Pepe Serna
Known for: Acting
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."
Filmography
Series
Criminal Minds
Ruben Garcia
2005
Series
Diagnosis: Murder
Capt. Collins
1993
Series
Adam-12
Roger
1968
Series
Quantum Leap
Manuel Vega
1989
Series
Mannix
1967
Series
The Rockford Files
Ray Ochoa
1974
Series
Hill Street Blues
1981
Series
Hill Street Blues
Raymond Cassiano
1981
Series
Miami Vice
Oswaldo Guzman
1984
Series
Miami Vice
Zabado
1984
Series
The A-Team
Tómas Jefferson
1983
Series
Barney Miller
Julio Rodriguez
1975
Series
Knight Rider
Lupo
1982
Series
Matlock
Walter Padilla
1986
Series
American Playhouse
Manuel Flores
1982
Series
American Playhouse
Romaldo Cortez
1982
Series
American Playhouse
Hector
1982
Series
American Playhouse
Marpo
1982
Series
Sliders
Roberto
1995
Series
Simon & Simon
1981
Series
Cannon
1971
Series
T. J. Hooker
Frank Fierro
1982
Series
Cagney & Lacey
1982
Series
Hunter
Roberto Sanchez
1984
Series
Lou Grant
1977
Series
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
1983
Series
Baretta
1975
Series
The Rookies
1972
Film
Scarface
Angel
1983
Series
Kojak
Enorio Patias
1973
Series
Kojak
Rudy Diaz
1973
Series
Police Story
1973
Series
Justice League
Shifflet (voice)
2001
Series
The Greatest American Hero
1981
Series
CHiPs
1977
Series
The Zeta Project
2001
Series
The PJs
Sanchez (voice)
1999
Series
Jesse
Pappa Vasquez
1998
Series
The Paper Chase
1978
Series
With Love
Luis Delgado
2021
Series
Bronk
1975
Film
Downsizing
Señor Cárdenas
2017
Series
A Year in the Life
Carlos
1987
Series
Dimension 404
Wally Nash
2017
Film
Flamin' Hot
Abuelito
2023
Film
Red Dawn
Aardvark's Father
1984
Film
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
Reno Nevada
1984
Series
Kingpin
2003
Film
The Black Dahlia
Dos Santos
2006
Film
The Rookie
Lt. Ray Garcia
1990
Series
Hell Town
Enrique
1985
Series
Rafferty
1977
Film
Cake
Nuncio
2014
Film
Johnny Got His Gun
Jose (uncredited)
1971
Series
Second Chances
Salvador Lopez
1993
Series
The Fortunate Pilgrim
John Colucci
1988
Film
The Jerk
Punk #1
1979
Film
American Me
Mundo
1992
Series
Dudley
Santana
1993
Film
Bad Jim
Virgilio Segura
1990
Film
Postcards from the Edge
Raoul
1990
Film
Shoot Out
Pepe
1971
Film
Car Wash
Chuco
1976
Hotel Malibu
1994
Series
McNaughton's Daughter
Ruiz
1976
DEA
1990
Film
Fandango
Gas Station Mechanic
1985
Film
Lowriders
Pepe
2017
Film
Deal of the Century
Vardis
1983
Film
The Day of the Locust
Miguel
1975
Film
Caddyshack II
Carlos
1988
Film
Seguin
Manuel Flores
1982
Film
Out of Bounds
Murano
1986
Film
The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez
Romaldo Cortez
1983
Film
Conagher
1991
Film
The Brave
Alessandro
1997
Film
Swashbuckler
Street Entertainer
1976
Film
Bread and Roses
Restaurateur
2000
Film
Vice Squad
Pete Mendez
1982
Film
A Force of One
Orlando
1979
Film
Under Water: Dive Deep
Lil' Big Me
2016
Film
Daybreak
Herman Ortiz
2000
Film
Picking Up the Pieces
Florencio
2000
Series
Kung Fu
Los Vidrios
1972
Film
Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo
Migrant Worker (uncredited)
1977
Film
The Planters
Jesús
2019
Film
Jonny's Golden Quest
Agent Menendez (voice)
1993
Film
Deadly Swarm
Commandante Alvarez
2003
Film
Ana Maria in Novela Land
Father Miguel
2015
Film
The New Centurions
Young Mexican Man
1972
Film
The Student Nurses
Luis
1970
Film
Honeysuckle Rose
Rooster
1980
Disco Beats
Lou
2025
Film
Miracle on 34th Street
Y Leader
1973
Film
The Killer Inside Me
Johnny Lopez
1976
Three Years Gone
2026
Film
Superpowerless
Dr. George Holst
2016
Film
A Million to Juan
Mr. Ortiz
1994
Film
The Deadly Tower
Mano
1975
Film
In the Flesh
Harlan Ramirez
1995
Film
Say a Little Prayer
2024
Film
Inside Moves
Herrada
1980
Film
The Princess and the Barrio Boy
Bum
2000
Film
Aguruphobia
Nanak
2015
Film
Luminarias
2000
Film
Kill or Be Killed
Rudy Goebel
2016
Film
Roots of Blood
Juan
1979
Film
Walk Proud
Cesar
1979
Film
Only You
Dock Official
1992
Film
The Margarita Man
Jose Martinez
2019
Film
Cuento de Navidad
Sr. Ebenezer Scrooge
Film
Group Marriage
Ramon
1973
Film
Man from Reno
Paul Del Moral
2014
Film
Joe Dancer II: The Monkey Mission
Vito
1981
Film
The Virgin of Juarez
Eduardo Morales
2006
Film
Green Ghost and the Masters of the Stone
Rancher
2022
Film
From the Dead
Rodrigo
2019
Film
300 Miles for Stephanie
Bobby Hernandez
1981
Film
City in Fear
Raymond Zavala
1980
Film
Along for the Ride
Dr. Sanchez
2001
Film
The Last Angry Man
Charlie Parelli
1974
Film
Land of Milk & Honey
Danny
1995
Film
Flavor of Life
2019
Film
The Streets of L.A.
Sgt. Castro
1979
Film
Latin Dragon
Hector Sanchez
2004
Film
The Desperate Miles
Ruiz
1975
Film
Break of Dawn
Hector
1988
Film
Restored Me
Manny
2016
Film
Heartbreaker
Loco
1983
Film
Best Kept Secrets
Jim Ramos
1984
Film
The Forgotten
Sgt. Pepe Gutierrez
1989
Film
Big Dreams Little Tokyo
Mr. Gonzalez
2006
Film
Exposed
Raoul
2003
Film
Road to Juarez
Fortunato
2015
Film
Monday Nights at Seven
Paul
2016
Film
Moe
2023
Film
The Gun
Natcho
1974
Film
The Three Kings
Alex Sweetwood
1987
Film
White Water Rebels
Harry Cutter
1983
Film
Streets of Justice
Det. Almos
1985
Film
White on Rice
Professor Berk
2009
Film
Human Error
1988