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George Lopez | |
|---|---|
 Lopez in 2010 | |
| Born | George Edward Lopez (1961-04-23)April 23, 1961 (age 64) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Comedy career | |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Medium | |
| Genres | |
| Subjects | |
| Website | www |
George Edward Lopez (born April 23, 1961) is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He is most known for starring in his self-producedABC sitcomGeorge Lopez. His stand-up comedy examines race and ethnic relations, includingMexican 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 "25 Most Influential Hispanics in America" byTime magazine in 2005.[1]
Lopez was born on April 23, 1961 in theMission Hills area ofEast Los Angeles,[2] to Frieda and Anatasio Lopez, a Mexican migrant worker.[3] He grew up in an impoverished, unstable,MexicanCatholic household.[4][5] He was abandoned by his father when he was two months old and by his mother when he was 10 years old.[6] His mother wasilliterate, unable to write her own name.[7] She suffered fromepilepsy since her childhood.[8] She was a deeply troubled woman who attemptedsuicide and was sent to a mental hospital when Lopez was a child.[7] He described his mother as "a scammer" and "a party girl [with] no parental instincts."[9] He has two half-sisters from his mother's relationship with a man 40 years her senior.[10] He was raised by his maternal grandmother Benita Gutierrez, a factory worker who was also abandoned by her mother, and step-grandfather Refugio Gutierrez, a day laborer andalcoholic whophysically abused Lopez and his grandmother.[11][12][13] His grandmother was cold, cruel, and unsympathetic towards Lopez.[14] Lopez attendedSan Fernando High School, graduating in 1979.[15]
In 2000, after several years of performing stand-up comedy, Lopez was approached by actressSandra Bullock for Lopez to produce and star in a comedy. Bullock was concerned about the lack ofHispanic-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 ofDesi Arnaz,Freddie Prinze, andJohn 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 thatGeorge Lopez would join theNick 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 enteredsyndication in the fall of 2007. Never a bigNielsen 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 ofABC Entertainment Steve McPherson for using racially motivated reasons for his decision. The actor told theLos Angeles Times that "TV just became really, really white again", and lashed out against ABC by saying, "So achicano can't be on TV, but a caveman can?" in reference to the short-lived sitcomCavemen, which was replacingGeorge 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.[16][17]
Lopez was a cast member and commentator forHBO's hit sports showInside the NFL for the 2003–04 football season.[18]
Lopez guest-starred as the mayor ofReno, Nevada, in season five ofReno 911! in 2008.[19]
On March 28, 2009, it was announced that Lopez would be hosting his own late-night talk show onTBS.[20] Lopez hosted a late-night talk show entitledLopez Tonight on TBS Monday through Thursday at midnightEastern Time. The show debuted in November 2009. In November 2010, the show moved back to midnight ET to accommodate a new show with formerTonight Show hostConan 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 the2010Tonight Show conflict that saw O'Brien depart NBC after a proposal to pushTonight back 30 minutes forJay Leno to return to the 11:35 p.m. slot.[21] On August 10, 2011, Lopez received a cancellation notice from TBS. The network decided not to renewLopez Tonight for a third season.[22]
On April 18, 2013, it was announced that Lopez would be starring in his own sitcom onFX calledSaint George, which premiered on March 6, 2014.[23][24][25]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.[26]
In August 2015,TV Land announced a straight-to-series order forLopez, a semi-autobiographical single-camera sitcom,[27] which debuted on March 30, 2016.[28]
Lopez was invited to be a guest judge onAmerica'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.[29]
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Lopez's HBO Films dramaReal Women Have Curves premiered at theSundance Film Festival, where it received the 2002 Audience Award. Previously, Lopez was featured in the 2000 dramaBread and Roses. He starred in the ABCWonderful World of Disney Christmas filmNaughty or Nice, and he appeared in theRobert Rodriguez-directed filmThe 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 byPhillip Rodriguez.[citation needed]
In 2008, Lopez voiced Papi Cortez (a Chihuahua) inDisney'sBeverly Hills Chihuahua. In 2010, Lopez appeared inThe Spy Next Door withJackie Chan, starring as a villain named Glaze.[citation needed] The following year Lopez reprised his role as Papi forBeverly Hills Chihuahua 2, and was the voice of atoco toucan, Rafael, in the animated box-office hitRio, alongsideJesse Eisenberg,Anne Hathaway,will.i.am, andJamie Foxx. In 2019, he played the role of Captain Gomez in the independent filmEl Chicano.[30]
In 2023, Lopez starred as Rudy Reyes, uncle ofJaime Reyes / Blue Beetle, in theDC Extended Universe superhero filmBlue Beetle.[31] He will next star inThe Underdoggs, scheduled for release in 2024.[32]
Lopez's autobiographyWhy You Crying was published by the Touchstone/Fireside division ofSimon & Schuster, and placed inThe New York Times bestsellers top twenty.[citation needed] The book is co-written byArmen Keteyian.[citation needed]
In January 2009, Lopez appeared inWe Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial.[33]
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.[34] This relationship lasted 5 years ending in 2016.[35]
He is a two-time host of theLatin Grammy Awards, and a co-host of theEmmy Awards.[36]
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.[37] Serrano filed fordivorce on November 23, 2010, citing irreconcilable differences.[38] The divorce was finalized on July 1, 2011.[39]
Lopez has a genetic condition that caused hiskidneys 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 ofGeorge Lopez. In 2005, his wife Ann donated one of herkidneys 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 theDemocratic Party and endorsed SenatorBernie Sanders forPresident in the2016 U.S. presidential election.[40]
Lopez is also a supporter ofIsrael.[41] In October 2023, he signed an open letter supporting Israel during theGaza war.[42]
Lopez resides inLos Feliz, Los Angeles.[43]
Though he was raised Catholic,[5] he isnot religious, saying: "My religion is helping people and not carrying anger."[44]
Lopez was a featured celebrity golfer in the 2004Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and the 2004AT&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 theBob Hope Chrysler Classic. He is a member at Lakeside Country Club inBurbank, California, and has a 13 handicap.[citation needed]
A native of Los Angeles who grew up in theSan 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 theManny MotaFoundation Community Spirit Award and was named Honorary Mayor of Los Angeles for his extensive fund-raising efforts benefiting earthquake victims inEl Salvador andGuatemala. In February 2004, Lopez was presented the 2004 Artist of the Year and Humanitarian Award by the Harvard Foundation atHarvard University, presented by its president and dean for his artistic work and charitable endeavors.[45]
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 byPeople for the American Way. In August 2005,Time magazine recognized George as one of "The 25 Most Influential Hispanics in America".[46] 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.[47]
| 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[48] | 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 | (voice) | In production[49] |
| 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 withConstance 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 ofReno | 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!" |
| Association | Year | Nominated work | Category | Results | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grammy Awards | 2003 | Team Leader | Best Comedy Album | Nominated | [50] |
| 2007 | America's Mexican | Nominated | |||
| 2009 | Tall, Dark & Chicano | Nominated | |||
| Walk of Fame | 2006 | Television | 6801 Hollywood, Blvd. | Won | [51] |
[He grew] up poor in a Mexican American household that was far from perfect.
Lopez, George (2004).Why You Crying?.
Quotations related toGeorge Lopez at Wikiquote
