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