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George Lopez

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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).

George Lopez
Lopez in 2019
Birth nameGeorge Edward Lopez
Born (1961-04-23) April 23, 1961 (age 63)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Medium
Years active1983–present
Genres
Subject(s)
Spouse
Ann Serrano
​
​
(m. 1993; div. 2011)​
Children1
Websitegeorgelopez.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

George Edward Lopez was born on April 23, 1961, in Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California,[2] the son of 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

Television

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

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

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

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

In 1993, Lopez married Ann Serrano. The couple has a daughter, Mayan, born 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 due in part to 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 a supporter of Israel.[34] In October 2023, he signed an open letter supporting Israel during the Israel–Hamas 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

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

Film

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
2009 Shannon's Rainbow Captain Martin
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

Television

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 Lopez vs Lopez George Lopez Also creator / executive producer,
2022 The Loud House Ernesto Estrella Voice, episode: "Great Lakes Freakout!"

Accolades

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

  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.
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