George Lopez Biography

George was born:

… in Mission Hills, Calif., on April 23, 1961. He was raised by his mother until he was 10 years old. From then, his maternal grandmother and step-grandfather, a factory work and construction worker, respectively, raised him as their own.

George’s Early Career:

Lopez launched his comedy career in the 1980s and by the end of that decade found success as a stand-up comedian. In the early 1990s, he co-starred in a few low-budget movies, including Ski Patrol and Fatal Instinct.

But the big leap for Lopez came in the form of a television sit-com, when he starred in ABC TV’s George Lopez. The sit-com, about a Latino family in Los Angeles, ran for five seasons and can be found in reruns on ABC Family.

Battling Kidney Disease:

Near the end of George Lopez’s fourth season, Lopez learned that he had a serious disease, a genetic disorder that caused deterioration of the kidneys. To solve the problem, he would need a kidney transplant. Rather than undergo surgery soon after diagnosis, Lopez waited until the end of his show’s production season, so as not to affect the lives of the 170 people who worked on the show.

Ann Serrano, his wife, donated her kidney, the transplant was successful, and Lopez found a new, healthy lease on life.

Becoming a Talk Show Host:

Lopez announced his intention to become a talk show host in March 2009. He has said the show, Lopez Tonight on TBS, will quash a lot of late night conventions. No desk, no cue cards and no monologue. Lopez may introduce guests in an order unexpected by audiences, including opening with a guest rather than a monologue, comedy bit, then the first guest.

Overall, the Lopez hopes to create a spontaneous atmosphere on his show.

He's received some heat for a promotional commercial with President Barack Obama - or rather the president has received criticism - though the commercial was filmed prior to Obama's election win.

And Just for Fun:

• Lopez is an avid golfer, taking part in many celebrity charity events.
• Is heavily involved in his community and founded his own charity: The George & Ann Lopez-Richie Alarcon CARE Foundation
• Once named honorary Mayor of Los Angeles for his community work
• Won the 2004 Artist of the Year and Humanitarian Award from Harvard University
• Honored with the Spirit of Liberty Award from the People for the American Way
• Named one of 2005’s 25 Most Influential Hispanics in America by Time magazine
• Was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006
• Has made more than 200 television comedy, talk show and hosting appearances
• Receipient of the National Hispanic Media Coalition Impact Award
• National spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation
• Received the Manny Mota Foundation award