George Lopez

American comedian, actor (born 1961)

This article is about the actor. For the sitcom he starred in, see George Lopez (TV series). For other uses, and other people named George Lopez, see George Lopez (disambiguation).

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George Lopez

Lopez in 2019

Birth name| George Edward Lopez
Born|  (1961-04-23) April 23, 1961 (age 64)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Medium|

* Stand-up
* film
* television

Years active| 1983–present
Genres|

* Observational comedy
* black comedy
* insult comedy
* physical comedy
* racial humor
* satire

Subject(s)|

* Latin American culture
* American politics
* race relations
* racism
* family
* everyday life
* pop culture
* current events

Spouse|

Ann Serrano

(m. 1993; div. 2011)​

Children| 1
Website| www.georgelopez.com

George Edward Lopez (born April 23, 1961) is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He is most known for starring in his self-produced ABC sitcom George Lopez. His stand-up comedy examines race and ethnic relations, including Mexican American culture. Lopez has received several honors for his work and contributions to the Latino community, including the 2003 Imagen Vision Award, the 2003 Latino Spirit Award for Excellence in Television and the National Hispanic Media Coalition Impact Award. He was also named one of "The Top 25 Hispanics in America" by Time magazine in 2005.[1]

## Early life

[edit]

George Edward Lopez was born on April 23, 1961 in Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California [2] to Frieda and Anatasio Lopez, a migrant worker.[3] He is of Mexican descent.[4] He was deserted by his father when he was two months old and by his mother when he was 10 years old,[5] and was raised by his maternal grandmother Benita Gutierrez, a factory worker, and step-grandfather Refugio Gutierrez, a construction worker.[6][7] Lopez attended San Fernando High School, graduating in 1979.[8]

## Career

[edit]

### Television

[edit]

See also: George Lopez (TV series), Lopez Tonight, and Lopez (TV series)

Lopez at his Walk of Fame star dedication ceremony, March 29, 2006

In 2000, after several years of performing stand-up comedy, Lopez was approached by actress Sandra Bullock for Lopez to produce and star in a comedy. Bullock was concerned about the lack of Hispanic-oriented sitcoms on American television and pushed to get a sitcom on television that starred Hispanics without being exclusively about the Hispanic American community. Long criticized by Hispanic American groups for lack of Latinos on their television shows, ABC quickly picked up the television series. In 2002, Lopez became one of the few Latinos to star in a television comedy series, following in the footsteps of Desi Arnaz, Freddie Prinze, and John Leguizamo. George Lopez is an American situation comedy that originally aired on ABC from 2002 to 2007. Lopez is the co-creator, writer, producer, and star of the show.

On March 8, 2007, it was announced that George Lopez would join the Nick at Nite lineup. It first aired on Nick at Nite on September 10, 2007. On May 15, 2007, ABC announced that the series would be canceled after its sixth season. The show last aired on ABC September 7, 2007. The show also entered syndication in the fall of 2007. Never a big Nielsen hit in prime-time, the show became a surprise success in syndication.

After receiving the news that his show was canceled in 2007, Lopez criticized president of ABC Entertainment Steve McPherson for using racially motivated reasons for his decision. The actor told the Los Angeles Times that "TV just became really, really white again", and lashed out against ABC by saying, "So a chicano can't be on TV, but a caveman can?" in reference to the short-lived sitcom Cavemen, which was replacing George Lopez on the schedule. Cavemen garnered a sharply negative reception from critics and viewers, and was canceled after 13 episodes. Lopez blamed ABC for causing over a hundred of his show's staff to become jobless.[9][10]

Lopez was a cast member and commentator for HBO's hit sports show Inside the NFL for the 2003–04 football season.[11]

Lopez guest-starred as the mayor of Reno, Nevada, in season five of Reno 911! in 2008.[12]

On March 28, 2009, it was announced that Lopez would be hosting his own late-night talk show on TBS.[13] Lopez hosted a late-night talk show entitled Lopez Tonight on TBS Monday through Thursday at midnight Eastern Time. The show debuted in November 2009. In November 2010, the show moved back to midnight ET to accommodate a new show with former Tonight Show host Conan O'Brien. Although O'Brien had reservations about the move and initially refused TBS's offer, Lopez supported and even advocated for it, making it different from the 2010 Tonight Show conflict that saw O'Brien depart NBC after a proposal to push Tonight back 30 minutes for Jay Leno to return to the 11:35 p.m. slot.[14] On August 10, 2011, Lopez received a cancellation notice from TBS. The network decided not to renew Lopez Tonight for a third season.[15]

