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Pepe serna movies

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Pepe Serna's impact on Hollywood

You might not know the name Pepe Serna, but it’s likely you’ve seen his face and his acting. Serna has been featured in more than 100 films and 300 television programs throughout his Hollywood career. Serna performed in prominent films and left his mark on cinema history. He played the character in the film "Scarface" who was tortured and murdered with a chainsaw as Al Pacino’s character watched.

A documentary "Pepe Serna: Life is Art," tells the story of the Mexican American actor and spotlights his decades-long ground breaking work in film. But it also shows how he helped and encouraged other Latino actors to find their way to movie success – including his friend Edward James Olmos.

Serna, 78, was born in Corpus Christi where even as a child he set his goal to become an actor. He moved to Los Angeles in 1969, at age 24. The acting roles were limited due to racial prejudices.

The most recent Hollywood Diversity Report from the University of California, Los Angeles, showed that in 2020, Latinos made up close to 19% of the U.S. population

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Pepe Serna Biography

Date of Birth:
Jul 23, 1944Birth Place:
Corpus Christi, Texas, USA

Biography

A frequently seen Hollywood character player of comedies as well as crime and barrio dramas, Pepe Serna may be best recalled by moviegoers as Chuco, the practical-joking worker of "Car Wash" (1976), and as the pal of Al Pacino who dies by the chainsaw in Brian De Palma's "Scarface" (1985). A native of Texas, Serna made his acting debut in a Mexican production of "Hair." He migrated to L.A. where small film roles followed. Serna also joined the Center Theatre Group New Theatre for Now Company, at which he was most active from 1972-73, although he returned to the company in 1978 to co-star in the original production of the stage play "Zoot Suit."
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Pepe Serna

American actor

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

Career

Serna's first break in films 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

Year Title Role Notes
1973 Miracle on 34th StreetY Lea

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