Pepe Serna
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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
Credits
Scarface (1983)
as Angel
Downsizing (2017)
as Señor Cárdenas
Cake (2014)
as Nuncio
Red Dawn (1984)
as Aardvark's Father
The Rookie (1990)
as Lt. Ray Garcia
Flamin' Hot (2023)
as Abuelito
The Black Dahlia (2006)
as Dos Santos
Exposed (2003)
as Raoul
Lowriders (2017)
as Pepe
Bad Jim (1990)
as Virgilio Segura
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)
as Reno Nevada
Fandango (1985)
as Gas Station Mechanic
The Jerk (1979)
as Punk #1
Seguin (1982)
as Manuel Flores
American Me (1992)
as Mundo
The Planters (2019)
as Jesús
Postcards from the Edge (1990)
as Raoul
Luminarias (2000)
Actor
Car Wash (1976)
as Chuco
Shoot Out (1971)
as Pepe
Jonny's Golden Quest (1993)
as Agent Menendez (voice)
Johnny Got His Gun (1971)
as Jose (uncredited)
Vice Squad (1982)
as Pete Mendez
The Brave (1997)
as Alessandro
Disco Beats (2025)
as Lou
The Day of the Locust (1975)
as Miguel
A Force of One (1979)
as Orlando
Aguruphobia (2015)
as Nanak
The New Centurions (1972)
as Young Mexican Man
Caddyshack II (1988)
as Carlos
Picking Up the Pieces (2000)
as Florencio
Deadly Swarm (2003)
as Commandante Alvarez
Swashbuckler (1976)
as Street Entertainer
Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo (1977)
as Migrant Worker (uncredited)
Conagher (1991)
Actor
The Last Angry Man (1974)
as Charlie Parelli
Deal of the Century (1983)
as Vardis
The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1983)
as Romaldo Cortez
From the Dead (2019)
as Rodrigo
Honeysuckle Rose (1980)
as Rooster
Under Water: Dive Deep (2016)
as Lil' Big Me
Out of Bounds (1986)
as Murano
Bread and Roses (2000)
as Restaurateur
The Margarita Man (2019)
as Jose Martinez
Green Ghost and the Masters of the Stone (2022)
as Rancher
A Million to Juan (1994)
as Mr. Ortiz
Daybreak (2000)
as Herman Ortiz
Big Dreams Little Tokyo (2006)
as Mr. Gonzalez
Ana Maria in Novela Land (2015)
as Father Miguel
Joe Dancer II: The Monkey Mission (1981)
as Vito
Man from Reno (2014)
as Paul Del Moral
Superpowerless (2016)
as Dr. George Holst
The Deadly Tower (1975)
as Mano
In the Flesh (1995)
as Harlan Ramirez
The Princess and the Barrio Boy (2000)
as Bum
Kill or Be Killed (2016)
as Rudy Goebel
Inside Moves (1980)
as Herrada
Latin Dragon (2004)
as Hector Sanchez
The Killer Inside Me (1976)
as Johnny Lopez
The Forgotten (1989)
as Sgt. Pepe Gutierrez
Say a Little Prayer (2024)
Actor
Best Kept Secrets (1984)
as Jim Ramos
Cuento de Navidad (—)
as Sr. Ebenezer Scrooge
City in Fear (1980)
as Raymond Zavala
The Desperate Miles (1975)
as Ruiz
300 Miles for Stephanie (1981)
as Bobby Hernandez
Only You (1992)
as Dock Official
The Virgin of Juarez (2006)
as Eduardo Morales
The Three Kings (1987)
as Alex Sweetwood
Land of Milk & Honey (1995)
as Danny
The Streets of L.A. (1979)
as Sgt. Castro
White on Rice (2009)
as Professor Berk
Along for the Ride (2001)
as Dr. Sanchez
Streets of Justice (1985)
as Det. Almos
Walk Proud (1979)
as Cesar
Monday Nights at Seven (2016)
as Paul
Break of Dawn (1988)
as Hector
Restored Me (2016)
as Manny
The Student Nurses (1970)
as Luis
Moe (2023)
Actor
Three Years Gone (—)
Actor
Group Marriage (1973)
as Ramon
Miracle on 34th Street (1973)
as Y Leader
Heartbreaker (1983)
as Loco
White Water Rebels (1983)
as Harry Cutter
Roots of Blood (1979)
as Juan
The Gun (1974)
as Natcho
Flavor of Life (2019)
Actor
Human Error (1988)
Actor
Road to Juarez (2015)
as Fortunato