Pepe Serna
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1944-07-23 (81 years old)
Place of Birth
Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
Pepe Serna
Biography
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."
Acting
(2024)
(2023)
Flamin' Hot
as Abuelito
(2023)
(2022)
Green Ghost and the Masters of the Stone
as Rancher
(2019)
The Planters
as Jesús
(2019)
From the Dead
as Rodrigo
(2019)
The Margarita Man
as Jose Martinez
(2019)
(2017)
Downsizing
as Señor Cárdenas
(2017)
Lowriders
as Pepe
(2016)
Kill or Be Killed
as Rudy Goebel
(2016)
Restored Me
as Manny
(2016)
Monday Nights at Seven
as Paul
(2016)
Superpowerless
as Dr. George Holst
(2016)
Under Water: Dive Deep
as Lil' Big Me
(2015)
Ana Maria in Novela Land
as Father Miguel
(2015)
Road to Juarez
as Fortunato
(2014)
Cake
as Nuncio
(2014)
Man from Reno
as Paul Del Moral
(2009)
White on Rice
as Professor Berk
(2006)
The Black Dahlia
as Tomas Dos Santos
(2006)
The Virgin of Juarez
as Eduardo Morales
(2006)
Big Dreams Little Tokyo
as Mr. Gonzalez
(2004)
Latin Dragon
as Hector Sanchez
(2003)
Deadly Swarm
as Commandante Alvarez
(2003)
Exposed
as Raoul
(2001)
Along for the Ride
as Dr. Sanchez
(2000)
Daybreak
as Herman Ortiz
(2000)
Bread and Roses
as Restaurateur
(2000)
Picking Up the Pieces
as Florencio
(2000)
(2000)
(1997)
The Brave
as Alessandro
(1995)
In the Flesh
as Harlan Ramirez
(1995)
Land of Milk & Honey
as Danny
(1994)
A Million to Juan
as Mr. Ortiz
(1993)
Jonny's Golden Quest
as Agent Menendez
(1992)
American Me
as Mundo
(1992)
Only You
as Dock Official
(1991)
(1990)
Postcards from the Edge
as Raoul
(1990)
The Rookie
as Lt. Ray Garcia
(1990)
Bad Jim
as Virgilio Segura
(1989)
The Forgotten
as Sgt. Pepe Gutierrez
(1988)
Caddyshack II
as Carlos
(1988)
(1988)
Break of Dawn
as Hector
(1987)
The Three Kings
as Alex Sweetwood
(1986)
Out of Bounds
as Murano
(1985)
Fandango
as Gas Station Mechanic
(1985)
Streets of Justice
as Det. Almos
(1984)
Red Dawn
as Aardvark's Father
(1984)
(1984)
Best Kept Secrets
as Jim Ramos
(1983)
Scarface
as Angel
(1983)
The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez
as Romaldo Cortez
(1983)
White Water Rebels
as Harry Cutter
(1983)
Heartbreaker
as Loco
(1983)
Deal of the Century
as Vardis
(1982)
Vice Squad
as Pete Mendez
(1982)
Seguin
as Manuel Flores
(1981)
300 Miles for Stephanie
as Bobby Hernandez
(1981)
(1980)
Honeysuckle Rose
as Rooster
(1980)
City in Fear
as Raymond Zavala
(1980)
Inside Moves
as Herrada
(1979)
Roots of Blood
as Juan
(1979)
The Streets of L.A.
as Sgt. Castro
(1979)
The Jerk
as Punk #1
(1979)
Walk Proud
as Cesar
(1979)
A Force of One
as Orlando
(1977)
Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo
as Migrant Worker (uncredited)
(1976)
Swashbuckler
as Street Entertainer
(1976)
Car Wash
as Chuco
(1976)
The Killer Inside Me
as Johnny Lopez
(1975)
The Desperate Miles
as Ruiz
(1975)
The Day of the Locust
as Miguel
(1975)
The Deadly Tower
as Mano
(1974)
The Last Angry Man
as Charlie Parelli
(1974)
The Gun
as Natcho
(1973)
Group Marriage
as Ramon
(1973)
Miracle on 34th Street
as Y Leader
(1972)
The New Centurions
as Young Mexican Man
(1971)
Shoot Out
as Pepe
(1971)
Johnny Got His Gun
as Jose (uncredited)
(1970)
The Student Nurses
as Luis
Crew
(2019)
From the Dead
Associate Producer
(2016)
Kill or Be Killed
Associate Producer