Pepe Serna
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Jul 23, 1944 (age 82)
- Place of birth
- Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
- Credits
- 136
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."
Known for
Filmography
Disco Beats
2025Movie
Lou
Say a Little Prayer
2024Movie
Moe
2023Movie
Flamin' Hot
2023Movie
Abuelito
Green Ghost and the Masters of the Stone
2022Movie
Rancher
With Love
2021TV
Luis Delgado
The Planters
2019Movie
Jesús
The Margarita Man
2019Movie
Jose Martinez
From the Dead
2019Movie
Rodrigo
Flavor of Life
2019Movie
Downsizing
2017Movie
Señor Cárdenas
Lowriders
2017Movie
Pepe
Dimension 404
2017TV
Wally Nash
Monday Nights at Seven
2016Movie
Paul
Under Water: Dive Deep
2016Movie
Lil' Big Me
Restored Me
2016Movie
Manny
Superpowerless
2016Movie
Dr. George Holst
Kill or Be Killed
2016Movie
Rudy Goebel
Aguruphobia
2015Movie
Nanak
Road to Juarez
2015Movie
Fortunato
Ana Maria in Novela Land
2015Movie
Father Miguel
Cake
2014Movie
Nuncio
Man from Reno
2014Movie
Paul Del Moral
White on Rice
2009Movie
Professor Berk
The Black Dahlia
2006Movie
Dos Santos
The Virgin of Juarez
2006Movie
Eduardo Morales
Big Dreams Little Tokyo
2006Movie
Mr. Gonzalez
Criminal Minds
2005TV
Ruben Garcia
Latin Dragon
2004Movie
Hector Sanchez
Exposed
2003Movie
Raoul
Deadly Swarm
2003Movie
Commandante Alvarez
Kingpin
2003TV
Justice League
2001TV
Shifflet (voice)
Along for the Ride
2001Movie
Dr. Sanchez
The Zeta Project
2001TV
Daybreak
2000Movie
Herman Ortiz
The Princess and the Barrio Boy
2000Movie
Bum
Bread and Roses
2000Movie
Restaurateur
Picking Up the Pieces
2000Movie
Florencio
Luminarias
2000Movie
The PJs
1999TV
Sanchez (voice)
Jesse
1998TV
Pappa Vasquez
The Brave
1997Movie
Alessandro
Land of Milk & Honey
1995Movie
Danny
Sliders
1995TV
Roberto
In the Flesh
1995Movie
Harlan Ramirez
Hotel Malibu
1994TV
A Million to Juan
1994Movie
Mr. Ortiz
Second Chances
1993TV
Salvador Lopez
Diagnosis: Murder
1993TV
Capt. Collins
Dudley
1993TV
Santana
Jonny's Golden Quest
1993Movie
Agent Menendez (voice)
Only You
1992Movie
Dock Official
American Me
1992Movie
Mundo
Conagher
1991Movie
The Rookie
1990Movie
Lt. Ray Garcia
Postcards from the Edge
1990Movie
Raoul
DEA
1990TV
Bad Jim
1990Movie
Virgilio Segura
The Forgotten
1989Movie
Sgt. Pepe Gutierrez
Quantum Leap
1989TV
Manuel Vega
Break of Dawn
1988Movie
Hector
Caddyshack II
1988Movie
Carlos
The Fortunate Pilgrim
1988TV
John Colucci
Human Error
1988Movie
The Three Kings
1987Movie
Alex Sweetwood
A Year in the Life
1987TV
Carlos
Out of Bounds
1986Movie
Murano
Matlock
1986TV
Walter Padilla
Streets of Justice
1985Movie
Det. Almos
Hell Town
1985TV
Enrique
Fandango
1985Movie
Gas Station Mechanic
Hunter
1984TV
Roberto Sanchez
Miami Vice
1984TV
Oswaldo Guzman, Zabado
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
1984Movie
Reno Nevada
Red Dawn
1984Movie
Aardvark's Father
Best Kept Secrets
1984Movie
Jim Ramos
Scarface
1983Movie
Angel
Deal of the Century
1983Movie
Vardis
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
1983TV
The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez
1983Movie
Romaldo Cortez
Heartbreaker
1983Movie
Loco
The A-Team
1983TV
Tómas Jefferson
White Water Rebels
1983Movie
Harry Cutter
Knight Rider
1982TV
Lupo
Cagney & Lacey
1982TV
T. J. Hooker
1982TV
Frank Fierro
Seguin
1982Movie
Manuel Flores
Vice Squad
1982Movie
Pete Mendez
American Playhouse
1982TV
Manuel Flores, Romaldo Cortez, Hector, Marpo
Simon & Simon
1981TV
Joe Dancer II: The Monkey Mission
1981Movie
Vito
The Greatest American Hero
1981TV
Hill Street Blues
1981TV
Raymond Cassiano
300 Miles for Stephanie
1981Movie
Bobby Hernandez
Inside Moves
1980Movie
Herrada
Honeysuckle Rose
1980Movie
Rooster
City in Fear
1980Movie
Raymond Zavala
The Jerk
1979Movie
Punk #1
The Streets of L.A.
1979Movie
Sgt. Castro
Walk Proud
1979Movie
Cesar
A Force of One
1979Movie
Orlando
Roots of Blood
1979Movie
Juan
The Paper Chase
1978TV
Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo
1977Movie
Migrant Worker (uncredited)
Lou Grant
1977TV
CHiPs
1977TV
Rafferty
1977TV
Car Wash
1976Movie
Chuco
The Killer Inside Me
1976Movie
Johnny Lopez
Swashbuckler
1976Movie
Street Entertainer
McNaughton's Daughter
1976TV
Ruiz
The Deadly Tower
1975Movie
Mano
The Day of the Locust
1975Movie
Miguel
Bronk
1975TV
The Desperate Miles
1975Movie
Ruiz
Barney Miller
1975TV
Julio Rodriguez
Baretta
1975TV
The Gun
1974Movie
Natcho
The Rockford Files
1974TV
Ray Ochoa
The Last Angry Man
1974Movie
Charlie Parelli
Miracle on 34th Street
1973Movie
Y Leader
Kojak
1973TV
Enorio Patias, Rudy Diaz
Police Story
1973TV
Group Marriage
1973Movie
Ramon
Kung Fu
1972TV
Los Vidrios
The Rookies
1972TV
The New Centurions
1972Movie
Young Mexican Man
Cannon
1971TV
Johnny Got His Gun
1971Movie
Jose (uncredited)
Shoot Out
1971Movie
Pepe
The Student Nurses
1970Movie
Luis
Adam-12
1968TV
Roger
Mannix
1967TV
Three Years Gone
Movie
Cuento de Navidad
Movie
Sr. Ebenezer Scrooge