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."
Fotos
Películas (90)
Three Years Gone
2026
Disco Beats
2025 · Lou
Say a Little Prayer
2024
Moe
2023
Flamin' Hot
2023 · Abuelito
Green Ghost and the Masters of the Stone
2022 · Rancher
The Planters
2019 · Jesús
The Margarita Man
2019 · Jose Martinez
From the Dead
2019 · Rodrigo, Associate Producer
Flavor of Life
2019
Downsizing
2017 · Señor Cárdenas
Lowriders
2017 · Pepe
Monday Nights at Seven
2016 · Paul
Under Water: Dive Deep
2016 · Lil' Big Me
Restored Me
2016 · Manny
Superpowerless
2016 · Dr. George Holst
Kill or Be Killed
2016 · Rudy Goebel, Associate Producer
Aguruphobia
2015 · Nanak, Co-Producer
Road to Juarez
2015 · Fortunato
Ana Maria in Novela Land
2015 · Father Miguel
Cake
2014 · Nuncio
Man from Reno
2014 · Paul Del Moral
White on Rice
2009 · Professor Berk
The Black Dahlia
2006 · Dos Santos
The Virgin of Juarez
2006 · Eduardo Morales
Big Dreams Little Tokyo
2006 · Mr. Gonzalez
Latin Dragon
2004 · Hector Sanchez
Exposed
2003 · Raoul
Deadly Swarm
2003 · Commandante Alvarez
Along for the Ride
2001 · Dr. Sanchez
Daybreak
2000 · Herman Ortiz
The Princess and the Barrio Boy
2000 · Bum
Pan y rosas
2000 · Restaurateur
Cachitos picantes
2000 · Florencio
Luminarias
2000
The Brave
1997 · Alessandro
Land of Milk & Honey
1995 · Danny
In the Flesh
1995 · Harlan Ramirez
A Million to Juan
1994 · Mr. Ortiz
Jonny's Golden Quest
1993 · Agent Menendez (voice)
Only You
1992 · Dock Official
American Me
1992 · Mundo
Conagher
1991
The Rookie
1990 · Lt. Ray Garcia
Postcards from the Edge
1990 · Raoul
Bad Jim
1990 · Virgilio Segura
The Forgotten
1989 · Sgt. Pepe Gutierrez
Break of Dawn
1988 · Hector
Caddyshack II
1988 · Carlos
Human Error
1988
The Three Kings
1987 · Alex Sweetwood
Out of Bounds
1986 · Murano
Streets of Justice
1985 · Det. Almos
Fandango
1985 · Gas Station Mechanic
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
1984 · Reno Nevada
Red Dawn
1984 · Aardvark's Father
Best Kept Secrets
1984 · Jim Ramos
Scarface
1983 · Angel
Deal of the Century
1983 · Vardis
The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez
1983 · Romaldo Cortez
Heartbreaker
1983 · Loco
White Water Rebels
1983 · Harry Cutter
Seguin
1982 · Manuel Flores
Vice Squad
1982 · Pete Mendez
Joe Dancer II: The Monkey Mission
1981 · Vito
300 Miles for Stephanie
1981 · Bobby Hernandez
Inside Moves
1980 · Herrada
Honeysuckle Rose
1980 · Rooster
City in Fear
1980 · Raymond Zavala
The Jerk
1979 · Punk #1
The Streets of L.A.
1979 · Sgt. Castro
Walk Proud
1979 · Cesar
A Force of One
1979 · Orlando
Roots of Blood
1979 · Juan
Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo
1977 · Migrant Worker (uncredited)
Car Wash
1976 · Chuco
The Killer Inside Me
1976 · Johnny Lopez
Swashbuckler
1976 · Street Entertainer
The Deadly Tower
1975 · Mano
The Day of the Locust
1975 · Miguel
The Desperate Miles
1975 · Ruiz
The Gun
1974 · Natcho
The Last Angry Man
1974 · Charlie Parelli
Miracle on 34th Street
1973 · Y Leader
Group Marriage
1973 · Ramon
The New Centurions
1972 · Young Mexican Man
Johnny Got His Gun
1971 · Jose (uncredited)
Shoot Out
1971 · Pepe
The Student Nurses
1970 · Luis
Cuento de Navidad
· Sr. Ebenezer Scrooge
Series (46)
With Love
2021 · Luis Delgado
Dimension 404
2017 · Wally Nash
Mentes Criminales
2005 · Ruben Garcia
Kingpin
2003
Justice League
2001 · Shifflet (voice)
The Zeta Project
2001
The PJs
1999 · Sanchez (voice)
Jesse
1998 · Pappa Vasquez
Sliders
1995 · Roberto
Hotel Malibu
1994
Second Chances
1993 · Salvador Lopez
Diagnosis: Murder
1993 · Capt. Collins
Dudley
1993 · Santana
DEA
1990
Quantum Leap
1989 · Manuel Vega
The Fortunate Pilgrim
1988 · John Colucci
A Year in the Life
1987 · Carlos
Matlock
1986 · Walter Padilla
Hell Town
1985 · Enrique
Hunter
1984 · Roberto Sanchez
Miami Vice
1984 · Oswaldo Guzman, Zabado
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
1983
The A-Team
1983 · Tómas Jefferson
Knight Rider
1982 · Lupo
Cagney & Lacey
1982
T. J. Hooker
1982 · Frank Fierro
American Playhouse
1982 · Manuel Flores, Romaldo Cortez, Hector, Marpo
Simon & Simon
1981
The Greatest American Hero
1981
Hill Street Blues
1981 · Raymond Cassiano
The Paper Chase
1978
Lou Grant
1977
CHiPs
1977
Rafferty
1977
McNaughton's Daughter
1976 · Ruiz
Bronk
1975
Barney Miller
1975 · Julio Rodriguez
Baretta
1975
The Rockford Files
1974 · Ray Ochoa
Kojak
1973 · Enorio Patias, Rudy Diaz
Police Story
1973
Kung Fu
1972 · Los Vidrios
The Rookies
1972
Cannon
1971
Adam-12
1968 · Roger
Mannix
1967