Pepe Serna

Known for ActingBorn 1944-07-23 (age 81)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."Read more

Movies & web series

Restored Me

In the Flesh

White Water Rebels

The Gun

Criminal Minds

Justice League

Flamin' Hot

Along for the Ride

Scarface

Quantum Leap

Jonny's Golden Quest

The Zeta Project

Sliders

Hill Street Blues

Dudley

Kung Fu

Bad Jim

The Paper Chase

Miami Vice

The Rockford Files

The A-Team

American Me

Knight Rider

300 Miles for Stephanie

Rafferty

Moe

Johnny Got His Gun

Best Kept Secrets

Barney Miller

Lou Grant

A Year in the Life

Diagnosis: Murder

The Greatest American Hero

Matlock

Hunter

The Virgin of Juarez

Kojak

The PJs

Human Error

Lowriders

Streets of Justice

The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez

Cagney & Lacey

The Streets of L.A.

Adam-12

The Desperate Miles

The Last Angry Man

Miracle on 34th Street