Pepe Serna. Another unsung hero of film & TV

Not Pacino, the other fella

Pepe Serna. Supporting actor par excellence. A face you'd recognise instantly but a name you'd never remember because he's one of those actors that only ever gets to do one thing, in his case, play some form of Latino criminal. It's a pity because on the rare occasions where he got to stretch himself he always showed promise but Hollywood and the movies and TV it produces has always needed background faces of colour and these are the roles that became his bread and butter. You have to hand it to him though, after 49 years in the business he's definitely doing something right.

He's been Reno Nevada in Buckaroo Banzai. He's been sliced up in a South Beach apartment by nasty Columbians. He got imprisoned during a Russian raid on a small Colorado town and helped out by Hannibal Smith and Howling Mad Murdock. Been defended by an OAP lawyer and played cop alongside Clint Eastwood. Crockett and Tubbs have gunned him down and Cagney and Lacey have locked him up. He's annoyed The Jerk and had his head kicked off by Chuck Norris. His face has popped up in 70's movies both cult and masterpiece and he's still popping up in mainstream releases today. The very definition of a "I know him!!" actor. 156 credits over almost half a century. Everything from western to horror to comedy to sci-fi. Not bad going at all Pepe. Check out his career here.

Buckaroo Banzai. 80's insanity. Track it down. It's worth the effort.

Greatest hits

Scarface - Angel Fernandez. Buddy of Tony Montana and recipient of a close encounter with a chainsaw in a scene that made the film notorious back in the early 80's.

Red Dawn - Mr Aardvark. One of the many unfortunates of Calumet, Colorado. His words are the ones that turn a group of footballers into a well oiled guerilla machine.

American Me - Mundo. One of the founding members of the Mexican Mafia. A vicious little individual. Very handy with a shiv,

Downsizing - Señor Cárdenas. An interesting little face in a very intriguing little film.

Previous Heroes

Udo Kier
Fairuza Balk
Ernie Hudson
Lin Shaye
James Remar
Cloris Leachman
James Hong
David Strathairn
Frankie Faison
Conchata Ferrell
Dick Miller
Veronica Cartwright
Edie McClurg
Barry Shabaka Henley           
Raymond Cruz                        
Reg E.Cathey                          
Elizabeth McGovern               
John Amos                              
Bruce Greenwood                  
Mary McDonnell                     
Gerald McSorley                       
John Rothman                        
Margo Martindale                   
Kurtwood Smith                     
Paula Malcolmson                 
Luis Guzman                          
David Morse                           
Linda Hunt                              
Keith David                             
Zeljko Ivanek
Fiona Shaw
Xander Berkeley
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
C.C.H Pounder
William Forsythe
Beth Grant
Sven-Ole Thorsen
Regina King
Ric Young
Mark Rolston
Illeana Douglas
Jeanette Goldstein
Al Leong
Allan Graf
Bill Nunn
Thomas Rosales Jr