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