Sal Lopez
Actor, Producer
November 8, 1954 (71 years)
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).
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).
FreeMovies & Shows on Plex
Known For
Filmography
| 2026 | Sabes Que Te Quiero · as Abuelo |
| 2026 | The Rip · as Mr. Zeltzin |
| 2025 | Atropia · as Jerry Jiminez |
| 2025 | Roses on the Vine · as Mr. RodriguezOn Plex |
| 2025 | F1: The Movie · as Baja Old Timer |
| 2024 | Seven Cemeteries · as AbueloOn Plex |
| 2024 | Doctor Odyssey · as Diego |
| 2023 | Baby Blue · as Bud |
| 2023 | Centurion: The Dancing Stallion · as Jorge Rodriquez |
| 2022 | Black Panther: Wakanda Forever · as Yucatan Elder |
| 2022 | The Hyperions · as DelanoOn Plex |
| 2022 | Waltz of the Angels · as Gabby's Father |
| 2021 | Green Ghost and the Masters of the Stone · as Archaeologist |
| 2021 | Spiked · as Jose |
| 2020 | The Old Ways · as Javi |
| 2019 | The Devil Has a Name · as Farmhand 1 |
| 2019 | Culture Shock · as Coyote |
| 2019 | Too Old to Die Young · as Captain Cortez |
| 2019 | Velvet Buzzsaw · as Roadside Vendor |
| 2018 | El Chicano · as El Gallo |
| 2018 | Into the Dark · as Coyote |
| 2018 | Barry · as Anita's Father |
| 2016 | Chance · as Jean-Baptiste |
| 2016 | Monday Nights at Seven · as Jorge |
| 2016 | Westworld · as Cigarillo |
| 2016 | Queen of the South · as Tire Repair Shop Attendant |
| 2016 | Lopez · as Joseph |
| 2015 | Agent X · as Santero |
| 2015 | Code Black · as Drunk Man |
| 2014 | An Evergreen Christmas · as JoseOn Plex |
| 2014 | Cry Now · as Lobo |
| 2013 | Go for Sisters · as Morales |
| 2013 | The Bridge (2013) · as Marine Leader |
| 2013 | Road to Juarez · as ManuelOn Plex |
| 2012 | Major Crimes · as Arturo Pasillas |
| 2011 | Last Man Standing (2011) · as J.j. |
| 2011 | Off the Map · as Hugo |
| 2009 | Castle (2009) · as Priest |
| 2008 | Beverly Hills Chihuahua · as Ring Announcer |
| 2008 | American Son · as Cristina's Father |
| 2008 | Comanche Moon · as Ahumado |
| 2008 | The Onion Movie · as PeruvianOn Plex |
| 2007 | Life (2007) · as Loomis |
| 2007 | American Heiress · as General Martinez |
| 2006 | The Astronaut Farmer · as Pepe Garcia |
| 2005 | English as a Second Language · as Pepe |
| 2005 | Sueño · as Barber #1 |
| 2005 | Lost in Plainview · as Roberto |
| 2004 | El padrino · as Loco |
| 2004 | Silver City · as Tony GuerraOn Plex |
| 2004 | Paparazzi · as Mexican Man |
| 2004 | Entourage · as Billy's Film Editor |
| 2003 | Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman · as Additional Voices (voice) |
| 2003 | |
| 2003 | |
| 2003 | Nip/Tuck · as Julio EsperanzaOn Plex |
| 2003 | Tremors · as Garcia |
| 2002 | Hunter: Return to Justice · as Chuck "jumpy" Lopez |
| 2002 | CSI: Miami · as Julio |
| 2002 | The Banger Sisters · as Pump Attendant |
| 2002 | The Shield · as Gary Barba |
| 2002 | Role of a Lifetime · as Raul |
| 2002 | American Family · as Beto |
| 2001 | Gabriela · as Jaime (head Cop) |
| 2000 | Hammerlock · as Ward Clemson |
| 2000 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation · as Enrique Vasquez |
| 2000 | Resurrection Blvd. · as Cast |
| 2000 | Price of Glory · as Hector Salmon |
| 2000 | Missing Pieces · as CastilloOn Plex |
| 1999 | Snoops (1999) · as Dwarf Thief |
| 1999 | Flypaper · as Leon |
| 1999 | |
| 1998 | The Magnificent Seven · as LuisOn Plex |
| 1997 | NightMan · as Mr. Alvarez |
| 1997 | NightMan · as Mr. AlvarezOn Plex |
| 1997 | The New Batman Adventures · as Enrique El Gancho / Ricky The Hook (voice) |
| 1997 | The End of Violence · as Tito |
| 1997 | Out to Sea · as Mexican Dancer |
| 1997 | Port Charles · as Emilio Garza |
| 1997 | Sleeping with the Devil · as Randy |
| 1997 | Selena · as Juan Luis |
| 1997 | King of the Hill · as Employee / First Mate / Waiter #2 (voice) |
| 1996 | Breaking Through · as John Sanchez |
| 1996 | |
| 1996 | Promised Land · as Pablo |
| 1996 | The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits... · as Joselito |
| 1995 | Journey · as BooneOn Plex |
| 1994 | Touched by an Angel · as Alex |
| 1994 | ER · as Hispanic Man |
| 1994 | There Goes My Baby · as Chicano |
| 1994 | Blue Tiger · as Luis |
| 1994 | ...and the Earth Did Not Swallow Him · as El Mohado |
| 1993 | Mr. Jones · as Henry |
| 1993 | |
| 1993 | Return of the Living Dead III · as FelipeOn Plex |
| 1993 | NYPD Blue · as Mauricio |
| 1993 | The Fire Next Time · as Valdez |
| 1992 | From the Files of Joseph Wambaugh: A Jury of One · as Alfredo Ramirez |
| 1992 | |
| 1992 | American Me · as Pedro Santana |
| 1991 | Cold Heaven · as Young Doctor |
| 1991 | Reasonable Doubts · as Alvarez |
| 1991 | Lookwell · as Manny |
| 1990 | |
| 1990 | El Diablo · as Sentry |
| 1990 | Cartel · as Steve Rodriguez / Bill Matthews |
| 1990 | Down the Drain · as Chico |
| 1989 | Pucker Up and Bark Like a Dog · as Carlos |
| 1987 | |
| 1987 | WiseguyOn Plex |
| 1987 | Born in East L.A. · as What's Happening Boy |
| 1987 | Full Metal Jacket · as T.h.e. Rock |
| 1987 | Million Dollar Mystery · as Hijacker |
| 1986 | Matlock · as Bartender |
| 1985 | Get Out of My Room · as Illegal Alien (segment 'born In East L.a.') |
| 1984 | The Glitter Dome · as Chuey Verdugio |
| 1984 | Hunter · as Tony MelendezOn Plex |
| 1982 | T.J. Hooker · as Luis Molina |
| 1981 | Zoot Suit · as Hobo |
| 1981 | |
| 1981 | Dynasty · as Middle East Soldier |
| 1980 | Midnight Madness · as Blade - Blue Team |
| 1979 | Benson · as Spider |
| 1979 | 240-Robert · as Tommy |
| 1978 | CBS Afternoon Playhouse · as Cesar Martinez |
| 1978 | |
| 1977 | |
| 1973 | The Young and the Restless · as Pilot |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall of Fame · as Boone |
| 1999 |