Pepe Serna
Born July 23, 1944 (Age: 81)
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Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
Biography
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."
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."
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Filmography
Green Ghost and the Masters of the Stone
2022
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as Rancher
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Age: 77
Downsizing
2017
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as Señor Cárdenas
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Age: 73
Lowriders
2017
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as Pepe
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Age: 72
Monday Nights at Seven
2016
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as Paul
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Age: 72
Cake
2014
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as Nuncio
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Age: 70
The Black Dahlia
2006
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as Tomas Dos Santos
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Age: 62
Daybreak
2000
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as Herman Ortiz
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Age: 56
The Princess and the Barrio Boy
2000
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as Bum
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Age: 56
Bread and Roses
2000
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as Restaurateur
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Age: 56
Picking Up the Pieces
2000
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as Florencio
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Age: 55
Luminarias
2000
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as
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Age: 55
The Brave
1997
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as Alessandro
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Age: 53
Land of Milk & Honey
1995
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as Danny
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Age: 51
A Million to Juan
1994
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as Mr. Ortiz
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Age: 49
Jonny's Golden Quest
1993
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as Agent Menendez
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Age: 48
American Me
1992
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as Mundo
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Age: 47
Only You
1992
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as Dock Official
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Age: 47
Conagher
1991
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as
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Age: 46
The Rookie
1990
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as Lt. Ray Garcia
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Age: 46
Postcards from the Edge
1990
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as Raoul
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Age: 46
Bad Jim
1990
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as Virgilio Segura
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Age: 45
The Forgotten
1989
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as Sgt. Pepe Gutierrez
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Age: 44
Break of Dawn
1988
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as Hector
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Age: 44
Caddyshack II
1988
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as Carlos
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Age: 43
Human Error
1988
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as
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Age: 43
The Three Kings
1987
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as Alex Sweetwood
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Age: 43
Out of Bounds
1986
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as Murano
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Age: 42
Streets of Justice
1985
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as Det. Almos
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Age: 41
Fandango
1985
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as Gas Station Mechanic
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Age: 40
Red Dawn
1984
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as Aardvark's Father
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Age: 40
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
1984
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as Reno Nevada
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Age: 40
Scarface
1983
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as Angel
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Age: 39
The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez
1983
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as Romaldo Cortez
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Age: 39
Seguin
1982
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as Manuel Flores
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Age: 37
Vice Squad
1982
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as Pete Mendez
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Age: 37
Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo
1981
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as Migrant Worker (uncredited)
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Age: 37
Joe Dancer II: The Monkey Mission
1981
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as Vito
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Age: 36
300 Miles for Stephanie
1981
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as Bobby Hernandez
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Age: 36
Inside Moves
1980
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as Herrada
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Age: 36
Honeysuckle Rose
1980
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as Rooster
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Age: 35
City in Fear
1980
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as Raymond Zavala
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Age: 35
The Jerk
1979
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as Punk #1
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Age: 35
A Force of One
1979
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as Orlando
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Age: 34
The Gun
1974
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as Natcho
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Age: 30
The Last Angry Man
1974
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as Charlie Parelli
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Age: 29
Miracle on 34th Street
1973
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as Y Leader
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Age: 29
Group Marriage
1973
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as Ramon
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Age: 28
The New Centurions
1972
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as Young Mexican Man
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Age: 28