Pepe Serna
Born
July 23, 1944 (80 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
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."
Say a Little Prayer
2024
Moe
2023
Flamin' Hot
Abuelito
2023
Green Ghost and the Masters of the Stone
Rancher
2022
The Margarita Man
Jose Martinez
2019
From the Dead
Rodrigo
2019
Monday Nights at Seven
Paul
2016
Restored Me
Manny
2016
Ana Maria in Novela Land
Father Miguel
2015
White on Rice
Professor Berk
2009
Luminarias
2000
Land of Milk & Honey
Danny
1995
Sliders
Roberto · (1 episode)
1995
A Million to Juan
Mr. Ortiz
1994
American Me
Mundo
1992
Human Error
1988
The Three Kings
Alex Sweetwood
1987
Streets of Justice
Det. Almos
1985
Miami Vice
Oswaldo Guzman · (2 episodes)
1984
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
(1 episode)
1983
Heartbreaker
Loco
1983
The A-Team
Tómas Jefferson · (1 episode)
1983
White Water Rebels
Harry Cutter
1983
Knight Rider
Lupo · (1 episode)
1982
T. J. Hooker
Frank Fierro · (1 episode)
1982
Simon & Simon
(1 episode)
1981
The Greatest American Hero
(1 episode)
1981
Hill Street Blues
(2 episodes)
1981
Lou Grant
(1 episode)
1977
CHiPs
(1 episode)
1977
Baretta
(2 episodes)
1975
The Last Angry Man
Charlie Parelli
1974
Kung Fu
Los Vidrios · (1 episode)
1972
The Rookies
(1 episode)
1972
The Student Nurses
Luis
1970
Three Years Gone
With Love
Luis Delgado · (8 episodes)
2021
The Planters
Jesús
2019
Flavor of Life
2019
Downsizing
Señor Cárdenas
2017
Lowriders
Pepe
2017
Dimension 404
Wally Nash · (1 episode)
2017
Under Water: Dive Deep
Lil' Big Me
2016
Superpowerless
Dr. George Holst
2016
Kill or Be Killed
Rudy Goebel
2016
Road to Juarez
Fortunato
2015
Cake
Nuncio
2014
Man from Reno
Paul Del Moral
2014
The Black Dahlia
Tomas Dos Santos
2006
Big Dreams Little Tokyo
Mr. Gonzalez
2006
Criminal Minds
Ruben Garcia · (1 episode)
2005
Latin Dragon
Hector Sanchez
2004
Exposed
Raoul
2003
Deadly Swarm
Commandante Alvarez
2003
Kingpin
(2 episodes)
2003
Justice League
Shifflet (voice) · (2 episodes)
2001
Along for the Ride
Dr. Sanchez
2001
The Zeta Project
(1 episode)
2001
Daybreak
Herman Ortiz
2000
The Princess and the Barrio Boy
Bum
2000
Bread and Roses
Restaurateur
2000
Picking Up the Pieces
Florencio
2000
The PJs
Sanchez (voice) · (43 episodes)
1999
Jesse
Pappa Vasquez · (1 episode)
1998
The Brave
Alessandro
1997
In the Flesh
Harlan Ramirez
1995
Hotel Malibu
(6 episodes)
1994
Second Chances
Salvador Lopez · (10 episodes)
1993
Diagnosis: Murder
Capt. Collins · (1 episode)
1993
Dudley
Santana · (1 episode)
1993
Jonny's Golden Quest
Agent Menendez
1993
Only You
Dock Official
1992
Conagher
1991
The Rookie
Lt. Ray Garcia
1990
Postcards from the Edge
Raoul
1990
DEA
(13 episodes)
1990
Bad Jim
Virgilio Segura
1990
The Forgotten
Sgt. Pepe Gutierrez
1989
Quantum Leap
Manuel Vega · (1 episode)
1989
Break of Dawn
Hector
1988
Caddyshack II
Carlos
1988
The Fortunate Pilgrim
John Colucci · (2 episodes)
1988
A Year in the Life
Carlos · (1 episode)
1987
Out of Bounds
Murano
1986
Hell Town
Enrique · (1 episode)
1985
Fandango
Gas Station Mechanic
1985
Hunter
Roberto Sanchez · (1 episode)
1984
Miami Vice
Zabado · (1 episode)
1984
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
Reno Nevada
1984
Red Dawn
Aardvark's Father
1984
Best Kept Secrets
Jim Ramos
1984
Scarface
Angel
1983
Deal of the Century
Vardis
1983
The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez
Romaldo Cortez
1983
Cagney & Lacey
(1 episode)
1982
Seguin
Manuel Flores
1982
Vice Squad
Pete Mendez
1982
Joe Dancer II: The Monkey Mission
Vito
1981
300 Miles for Stephanie
Bobby Hernandez
1981
Inside Moves
Herrada
1980
Honeysuckle Rose
Rooster
1980
City in Fear
Raymond Zavala
1980
The Jerk
Punk #1
1979
The Streets of L.A.
Sgt. Castro
1979
Walk Proud
Cesar
1979
A Force of One
Orlando
1979
Roots of Blood
Juan
1979
The Paper Chase
(1 episode)
1978
Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo
Migrant Worker (uncredited)
1977
Rafferty
(1 episode)
1977
Car Wash
Chuco
1976
The Killer Inside Me
Johnny Lopez
1976
Swashbuckler
Street Entertainer
1976
The Deadly Tower
Mano
1975
The Day of the Locust
Miguel
1975
Bronk
(1 episode)
1975
The Desperate Miles
Ruiz
1975
Barney Miller
Julio Rodriguez · (1 episode)
1975
The Gun
Natcho
1974
The Rockford Files
Ray Ochoa · (1 episode)
1974
Miracle on 34th Street
Y Leader
1973
Kojak
Enorio Patias · (1 episode)
1973
Kojak
Rudy Diaz · (2 episodes)
1973
Police Story
(1 episode)
1973
Group Marriage
Ramon
1973
The New Centurions
Young Mexican Man
1972
Cannon
(2 episodes)
1971
Shoot Out
Pepe
1971
Adam-12
Roger · (1 episode)
1968
Mannix
(1 episode)
1967