Actor)
WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:53079, Added: 05/17/2018, Last updated: 03/22/2024