On April 18, 2013, it was announced that Lopez would be starring in his own sitcom on FX called Saint George, which premiered on March 6, 2014.[16][17][18] Saint George was produced under Debmar-Mercury and Lionsgate Television's syndication model, which states that if a show hits certain ratings thresholds in its first 10-episode run, it triggers an additional 90-episode order. Failing to do so, Saint George was canceled on June 25, 2014, after one season.[19]

Lopez in 2007

In August 2015, TV Land announced a straight-to-series order for Lopez, a semi-autobiographical single-camera sitcom,[20] which debuted on March 30, 2016.[21]

Lopez was invited to be a guest judge on America's Got Talent in 2016. He was allowed to use his golden buzzer once, which made an act go straight to the live shows. He used his on the dance group Malevo.

In May 2022, NBC picked up Lopez's new series, Lopez vs Lopez, where he co-stars opposite of his daughter, Mayan.[22]

### Film

[edit]

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (August 2017)

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Lopez's HBO Films drama Real Women Have Curves premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it received the 2002 Audience Award. Previously, Lopez was featured in the 2000 drama Bread and Roses. He starred in the ABC Wonderful World of Disney Christmas film Naughty or Nice, and he appeared in the Robert Rodriguez-directed film The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D (2005).

Brown Is the New Green: George Lopez and the American Dream is a 2007 documentary directed and produced by Phillip Rodriguez.[citation needed]

In 2008, Lopez voiced Papi Cortez (a Chihuahua) in Disney's Beverly Hills Chihuahua. In 2010, Lopez appeared in The Spy Next Door with Jackie Chan, starring as a villain named Glaze.[citation needed] The following year Lopez reprised his role as Papi for Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2, and was the voice of a toco toucan, Rafael, in the animated box-office hit Rio, alongside Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, will.i.am, and Jamie Foxx. In 2019, he played the role of Captain Gomez in the independent film El Chicano.[23]

In 2023, Lopez starred as Rudy Reyes, uncle of Jaime Reyes / Blue Beetle, in the DC Extended Universe superhero film Blue Beetle.[24] He will next star in The Underdoggs, scheduled for release in 2024.[25]

### Books

[edit]

Lopez in 2015.

Lopez's autobiography Why You Crying was published by the Touchstone/Fireside division of Simon & Schuster, and placed in The New York Times bestsellers top twenty.[citation needed] The book is co-written by Armen Keteyian.[citation needed]

### Other work

[edit]

In January 2009, Lopez appeared in We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial.[26]

In 2011, Lopez was hired by Carnival Cruises as the cruise line’s creative director for comedy. The cruiseline introduced the Punchliner Comedy Clubs Presented by George Lopez on their ships. Lopez was a consultant on the vetting and hiring of comedic talent for the line’s existing fleet-wide comedy clubs. [27] This relationship lasted 5 years ending in 2016. [28]

He is a two-time host of the Latin Grammy Awards, and a co-host of the Emmy Awards.[29]

## Personal life

[edit]

In 1993, Lopez married Ann Serrano; they welcomed their daughter Mayan in 1996. On September 27, 2010, Lopez announced that he and his wife had decided to end their marriage.[30] Serrano filed for divorce on November 23, 2010, citing irreconcilable differences.[31] The divorce was finalized on July 1, 2011.[32]

Lopez has a genetic condition that caused his kidneys to deteriorate. His doctors had told him in April 2004 that he was going to require an organ transplant but he postponed the operation until finishing the fourth season of George Lopez. In 2005, his wife Ann donated one of her kidneys to Lopez. The transplant was successful; Lopez lost 45 lb (20 kg) after the operation, partly because of the improvement in his health. He brought awareness to the issue on his show; his character's father Manny was diagnosed with a similar illness.

