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