Acting · Corpus Christi, Texas, USA · Born July 23, 1944
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."
Disco Beats
2025
as Lou
MovieSay a Little Prayer
2024
MovieMoe
2023
MovieFlamin' Hot
2023
as Abuelito
MovieGreen Ghost and the Masters of the Stone
2022
as Rancher
TVWith Love
2021
as Luis Delgado
MovieThe Planters
2019
as Jesús
MovieThe Margarita Man
2019
as Jose Martinez
MovieFrom the Dead
2019
as Rodrigo
MovieFlavor of Life
2019
MovieDownsizing
2017
as Señor Cárdenas
MovieLowriders
2017
as Pepe
TVDimension 404
2017
as Wally Nash
MovieMonday Nights at Seven
2016
as Paul
MovieUnder Water: Dive Deep
2016
as Lil' Big Me
MovieRestored Me
2016
as Manny
MovieSuperpowerless
2016
as Dr. George Holst
MovieKill or Be Killed
2016
as Rudy Goebel
MovieRoad to Juarez
2015
as Fortunato
MovieAna Maria in Novela Land
2015
as Father Miguel
MovieCake
2014
as Nuncio
MovieMan from Reno
2014
as Paul Del Moral
MovieWhite on Rice
2009
as Professor Berk
MovieThe Black Dahlia
2006
as Tomas Dos Santos
MovieThe Virgin of Juarez
2006
as Eduardo Morales
MovieBig Dreams Little Tokyo
2006
as Mr. Gonzalez
TVCriminal Minds
2005
as Ruben Garcia
MovieLatin Dragon
2004
as Hector Sanchez
MovieExposed
2003
as Raoul
MovieDeadly Swarm
2003
as Commandante Alvarez
TVKingpin
2003
TVJustice League
2001
as Shifflet (voice)
MovieAlong for the Ride
2001
as Dr. Sanchez
TVThe Zeta Project
2001
MovieDaybreak
2000
as Herman Ortiz
MovieThe Princess and the Barrio Boy
2000
as Bum
MovieBread and Roses
2000
as Restaurateur
MoviePicking Up the Pieces
2000
as Florencio
MovieLuminarias
2000
TVThe PJs
1999
as Sanchez (voice)
TVJesse
1998
as Pappa Vasquez
MovieThe Brave
1997
as Alessandro
MovieLand of Milk & Honey
1995
as Danny
TVSliders
1995
as Roberto
MovieIn the Flesh
1995
as Harlan Ramirez
Hotel Malibu
1994
MovieA Million to Juan
1994
as Mr. Ortiz
TVSecond Chances
1993
as Salvador Lopez
TVDiagnosis: Murder
1993
as Capt. Collins
TVDudley
1993
as Santana
MovieJonny's Golden Quest
1993
as Agent Menendez
MovieOnly You
1992
as Dock Official
MovieAmerican Me
1992
as Mundo
MovieConagher
1991
MovieThe Rookie
1990
as Lt. Ray Garcia
MoviePostcards from the Edge
1990
as Raoul
DEA
1990
MovieBad Jim
1990
as Virgilio Segura
MovieThe Forgotten
1989
as Sgt. Pepe Gutierrez
TVQuantum Leap
1989
as Manuel Vega
MovieBreak of Dawn
1988
as Hector
MovieCaddyshack II
1988
as Carlos
TVThe Fortunate Pilgrim
1988
as John Colucci
MovieHuman Error
1988
MovieThe Three Kings
1987
as Alex Sweetwood
TVA Year in the Life
1987
as Carlos
MovieOut of Bounds
1986
as Murano
TVMatlock
1986
as Walter Padilla
MovieStreets of Justice
1985
as Det. Almos
TVHell Town
1985
as Enrique
MovieFandango
1985
as Gas Station Mechanic
TVHunter
1984
as Roberto Sanchez
TVMiami Vice
1984
as Oswaldo Guzman
MovieThe Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
1984
as Reno Nevada
MovieRed Dawn
1984
as Aardvark's Father
MovieBest Kept Secrets
1984
as Jim Ramos
MovieScarface
1983
as Angel
MovieDeal of the Century
1983
as Vardis
TVScarecrow and Mrs. King
1983
MovieThe Ballad of Gregorio Cortez
1983
as Romaldo Cortez
MovieHeartbreaker
1983
as Loco
TVThe A-Team
1983
as Tómas Jefferson
MovieWhite Water Rebels
1983
as Harry Cutter
TVKnight Rider
1982
as Lupo
TVCagney & Lacey
1982
TVT. J. Hooker
1982
as Frank Fierro
MovieSeguin
1982
as Manuel Flores
MovieVice Squad
1982
as Pete Mendez
TVAmerican Playhouse
1982
as Manuel Flores
TVSimon & Simon
1981
MovieJoe Dancer II: The Monkey Mission
1981
as Vito
TVThe Greatest American Hero
1981
TVHill Street Blues
1981
Movie300 Miles for Stephanie
1981
as Bobby Hernandez
MovieInside Moves
1980
as Herrada
MovieHoneysuckle Rose
1980
as Rooster
MovieCity in Fear
1980
as Raymond Zavala
MovieThe Jerk
1979
as Punk #1
MovieThe Streets of L.A.
1979
as Sgt. Castro
MovieWalk Proud
1979
as Cesar
MovieA Force of One
1979
as Orlando
MovieRoots of Blood
1979
as Juan
TVThe Paper Chase
1978
MovieTarantulas: The Deadly Cargo
1977
as Migrant Worker (uncredited)
TVLou Grant
1977
TVCHiPs
1977
TVRafferty
1977
MovieCar Wash
1976
as Chuco
MovieThe Killer Inside Me
1976
as Johnny Lopez
MovieSwashbuckler
1976
as Street Entertainer
McNaughton's Daughter
1976
as Ruiz
MovieThe Deadly Tower
1975
as Mano
MovieThe Day of the Locust
1975
as Miguel
TVBronk
1975
MovieThe Desperate Miles
1975
as Ruiz
TVBarney Miller
1975
as Julio Rodriguez
TVBaretta
1975
MovieThe Gun
1974
as Natcho
TVThe Rockford Files
1974
as Ray Ochoa
MovieThe Last Angry Man
1974
as Charlie Parelli
MovieMiracle on 34th Street
1973
as Y Leader
TVKojak
1973
as Enorio Patias
TVPolice Story
1973
MovieGroup Marriage
1973
as Ramon
TVKung Fu
1972
as Los Vidrios
TVThe Rookies
1972
MovieThe New Centurions
1972
as Young Mexican Man
TVCannon
1971
MovieJohnny Got His Gun
1971
as Jose (uncredited)
MovieShoot Out
1971
as Pepe
MovieThe Student Nurses
1970
as Luis
TVAdam-12
1968
as Roger
TVMannix
1967
Three Years Gone
Aguruphobia
as Nanak
