George Lopez

Mexican-American actor, stand-up comedian and former disc jockey on MEGA 92.3 in Los Angeles, best known for his TV sitcom “The George Lopez Show”(118 episodes 2002-2007). Only the fourth Latino ever to head an American TV sitcom, the first three were Desi Arnaz, Freddie Prinze and Paul Rodriguez. George’s comedy consists of family-based humor satirizing Mexican-American life and culture in the United States. In October 2003, he was one of the few comedians able to sell-out the historic Los Angeles Universal Amphitheater for three straight nights. Playing the “Low Rider” song (by the band War) before each performance has become his trademark.

George has appeared on at least 15 talk shows since 2003 including “Jimmy Kimmel Live”, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and “Last Call with Carson Daly” as well as numerous award shows. His first stand-up routine was in 1979 at his high school graduation ceremony. The experience was so terrifying that he didn’t do another stand-up show until four years later. From 1981-1983 George was an airplane parts factory manager. George was able to go full-time with his stand-up career in the mid-‘80s. His biggest break, however, came in 2001 from actress Sandra Bullock who has her own production company. She sent out a scout to check comedy clubs for Latino talent because there were no Hispanic sitcom shows on TV at the time. She saw and loved his comedy performances and by March 2002 the first George Lopez Show episode was being taped. The show was so successful that by March 2006 George had a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His 2003 live comedy album “Team Leader” was nominated for a Best Comedy Album Grammy in 2004.

George seems to have a talent for turning lemons into lemonade, considering the sad childhood he had to endure. In his autobiography “Why You Crying?: My long, hard look at Life, Love and Laughter”(published May 2004), Lopez recounts his childhood ordeals.