Cast & creator
Pepe Serna
Best known for Criminal Minds, Diagnosis: Murder, Quantum Leap
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."
93
film credits
52
television credits
142
1967–2025 · acting roles
6.4
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (145)
Showing 145 of 145 credits
Criminal Minds
Ruben Garcia
2005
Diagnosis: Murder
Capt. Collins
1993
Quantum Leap
Manuel Vega
1989
Adam-12
Roger
1968
American Playhouse
Manuel Flores
1982American Playhouse
Romaldo Cortez
1982American Playhouse
Hector
1982American Playhouse
Marpo
1982
Miami Vice
Oswaldo Guzman
1984Miami Vice
Zabado
1984
Mannix
1967
Knight Rider
Lupo
1982
Hill Street Blues
1981Hill Street Blues
Raymond Cassiano
1981
The A-Team
Tómas Jefferson
1983
The Rockford Files
Ray Ochoa
1974
Cannon
1971
Matlock
Walter Padilla
1986
T. J. Hooker
Frank Fierro
1982
Barney Miller
Julio Rodriguez
1975
Simon & Simon
1981
Sliders
Roberto
1995
Cagney & Lacey
1982
Hunter
Roberto Sanchez
1984
Lou Grant
1977
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
1983
The Rookies
1972
Kojak
Enorio Patias
1973Kojak
Rudy Diaz
1973
Baretta
1975
Scarface
Angel
1983
Police Story
1973
Justice League
Shifflet (voice)
2001
CHiPs
1977
The PJs
Sanchez (voice)
1999
The Greatest American Hero
1981
The Zeta Project
2001
Jesse
Pappa Vasquez
1998
The Paper Chase
1978
Bronk
1975
With Love
Luis Delgado
2021
A Year in the Life
Carlos
1987
Flamin' Hot
Abuelito
2023
Dimension 404
Wally Nash
2017
The Rookie
Lt. Ray Garcia
1990
Downsizing
Señor Cárdenas
2017
Kingpin
2003
Hell Town
Enrique
1985
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
Reno Nevada
1984
Red Dawn
Aardvark's Father
1984
The Black Dahlia
Dos Santos
2006
Cake
Nuncio
2014
American Me
Mundo
1992
The Jerk
Punk #1
1979
Aguruphobia
Nanak
2015Aguruphobia
Co-Producer
2015
Rafferty
1977
Postcards from the Edge
Raoul
1990
The Fortunate Pilgrim
John Colucci
1988
Johnny Got His Gun
Jose (uncredited)
1971
Second Chances
Salvador Lopez
1993
Conagher
1991
The Day of the Locust
Miguel
1975
McNaughton's Daughter
Ruiz
1976
Caddyshack II
Carlos
1988
Car Wash
Chuco
1976
Dudley
Santana
1993
Deal of the Century
Vardis
1983Hotel Malibu
1994
Swashbuckler
Street Entertainer
1976
The New Centurions
Young Mexican Man
1972
The Planters
Jesús
2019
Picking Up the Pieces
Florencio
2000
Lowriders
Pepe
2017
The Forgotten
Sgt. Pepe Gutierrez
1989
Fandango
Gas Station Mechanic
1985
Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo
Migrant Worker (uncredited)
1977
Kill or Be Killed
Rudy Goebel
2016Kill or Be Killed
Associate Producer
2016
Shoot Out
Pepe
1971
Out of Bounds
Murano
1986
The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez
Romaldo Cortez
1983DEA
1990
A Force of One
Orlando
1979
The Deadly Tower
Mano
1975
The Last Angry Man
Charlie Parelli
1974
Vice Squad
Pete Mendez
1982
Bread and Roses
Restaurateur
2000
The Virgin of Juarez
Eduardo Morales
2006
The Brave
Alessandro
1997
Exposed
Raoul
2003
The Killer Inside Me
Johnny Lopez
1976
Joe Dancer II: The Monkey Mission
Vito
1981
Ana Maria in Novela Land
Father Miguel
2015
In the Flesh
Harlan Ramirez
1995
Bad Jim
Virgilio Segura
1990
A Million to Juan
Mr. Ortiz
1994
Inside Moves
Herrada
1980
Say a Little Prayer
2024
Green Ghost and the Masters of the Stone
Rancher
2022
The Streets of L.A.
Sgt. Castro
1979
Kung Fu
Los Vidrios
1972
The Princess and the Barrio Boy
Bum
2000
Seguin
Manuel Flores
1982
Miracle on 34th Street
Y Leader
1973
Luminarias
2000
The Student Nurses
Luis
1970
Only You
Dock Official
1992
Latin Dragon
Hector Sanchez
2004
Best Kept Secrets
Jim Ramos
1984
Deadly Swarm
Commandante Alvarez
2003
Along for the Ride
Dr. Sanchez
2001
Moe
2023
Group Marriage
Ramon
1973Disco Beats
Lou
2025
The Margarita Man
Jose Martinez
2019
Big Dreams Little Tokyo
Mr. Gonzalez
2006
Jonny's Golden Quest
Agent Menendez (voice)
1993
Break of Dawn
Hector
1988
Land of Milk & Honey
Danny
1995
The Three Kings
Alex Sweetwood
1987
Man from Reno
Paul Del Moral
2014
Honeysuckle Rose
Rooster
1980
The Desperate Miles
Ruiz
1975
Streets of Justice
Det. Almos
1985
City in Fear
Raymond Zavala
1980
300 Miles for Stephanie
Bobby Hernandez
1981
Daybreak
Herman Ortiz
2000
Under Water: Dive Deep
Lil' Big Me
2016
Restored Me
Manny
2016
Monday Nights at Seven
Paul
2016
Superpowerless
Dr. George Holst
2016
Heartbreaker
Loco
1983
Walk Proud
Cesar
1979
Flavor of Life
2019
From the Dead
Rodrigo
2019From the Dead
Associate Producer
2019
Road to Juarez
Fortunato
2015
The Gun
Natcho
1974
White on Rice
Professor Berk
2009
White Water Rebels
Harry Cutter
1983Three Years Gone
Roots of Blood
Juan
1979
Human Error
1988
Cuento de Navidad
Sr. Ebenezer Scrooge