Pepe Serna (born July 23, 1944) is an American film actor and artist.
Raised in Corpus Christi, Texas, Serna came to Hollywood in 1969 after the Mexican premiere of the Broadway musical Hair was shut down by Mexican officials after one performance. The day after he arrived in Hollywood he met his future wife Diane, and they have been married ever since.
Pepe's first break in movies came in 1970 on the Roger Corman directed film Student Nurses. Over the years Serna has appeared in over 100 films, most notably Scarface directed by Brian De Palma, where he played Montana's friend Angel Fernandez, who was butchered in the infamous chainsaw scene. He has also appeared on stage, including his solo show El Ruco, Chuco, Cholo, Pachuco which is Serna's version of the panorama of Latino cultural history. He also presents workshops on acting improvisation to school children.
Serna has been honored by the Screen Actors Guild Heritage Achievement Award; the League of United Latin American Citizens, and the prestigious Estrella Award for Arts & Culture from the Orange Country Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Encouraged by his wife Serna began painting bright colored canvases that reflect themes and styles of Mexico. His paintings have been collected widely and he has received various significant commissions. Serna and his wife live on Balboa Island, California.
The ever-reliable Hispanic-American actor Pepe Serna has appeared in more than 100 feature films and 300 television shows, but is most recognized for his performances in several motion pictures, including Scarface (1983) with Al Pacino, Silverado starring Kevin Costner (1985), The Rookie (1990) with Clint Eastwood, and American Me (1992) with Edward James Olmos. Born in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1944, Serna was initially discovered by producer Hal Wallis and debuted in his film Red Sky at Morning (1971). Pepe's sideline as a painter has met with critical success and he has been commissioned quite frequently. His vibrant paintings and recent one-man stage shows reflect a serious return to his Mexican roots.
