Bio
George Lopez is a Mexican-American comedian, actor and producer, best known for creating, writing, producing and starring in the eponymous television sitcom George Lopez, from 2002-2007.
Lopez was a cast member and commentator for HBO's hit sports show, Inside the NFL, for the 2003-2004 football season. He is a two-time host of the Latin Grammy Awards and a co-host of the Emmy Awards.
He starred in the Wonderful World of Disney Christmas movie, Naughty or Nice, which aired in December 2004. He also stars in the Robert Rodriguez Miramax/Dimension feature film, The Adventures of Shark Boy & Lava Girl, which opened in June 2005.
Other films he has appeared in include Fist of Fear, Touch of Death (1980, his screen debut), Fatal Instinct (1993), Real Women Have Curves (2002), Outta Time (2002), Ali G Indahouse (2002), Tortilla Heaven (2007), Balls of Fury (2007) and The Richest Man in the World (2007).
Maintaining an extremely active schedule as a standup comedian, Lopez is a sell-out attraction coast to coast and has headlined concerts at many prestigious venues, including Las Vegas Hilton, Foxwoods Casino, ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Town Hall in New York, the Shoreline Amphitheater in San Francisco, Next Stage in Dallas, SBC Center in San Antonio, Save Mart Center in Fresno, CA, Dodge Theater in Phoenix and San Jose Sate University Events Center in San Jose, CA.
He has also performed for the President at historic Ford Theatre in Washington, DC. In December 2004, Lopez set an attendance record at Universal Amphitheater with seven consecutive sold-out performances and over 42,000 in total attendance.
His live comedy concert, Why You Crying?, debuted on Showtime on Memorial Day 2004.
Lopez has earned kudos for his performance in the HBO Films drama Real Women Have Curves, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to tremendous reviews - receiving the 2002 Audience Award.
Previously he was featured in the acclaimed drama Bread and Roses. The film, directed by British filmmaker Ken Loach and released by Lion's Gate, received critical acclaim after its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
In 2001 Lopez hosted a major morning radio for Clear Channel Communications in Los Angeles. He was the first Latino to have headlined the keystone morning radio slot on an English-language station in LA - the nation's top radio market.
Among his many industry awards and honours, Lopez received the 2003 Imagen Vision Award, the 2003 Latino Spirit Award for Excellence in Television and the National Hispanic Media Coalition Impact Award.
He was a featured celebrity golfer in The 2004 Chrysler Bob Hope Classic and the 2004 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He and his pro partner finished third in the Pebble Beach event. He was the top ranking celebrity at completion of the golf tournament.
A native of Los Angeles who grew up in San Fernando Valley's Mission Hills, Lopez devotes much time to the community. His own charity, The George & Ann Lopez-Richie Alarcon CARE Foundation, provides significant community and arts resources for education.
He received the Manny Mota Foundation Community Spirit Award and was named Honorary Mayor of Los Angeles for his extensive fundraising efforts benefiting earthquake victims in El Salvador and Guatemala.
In February 2004, he was presented the 2004 Artist of the Year and Humanitarian Award by Harvard University. The award was presented by the president and dean of Harvard University in a day-long celebration with the student body, and honoured Lopez's artistic work and charitable endeavours.
In September 2004, he was honoured with the "Spirit of Liberty Award" presented by People for the American Way.
Lopez has been married to producer Ana Serrano since 18 September 1993, She famously donated one of her kidneys to her husband in a successful transplant surgery on 25 April 2005. An episode of The George Lopez Show was based on this.