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Sal Lopez
Acting
Biography
Sal Lopez (also Sal López) is a Mexican-American actor and producer, born on November 8, 1954, in Mexico. He grew up in a bilingual home in South Central Los Angeles, the second of eight boys born to immigrant parents. He is a founding member of The Latino Theater Company, where he has co-created theater for over 38 years, and a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He is married to Urbanie Lucero and has two children, residing in Silver Lake, Los Angeles.
Lopez started his career after landing a key role in the hit play Zoot Suit (1982), which led to an open call by Stanley Kubrick for Full Metal Jacket (1987), in which he played T.H.E. Rock. Other notable film credi…
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Sal Lopez (also Sal López) is a Mexican-American actor and producer, born on November 8, 1954, in Mexico. He grew up in a bilingual home in South Central Los Angeles, the second of eight boys born to immigrant parents. He is a founding member of The Latino Theater Company, where he has co-created theater for over 38 years, and a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He is married to Urbanie Lucero and has two children, residing in Silver Lake, Los Angeles. Lopez started his career after landing a key role in the hit play Zoot Suit (1982), which led to an open call by Stanley Kubrick for Full Metal Jacket (1987), in which he played T.H.E. Rock. Other notable film credits include American Me (1992, as Edward James Olmos's father), Selena (1997), Silver City (2004, directed by John Sayles), The Astronaut Farmer (2007, with Billy Bob Thornton), Logan (2017), Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), and F1 (2025). His television credits span Nip/Tuck, CSI, ER, NYPD Blue, Melrose Place, The Shield, Westworld, and Queen of the South. On stage, Lopez has performed in numerous productions with The Latino Theater Company, including one-man shows like This Is A Man's World, Premeditation, and August 29th, and the lead in La Virgen Dios Inantzin, performed annually at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. He has received an ALMA Award for Outstanding Individual Performance and a DramaLogue Award, and produced and starred in the independent film Luminarias (1999).
Biography expanded
BODY OF WORK
Sal Lopez's Filmography
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You Know I Love You
as Abuelo
The Rip
as Mr. Zeltzin
Atropia
as Jerry Jiminez
Roses on the Vine
as Mr. Rodriguez
F1
as Baja Old Timer
Delfino's Journey
as Abuelo
Baby Blue
as Bud
Seven Cemeteries
as Abuelo
Moe
Centurion: The Dancing Stallion
as Jorge Rodriquez
The Hyperions
as Delano
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
as Yucatan Elder
The Old Ways
as Javi
Spiked
as Jose
The Devil Has a Name
as Farmhand 1
Chalino
as Don Chente
Culture Shock
as Coyote
El Chicano
as El Gallo
Acuitzeramo
as Salvador
Velvet Buzzsaw
as Roadside Vendor
Monday Nights at Seven
as Jorge
Road to Juarez
as Manuel
An Evergreen Christmas
as Jose
Go for Sisters
as Morales
No Poster
Addicto de Salsa
Beverly Hills Chihuahua
as Ring Announcer
American Son
as Cristina's Father
The Astronaut Farmer
as Pepe Garcia
Lost in Plainview
as Roberto
ESL: English as a Second Language
as Pepe
El padrino: The Latin Godfather
as Loco
Silver City
as Tony Guerra
Paparazzi
as Mexican Man
Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman
as Additional Voices (voice)
The Banger Sisters
as Pump Attendant
Hunter: Return to Justice
as Chuck "Jumpy" Lopez
Hammerlock
as Ward Clemson
Missing Pieces
as Castillo
Price of Glory
as Hector Salmon
Luminarias
Flypaper
as Leon
Nightman
as Mr. Alvarez
The End of Violence
as Tito
Out to Sea
as Mexican Dancer
Selena
as Juan Luis
After the SIlence
as John Sanchez
Journey
as Boone
...And the Earth Did Not Swallow Him
as El Mohado
There Goes My Baby
as Chicano
Blue Tiger
as Luis
Mr. Jones
as Henry
River of Rage: The Taking of Maggie Keene
as Paco
Return of the Living Dead III
as Felipe
From the Files of Joseph Wambaugh: A Jury of One
as Alfredo Ramirez
Cold Heaven
as Young Doctor
American Me
as Pedro Santana
Lookwell
as Manny
El Diablo
as Sentry
Cartel
as Steve Rodriguez / Bill Matthews
Down the Drain
as Chico
Pucker Up and Bark Like a Dog
as Carlos
Corridos! Tales of Passion and Revolution
as Juan, el Diablo
Born in East L.A.
as What's Happening Boy
Full Metal Jacket
as T.H.E. Rock
Million Dollar Mystery
as Hijacker
Get Out of My Room
as Illegal Alien (segment 'Born In East L.A.')
The Glitter Dome
as Chuey Verdugio
Zoot Suit
as Hobo
Midnight Madness
as Blade - Blue Team
Kubrick's War: The Making of Full Metal Jacket
as Self - T.H.E. Rock, Full Metal Jacket