Lopez is a supporter of the Democratic Party and endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for President in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.[33]

Lopez is also a supporter of Israel.[34] In October 2023, he signed an open letter supporting Israel during the Gaza war.[35]

Lopez owns a house in Los Feliz, Los Angeles.[36]

Though he was raised Catholic,[37] he is not religious, though he does believe in God and "the biblical themes of 'faith and love'".[38][37]

### Charity work and honors

[edit]

Lopez speaking in 2019 at the California Hall of Fame when he was inducted.

Lopez was a featured celebrity golfer in the 2004 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and the 2004 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Lopez and his pro partner finished third in the Pebble Beach event. George was the top-ranking celebrity at completion of the tournament. Since 2006, Lopez has served as host of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. He is a member at Lakeside Country Club in Burbank, California, and has a 13 handicap.[citation needed]

A native of Los Angeles who grew up in the San Fernando Valley's Mission Hills, Lopez devotes much time to the community. He heads his own charity, The Ann & George Lopez Foundation (www.thelopezfoundation.org). He is a recipient of the Manny Mota Foundation Community Spirit Award and was named Honorary Mayor of Los Angeles for his extensive fund-raising efforts benefiting earthquake victims in El Salvador and Guatemala. In February 2004, Lopez was presented the 2004 Artist of the Year and Humanitarian Award by the Harvard Foundation at Harvard University, presented by its president and dean for his artistic work and charitable endeavors.[39]

Lopez has received several honors for his work and contributions to the Latino community. In September 2004, George was honored with the "Spirit of Liberty Award", presented by People for the American Way. In August 2005, Time magazine recognized George as one of "The 25 Most Influential Hispanics in America".[40] On October 18, 2011, Lopez's elementary school, San Fernando Elementary School, honored him for his beneficent efforts by naming their auditorium after him. Lopez has ensured through his annual toy giveaway that every child at the school receives a gift during the holidays.[41]

## Filmography

[edit]

### Film

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1990  | Ski Patrol | Eddie Martinez  |
1993  | Fatal Instinct | Murder Investigator  |
2001  | Bread and Roses | Perez  |
2002  | Real Women Have Curves | Mr. Guzman  |
2002  | Outta Time | Felix  |
2005  | The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D | Mr. Electricidad, Mr. Electric, Tobor, Ice Guardian  |
2006  | Balls of Fury | Ernie Rodriguez  |
Tortilla Heaven | Everardo  |
2008  | Swing Vote | John Sweeney  |
Henry Poole Is Here | Father Salizar  |
Beverly Hills Chihuahua | Papi  | Voice
2010  | The Spy Next Door | Glaze  |
Valentine's Day | Alfonso  |
Marmaduke | Carlos  | Voice
2011  | Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 | Papi  |
The Smurfs | Grouchy Smurf  | Voice
Rio | Rafael  | Voice
April Apocalypse | Dr. Lyle  |
2012  | Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva la Fiesta! | Papi  | Voice
2013  | Escape from Planet Earth | Thurman  | Voice
The Smurfs 2 | Grouchy Smurf  | Voice
2014  | Rio 2 | Rafael  | Voice
School Dance | Oscar  |
2015  | Spare Parts | Fredi Cameron  | Also producer
2016  | Meet the Blacks | President El. Bama  |
Car Dogs | Christian  |
Aloha Santa[42] |  | Filming
2017  | Gnome Alone |  | Voice
2018  | River Runs Red | Javier  |
2019  | El Chicano | Captain Gomez  |
2020  | The Tax Collector | Uncle Louis  |
Cats & Dogs 3: Paws Unite! | Pablo the Parrot  | Voice, direct-to-video
2021  | No Man's Land | Ramirez  |
Walking with Herb | Herb  |
2023  | Blue Beetle | Rudy Reyes  |
2024  | The Underdoggs | Coach Feis  |
2025  | The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants | TBA  |

### Television

[edit]

