Devsig Podcast

George Lopez: Comedian, Actor, and Activist


Listen Later

George Lopez is an American stand-up comedian and actor born on April 23, 1961.Early Life:
  • Lopez was born in Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California.
  • His parents were Frieda and Anatasio Lopez, who was a migrant worker.
  • He is of Mexican descent.
  • Lopez's father deserted him when he was two months old, and his mother left when he was 10.
  • He was raised by his maternal grandmother, Benita Gutierrez, and step-grandfather, Refugio Gutierrez.
  • Lopez graduated from San Fernando High School in 1979.
Career:
  • Lopez is known for his observational, black, insult, physical, racial humour and satire.
  • His comedy often explores Latin American culture, American politics, race relations, racism, family, everyday life, pop culture, and current events.
  • He began his career in stand-up comedy before transitioning to television and film.
  • In 2002, he starred in the ABC sitcom George Lopez, which he also co-created, wrote, and produced.
  • The show was picked up by ABC after actress Sandra Bullock pushed for a sitcom starring Hispanics.
  • Lopez has also starred in the TV series Lopez Tonight, and Lopez.
  • He also had a role on HBO's Inside the NFL.
  • He was the host of Lopez Tonight on TBS.
  • Lopez's more recent TV work includes Saint George, Lopez, and Lopez vs Lopez.
  • Lopez's film appearances include Real Women Have Curves, The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, and Blue Beetle.
  • He has also voiced characters in animated films such as Rio and The Smurfs.
  • Lopez was a guest judge on America's Got Talent in 2016.
  • Lopez has written an autobiography called Why You Crying, which was a New York Times bestseller.
Other Work
  • In 2009, Lopez appeared in We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial.
  • Lopez was hired by Carnival Cruises as the creative director for comedy for 5 years.
Personal Life:
  • Lopez married Ann Serrano in 1993, and they have a daughter named Mayan.
  • They divorced in 2011.
  • Lopez had a kidney transplant in 2005, with his wife donating a kidney.
  • He is a supporter of the Democratic Party and endorsed Bernie Sanders for President in 2016.
  • Lopez is a supporter of Israel and signed an open letter in support of Israel during the Israel-Hamas war.
  • He was raised Catholic but is not religious, though he believes in God and "the biblical themes of 'faith and love'".
Charity Work and Honors:
  • Lopez heads The Ann & George Lopez Foundation.
  • He has received several honors for his work and contributions to the Latino community, including the Imagen Vision Award, the Latino Spirit Award for Excellence in Television, and the National Hispanic Media Coalition Impact Award.
  • He was named one of "The Top 25 Hispanics in America" by Time magazine in 2005.
  • Lopez was also honoured by his elementary school, San Fernando Elementary School, which named its auditorium after him.
  • He was inducted into the California Hall of Fame.
Accolades:
  • Lopez has been nominated for several Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Album.
  • He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006.
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Devsig PodcastBy Bholendra Singh