Sal Lopez
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- November 8, 1954 (age 72)
- Birthplace
- Mexico
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 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).
Known For
Filmography
Kubrick's War: The Making of Full Metal Jacket
Movie · as Self - T.H.E. Rock, Full Metal Jacket
The Rip
Movie · as Mr. Zeltzin
You Know I Love You
Movie · as Abuelo
Roses on the Vine
Movie · as Mr. Rodriguez
Baby Blue
Movie · as Bud
Delfino's Journey
Movie · as Abuelo
Atropia
Movie · as Jerry Jiminez
F1
Movie · as Baja Old Timer
Seven Cemeteries
Movie · as Abuelo
Doctor Odyssey
TV · as Diego · 1 ep
Centurion: The Dancing Stallion
Movie · as Jorge Rodriquez
Moe
Movie
The Hyperions
Movie · as Delano
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Movie · as Yucatan Elder
The Old Ways
Movie · as Javi
Spiked
Movie · as Jose
Velvet Buzzsaw
Movie · as Roadside Vendor
El Chicano
Movie · as El Gallo
Culture Shock
Movie · as Coyote
Acuitzeramo
Movie · as Salvador
The Devil Has a Name
Movie · as Farmhand 1
Chalino
Movie · as Don Chente
Too Old to Die Young
TV · as Captain Cortez · 1 ep
Barry
TV · as Anita's Father · 1 ep
Monday Nights at Seven
Movie · as Jorge
Westworld
TV · as Cigarillo · 1 ep
Lopez
TV · as Joseph · 1 ep
Chance
TV · as Jean-Baptiste · 1 ep
Road to Juarez
Movie · as Manuel
Code Black
TV · as Drunk Man · 1 ep
An Evergreen Christmas
Movie · as Jose
Go for Sisters
Movie · as Morales
The Bridge
TV · as Marine Leader · 2 eps
Last Man Standing
TV · as J.J. · 2 eps
Addicto de Salsa
Movie
Castle
TV · as Priest · 1 ep
Beverly Hills Chihuahua
Movie · as Ring Announcer
American Son
Movie · as Cristina's Father
The Astronaut Farmer
Movie · as Pepe Garcia
Life
TV · as Loomis · 1 ep
Lost in Plainview
Movie · as Roberto
ESL: English as a Second Language
Movie · as Pepe
Sueno
Movie · as Barber #1
El padrino: The Latin Godfather
Movie · as Loco
Silver City
Movie · as Tony Guerra
Paparazzi
Movie · as Mexican Man
Entourage
TV · as Billy's Film Editor · 1 ep
Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman
Movie · as Additional Voices (voice)
Nip/Tuck
TV · as Julio Esperanza · 1 ep
The Lyon's Den
TV · 1 ep
The Handler
TV · 1 ep
Tremors
TV · as Garcia · 1 ep
The Banger Sisters
Movie · as Pump Attendant
Hunter: Return to Justice
Movie · as Chuck "Jumpy" Lopez
Hammerlock
Movie · as Ward Clemson
The Shield
TV · as Gary Barba · 1 ep
CSI: Miami
TV · as Julio · 1 ep
Missing Pieces
Movie · as Castillo
Luminarias
Movie
Price of Glory
Movie · as Hector Salmon
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
TV · as Enrique Vasquez · 1 ep
Flypaper
Movie · as Leon
Snoops
TV · as Dwarf Thief · 1 ep
The Magnificent Seven
TV · as Luis · 1 ep
Selena
Movie · as Juan Luis
The End of Violence
Movie · as Tito
Nightman
Movie · as Mr. Alvarez
Out to Sea
Movie · as Mexican Dancer
King of the Hill
TV · as Employee / First Mate / Waiter #2 (voice) · 1 ep
The New Batman Adventures
TV · as Enrique El Gancho / Ricky the Hook (voice) · 1 ep
After the SIlence
Movie · as John Sanchez
Dangerous Minds
TV · 1 ep
Journey
Movie · as Boone
...And the Earth Did Not Swallow Him
Movie · as El Mohado
Blue Tiger
Movie · as Luis
There Goes My Baby
Movie · as Chicano
Touched by an Angel
TV · as Alex · 1 ep
ER
TV · as Hispanic Man · 1 ep
Return of the Living Dead III
Movie · as Felipe
River of Rage: The Taking of Maggie Keene
Movie · as Paco
Mr. Jones
Movie · as Henry
American Me
Movie · as Pedro Santana
From the Files of Joseph Wambaugh: A Jury of One
Movie · as Alfredo Ramirez
Cold Heaven
Movie · as Young Doctor
Melrose Place
TV · 2 eps
Lookwell
Movie · as Manny
Down the Drain
Movie · as Chico
Cartel
Movie · as Steve Rodriguez / Bill Matthews
El Diablo
Movie · as Sentry
Shades of L.A.
TV · 1 ep
Pucker Up and Bark Like a Dog
Movie · as Carlos
Full Metal Jacket
Movie · as T.H.E. Rock
Born in East L.A.
Movie · as What's Happening Boy
Million Dollar Mystery
Movie · as Hijacker
Corridos! Tales of Passion and Revolution
Movie · as Juan, el Diablo
Dolly
TV · 22 eps
Wiseguy
TV · 1 ep
Matlock
TV · as Bartender · 2 eps
Get Out of My Room
Movie · as Illegal Alien (segment 'Born In East L.A.')
The Glitter Dome
Movie · as Chuey Verdugio
Hunter
TV · as Tony Melendez · 1 ep
T. J. Hooker
TV · as Luis Molina · 1 ep
Zoot Suit
Movie · as Hobo
Hill Street Blues
TV · 1 ep
Midnight Madness
Movie · as Blade - Blue Team
240-Robert
TV · as Tommy · 1 ep
Diff'rent Strokes
TV · 2 eps
CHiPs
TV · 1 ep
Hallmark Hall of Fame
TV · as Boone, Castillo · 1 ep