Pepe Serna Explained

Pepe Serna
Birth Date:July 23, 1944
Birth Place:Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
Occupation:Actor, artist
Yearsactive:1970–present
Spouse:Diane Serna (m. 1969)[1]

Pepe Serna (born July 23, 1944) is an American film and television actor and artist.[2]

Career

Serna's first break in movies came in 1970 on the Roger Corman-directed film The Student Nurses. Over the years, Serna has appeared in over 100 films. In the blockbuster comedy The Jerk, he appeared as a lowrider-driving criminal who cons a naive Steve Martin out of money and new tires. Another notable role was in Scarface, directed by Brian De Palma, as Tony Montana's friend Angel Fernandez. Serna played the charismatic guru Nanak in Aguruphobia, which he also co-produced. He has also appeared on stage, including his solo show El Ruco, Chuco, Cholo, Pachuco.

Serna has been honored by the Screen Actors Guild Heritage Achievement Award; the League of United Latin American Citizens, and the Estrella Award for Arts & Culture from the Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Serna played Señor Cárdenas in the film Downsizing.

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1973Miracle on 34th StreetY LeaderTelevision film
1974The Last Angry ManCharlie ParelliTelevision film
1974The GunNatchoTelevision film
1975The Desperate MilesRuizTelevision film
1975The Deadly TowerManoTelevision film
1975Adam-12Roger FosterEpisode: "Operation Action"
1976The Rockford FilesRay OchoaEpisode: "The Oracle Wore a Cashmere Suit"
1977Illegal ImmigrantTelevision film; uncredited
1978The Paper ChaseLuis SanchezEpisode: "Voices of Silence"[3]
1979The Streets of L.A.Sergeant CastroTelevision film
1980City in FearRaymond ZavalaTelevision film
1981Three Hundred Miles for StephanieBobby HernandezTelevision film
1981The Monkey MissionVitoTelevision film
1982, 1992American PlayhouseManuel Flores, Romaldo Cortez, Marpo3 episodes
1983SadatAtef SadatTelevision film
1983White Water RebelsHarry CutterTelevision film
1984Best Kept SecretsJim RamosTelevision film
1985Knight RiderLupoEpisode: "Knight Sting"
1985Streets of JusticeDetective AlmosTelevision film1986"The A-team"Thomas Jefferson 1 épisode 1987–1988A Year in the LifeZabado, Oswaldo Guzman2 episodes
1987The Three KingsAlex SweetwoodTelevision film
1988HunterRoberto SanchezEpisode: "Renegade"
1988The Fortunate PilgrimJohn Colluci3 episodes
1988Break of DawnHectorTelevision film
1989The ForgottenPepe GuitierrezTelevision film
1991ConagherCasuseTelevision film
1993–1994Second ChancesSalvador Lopez6 episodes
1995Captain CollinsEpisode: "A Blast from the Past"
1999–2000The PJsEmilio Sanchez (voice)42 episodes
2000The Princess & the Barrio BoyBumTelevision film
2001The Zeta ProjectStevedore (voice)Episode: "The Next Gen"[4]
2003KingpinJorge Romo3 episodes
2003Justice LeagueShifflet (voice)Episode: "Hearts and Minds"

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1970The Student NursesLuis
1971Red Sky at MorningChango Lopez
1971Johnny Got His GunJoseUncredited
1971Shoot OutPepe
1972The New CenturionsMexican Man
1973Group MarriageRamon
1974HangupEnrique
1975The Day of the LocustMiguel
1976SwashbucklerStreet Entertainer
1976The Killer Inside MeJohnny Lopez
1976Car WashChuco
1978Roots of BloodJuan
1979A Force of OneOrlando
1979Walk ProudCesar
1979The JerkPunk #1
1980Honeysuckle RoseRooster
1980Inside MovesHerrada
1982Vice SquadPete Mendez
1983HeartbreakerLoco
1983Deal of the CenturyVardis
1983ScarfaceAngel Fernandez
1984The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th DimensionReno Nevada
1984Red DawnAardvark's Father
1985FandangoGas Station Mechanic
1985SilveradoScruffy
1986Out of BoundsMurano
1988Caddyshack IICarlos
1990Bad JimVirgilio Segura
1990Postcards from the EdgeRaoul
1990The RookieRaymond Garcia
1992American MeMundo
1992Only YouDock Official
1994A Million to JuanMr. Ortiz
1995In the FleshHarlan Ramirez
1996Land of Milk and HoneyDanny
1997The BraveAlessandro
2000LuminariasRick
2000Bread and RosesRestaurateur
2000Picking Up the PiecesFlorencio
2000Along for the RideDr. Sanchez
2000Rapid TransitHerman Ortiz
2002You Got NothinCarlos
2003Deadly SwarmCommandante Alvarez
2003ExposedRaoul
2003Devil's KnightHector Rivera
2004Latin DragonHector Sanchez
2006The Virgin of JuarezEduardo Morales
2006The Black DahliaTomas Dos Santos
2006Big Dreams Little TokyoMr. Gonzalez
2008MoeOlder Man
2009White on RiceProfessor Berk
2014Man from RenoPaul Del Moral
2014CakeNuncio
2015Ana Maria in Novela LandFather Miguel
2015Kill or Be KilledRudy Goebel[5]
2015Road to JuarezFortunato
2015AguruphobiaNanak
2016Restored MeManny
2016Gino's WifeGino
2016Monday Nights at SevenPaul
2016SuperpowerlessGeorge Holst[6]
2017DownsizingSeñor Cárdenas
2023Flamin' HotAbuelito[7] [8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Classic Hollywood: After 45 years, Pepe Serna is finally a leading man. . 21 March 2015.
  2. Web site: The New York Times . dead . https://archive.today/20120710174351/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/64467/Pepe-Serna . July 10, 2012 . January 17, 2012 . . Movies & TV Dept..
  3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_Rj_lkjbV4 The Paper Chase," Season 1, Episode 5, "Voices of Silence" (YouTube)
  4. Web site: Pepe Serna (visual voices guide) . June 20, 2024 . Behind The Voice Actors. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  5. Web site: Aldrich . Ryland . March 17, 2015 . Dallas 2015 Full Lineup Released . June 20, 2024 . ScreenAnarchy.
  6. Web site: Harvey . Dennis . August 6, 2016 . Film Review: ‘Superpowerless’ . June 20, 2024 . Variety . en-US.
  7. Web site: Freitag . Lee . May 10, 2024 . Flamin' Hot Cheetos Origin Story Movie Drops a Spicy First Trailer . June 20, 2024 . CBR . en.
  8. Web site: Schaefer . Sandy . May 10, 2023 . Flamin' Hot Trailer: The Brand Biopic Era Continues With The Story Of Flamin' Hot Cheetos . June 20, 2024 . SlashFilm . en-US.