Year(s)  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

2002  | Fidel | Chucho Osorio  |
The Brothers García | Mr. Fender  | Episode: "The Student Buddy"
Curb Your Enthusiasm | Himself  |
2002–07  | George Lopez | George Lopez | 120 episodes
Won – Imagen Award for Best Actor – Television (2004)[citation needed]
Nominated – NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series (2004–07)
Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Breakout Star – Male
Young Artist Award for Most Popular Mom & Pop in a Television Series (shared with Constance Marie; 2004)
2004  | Naughty or Nice | Henry Ramiro  |
2006  | Freddie | George  | Episode: "Freddie Gets Cross Over"
2007  | America's Mexican | Himself  | HBO special
2007–08  | The Naked Brothers Band | Himself  | 5 episodes
2008
2022  | Reno 911! | Mayor of Reno | 4 episodes
2009  | Mr. Troop Mom | Eddie Serrano  | Nickelodeon film
Nominated – ALMA Award for Outstanding TV Comedy Actor
Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice Summer TV Star: Male
2009  | Tall, Dark, & Chicano | Himself  | HBO special
2009–11  | Lopez Tonight | Himself/host  | Nominated – People's Choice Award for Favorite Talk Show Host (2011)
2012  | Take Me Out | Himself/host  |
2012  | It's Not Me, It's You | Himself  | HBO special
2013  | Shake It Up | George Martinez  | Episode: "In The Bag It Up"
2014  | Saint George | George  | Series regular (10 episodes); also creator and executive producer
2015  | Real Rob | Himself  | Episode: "Cleaning House"
2016–17  | Lopez | Himself  | Series regular and executive-producer
24 episodes
2016  | America's Got Talent | Himself (guest judge)  | Episode: "Judge Cuts 2"
2017  | The Comedy Get Down | Himself  |
2018  | The Garbage Man Show | Beach Man  | Episode: "This is the End"
2019–21  | The Casagrandes | Ernesto Estrella  | Voice, 3 episodes
2020  | Harley Quinn | Himself  | Voice, episode: "There's No Place to Go But Down"
2020  | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Himself  | Guest host
2021  | The Neighborhood | Victor Alvarez  | Episode: "Welcome to the Challenge"
2021  | Victor and Valentino | José Guadalupe Posada | Voice, episode: "Finding Posada"
2022–25  | Lopez vs Lopez | George Lopez  | Also creator / executive producer,
2022  | The Loud House | Ernesto Estrella  | Voice, episode: "Great Lakes Freakout!"

## Accolades

[edit]

