Acting
Pepe Serna
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
Disco Beats
Film · 2025
Say a Little Prayer
Film · 2024
Moe
Film · 2023
Flamin' Hot
Film · 2023
Green Ghost and the Masters of the Stone
Film · 2022
With Love
Series · 2021
Flavor of Life
Film · 2019
The Planters
Film · 2019
The Margarita Man
Film · 2019
From the Dead
Film · 2019
Lowriders
Film · 2017
Downsizing
Film · 2017
Dimension 404
Series · 2017
Kill or Be Killed
Film · 2016
Superpowerless
Film · 2016
Under Water: Dive Deep
Film · 2016
Restored Me
Film · 2016
Monday Nights at Seven
Film · 2016
Road to Juarez
Film · 2015
Ana Maria in Novela Land
Film · 2015
Aguruphobia
Film · 2015
Man from Reno
Film · 2014
Cake
Film · 2014
White on Rice
Film · 2009
The Black Dahlia
Film · 2006
Big Dreams Little Tokyo
Film · 2006
The Virgin of Juarez
Film · 2006
Criminal Minds
Series · 2005
Latin Dragon
Film · 2004
Exposed
Film · 2003
Deadly Swarm
Film · 2003
Kingpin
Series · 2003
Along for the Ride
Film · 2001
The Zeta Project
Series · 2001
Justice League
Series · 2001
Bread and Roses
Film · 2000
Daybreak
Film · 2000
Picking Up the Pieces
Film · 2000
The Princess and the Barrio Boy
Film · 2000
Luminarias
Film · 2000
The PJs
Series · 1999
Jesse
Series · 1998
The Brave
Film · 1997
In the Flesh
Film · 1995
Land of Milk & Honey
Film · 1995
Sliders
Series · 1995
A Million to Juan
Film · 1994
Hotel Malibu
Series · 1994
Jonny's Golden Quest
Film · 1993
Diagnosis: Murder
Series · 1993
Second Chances
Series · 1993
Dudley
Series · 1993
Only You
Film · 1992
American Me
Film · 1992
Conagher
Film · 1991
Bad Jim
Film · 1990
Postcards from the Edge
Film · 1990
The Rookie
Film · 1990
DEA
Series · 1990
The Forgotten
Film · 1989
Quantum Leap
Series · 1989
Caddyshack II
Film · 1988
Break of Dawn
Film · 1988
Human Error
Film · 1988
The Fortunate Pilgrim
Series · 1988
The Three Kings
Film · 1987
A Year in the Life
Series · 1987
Out of Bounds
Film · 1986
Matlock
Series · 1986
Fandango
Film · 1985
Streets of Justice
Film · 1985
Hell Town
Series · 1985
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
Film · 1984
Red Dawn
Film · 1984
Best Kept Secrets
Film · 1984
Miami Vice
Series · 1984
Hunter
Series · 1984
Miami Vice
Series · 1984
Scarface
Film · 1983
Deal of the Century
Film · 1983
The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez
Film · 1983
White Water Rebels
Film · 1983
Heartbreaker
Film · 1983
The A-Team
Series · 1983
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
Series · 1983
Vice Squad
Film · 1982
Seguin
Film · 1982
T. J. Hooker
Series · 1982
Knight Rider
Series · 1982
Cagney & Lacey
Series · 1982
American Playhouse
Series · 1982
American Playhouse
Series · 1982
American Playhouse
Series · 1982
American Playhouse
Series · 1982
Joe Dancer II: The Monkey Mission
Film · 1981
300 Miles for Stephanie
Film · 1981
The Greatest American Hero
Series · 1981
Simon & Simon
Series · 1981
Hill Street Blues
Series · 1981
Hill Street Blues
Series · 1981
Inside Moves
Film · 1980
Honeysuckle Rose
Film · 1980
City in Fear
Film · 1980
A Force of One
Film · 1979
The Jerk
Film · 1979
Walk Proud
Film · 1979
The Streets of L.A.
Film · 1979
Roots of Blood
Film · 1979
The Paper Chase
Series · 1978
Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo
Film · 1977
Lou Grant
Series · 1977
CHiPs
Series · 1977
Rafferty
Series · 1977
The Killer Inside Me
Film · 1976
Car Wash
Film · 1976
Swashbuckler
Film · 1976
McNaughton's Daughter
Series · 1976
The Day of the Locust
Film · 1975
The Deadly Tower
Film · 1975
The Desperate Miles
Film · 1975
Baretta
Series · 1975
Bronk
Series · 1975
Barney Miller
Series · 1975
The Gun
Film · 1974
The Last Angry Man
Film · 1974
The Rockford Files
Series · 1974
Miracle on 34th Street
Film · 1973
Group Marriage
Film · 1973
Kojak
Series · 1973
Police Story
Series · 1973
Kojak
Series · 1973
The New Centurions
Film · 1972
The Rookies
Series · 1972
Kung Fu
Series · 1972
Shoot Out
Film · 1971
Johnny Got His Gun
Film · 1971
Cannon
Series · 1971
The Student Nurses
Film · 1970
Adam-12
Series · 1968
Mannix
Series · 1967
Three Years Gone
Film
Cuento de Navidad
Film