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