Association  | Year  | Nominated Work  | Category  | Results  | Ref

|
|
|
|
|

Grammy Awards | 2003  | Team Leader | Best Comedy Album | Nominated  | [43]
2007  | America's Mexican | Nominated
2009  | Tall, Dark & Chicano | Nominated
Walk of Fame | 2006  | Television  | 6801 Hollywood, Blvd. | Won  | [44]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Poniewozik, James (August 22, 2005). "25 Most Influential Hispanics in America". Time.
2. ^ "George Lopez". Encyclopedia Britannica. May 22, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
3. ^ Guzmán, Lila; Guzmán, Rick (2009). George Lopez : Latino king of comedy. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers. p. 13\. ISBN 978-0766029682.
4. ^ "'George Lopez' breaks barrier". Deseret News. March 22, 2002.
5. ^ "George Lopez Personal Life! All about George Lopez childhood and family!". Bestcomedyonline.net. Archived from the original on January 2, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
6. ^ "George Lopez Biography (1961–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
7. ^ "George Lopez and Ann Serrano Marriage Profile". Marriage.about.com. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
8. ^ "LA North: George Lopez offers to buy CIF rings for San Fernando baseball team". ESPN.com. June 11, 2011.
9. ^ Fernandez, Marie (May 15, 2007). "George Lopez lashes out at ABC". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 16, 2009.
10. ^ Fernandez, Marie (May 14, 2007). "TV just got a lot 'whiter,' says a canceled George Lopez". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 3, 2008.
11. ^ "Comedian George Lopez to Host".
12. ^ "'Reno 911!' creators remember the show 5 years later, talk reunion". Entertainment Weekly.
13. ^ Kate Ward, Entertainment Weekly
14. ^ Bill Carter (April 12, 2010). "How the Conan O'Brien-TBS Deal Happened". The New York Times. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
15. ^ Carter, Bill (August 10, 2011). "TBS Cancels "Lopez Tonight"". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
16. ^ "George Lopez Show Picked Up By FX, Titled 'Saint George'". Huffington Post. April 18, 2013. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
17. ^ Bibel, Sara (April 18, 2013). "FX Greenlights George Lopez Comedy 'Saint George'". TVBytheNumbers. Archived from the original on April 22, 2013. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
18. ^ Tabrys, Jason (April 19, 2013). "FX Gives George Lopez the 'Charlie Sheen' Deal for New Sitcom". ScreenRant. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
19. ^ Albiniak, Paige (June 25, 2014). "FX Won't Go Forward with 'Saint George'". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
20. ^ "TV Land Gives Series Order to Innovative New Comedy "Lopez" Starring Acclaimed Actor and Comedian George Lopez" (Press release). The Futon Critic. August 11, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
21. ^ ""Lopez" Premieres March 30th on TV Land" (Press release). The Futon Critic. February 8, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
22. ^ White, Peter (May 11, 2022). "'Lopez Vs. Lopez' Picked Up To Series At NBC". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
23. ^ Goodykoontz, Bill (May 2, 2019). "'The Chicano': Origin story for a Batman of the barrio doesn't really fly". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
24. ^ Gonzalez, Umberto (March 18, 2022). "'Blue Beetle' Cast Adds George Lopez, Adriana Barraza, Elpidia Carrillo and Damián Alcázar (Exclusive)". TheWrap. Archived from the original on March 18, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
25. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 4, 2022). "Snoop Dogg's MGM Comedy 'The Underdoggs' Sets Ensemble With Tika Sumpter, Mike Epps, Andrew Schulz & George Lopez". deadine.com. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
26. ^ Gallo, Phil (January 18, 2009). "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration". Variety. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
27. ^ "Carnival partners with comedian George Lopez". December 23, 2011.
28. ^ "Carnival Cruise Line and George Lopez Part Ways". May 22, 2016.
29. ^ "George Lopez". Comedy House. October 7, 2013. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
30. ^ "George Lopez and Wife End 17-Year Marriage". People. September 27, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
31. ^ "George Lopez' Wife Ann Lopez Filed For Divorce". TMZ. November 23, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
32. ^ "George Lopez – Divorce Final". TMZ. July 1, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
33. ^ "George Lopez on Facebook". Facebook.
34. ^ Lange, David (November 30, 2015). "WATCH: George Lopez: "I'm A Huge Supporter Of Israel"". Israellycool.
35. ^ "700 Notable Hollywood Figures Sign Open Letter in Support of Israel". The Hollywood Reporter. October 12, 2023.
36. ^ "George Lopez Reportedly Buys in LA's Los Feliz Neighborhood". AOL. February 13, 2014. Archived from the original on June 25, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
37. ^ a b "George Lopez Encourages People to Focus on Biblical Themes of 'Faith and Love' in Movies". April 28, 2021.
38. ^ "George 🇲🇽 Lopez on Instagram: "" he has risen " I'm not a religious person , growing up as a family we never went to church , but family was just me and my grandmother and grandfather.. He would pray in his room and never went to church , I would ask him " why aren't you going " cause I'm not as bad as you , you need to go so they see you ! #gacho #happyeaster #thechocolatebunny ( my religion is helping people and not carrying anger .. One day I'll start working on myself #Gacho. 👌🏽"".
39. ^ "Harvard Foundation names Lopez Artist of the Year". Harvard Gazette. February 26, 2004. Archived from the original on March 19, 2004. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
40. ^ "The 25 Most Influential Hispanics in America". Time. August 13, 2005. Archived from the original on September 7, 2005. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
41. ^ Strauss, Bob (October 19, 2011). "Comedian George Lopez gets Valley school's auditorium named after him". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on October 20, 2011. Retrieved October 27, 2011.
42. ^ Galuppo, Mia (October 6, 2015). "George Lopez to Star in 'Aloha Santa'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
43. ^ "George Lopez". GRAMMY.com. May 19, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
44. ^ "George Lopez". Hollywood Walk of Fame. October 25, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2020.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to George Lopez.

* Quotations related to George Lopez at Wikiquote
* Official website
* George Lopez at IMDb
* "Brown is the New Green: George Lopez and the American Dream". PBS. Archived from the original on November 10, 2007. – PBS

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*[m.]: married
*[div.]: divorced