Sal Lopez
Known for: Acting
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).
Filmography
Series
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Enrique Vasquez
2000
Series
CSI: Miami
Julio
2002
Series
Castle
Priest
2009
Series
King of the Hill
Employee / First Mate / Waiter #2 (voice)
1997
Series
King of the Hill
(voice)
1997
Series
ER
Hispanic Man
1994
Series
Westworld
Cigarillo
2016
Series
Melrose Place
1992
Series
Entourage
Billy's Film Editor
2004
Series
Nip/Tuck
Julio Esperanza
2003
Series
The Shield
Gary Barba
2002
Series
Hill Street Blues
1981
Series
Last Man Standing
J.J.
2011
Series
Touched by an Angel
Alex
1994
Series
Matlock
Bartender
1986
Series
T. J. Hooker
Luis Molina
1982
Series
Hunter
Tony Melendez
1984
Film
F1
Baja Old Timer
2025
Series
Barry
Anita's Father
2018
Series
Wiseguy
1987
Series
Life
Loomis
2007
Film
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Yucatan Elder
2022
Series
The New Batman Adventures
Enrique El Gancho / Ricky the Hook (voice)
1997
Series
Code Black
Drunk Man
2015
Series
Doctor Odyssey
Diego
2024
Series
The Bridge
Marine Leader
2013
Film
The Rip
Mr. Zeltzin
2026
Film
Full Metal Jacket
T.H.E. Rock
1987
Series
CHiPs
1977
Series
The Magnificent Seven
Luis
1998
Series
Tremors
Garcia
2003
Series
Too Old to Die Young
Captain Cortez
2019
Series
The Lyon's Den
2003
Series
Chance
Jean-Baptiste
2016
Series
The Handler
2003
Series
Dangerous Minds
1996
Series
240-Robert
Tommy
1979
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Boone
1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Castillo
1951
Series
Shades of L.A.
1990
Series
Snoops
Dwarf Thief
1999
Series
Lopez
Joseph
2016
Series
Dolly
1987
Film
The Hyperions
Delano
2022
Film
Return of the Living Dead III
Felipe
1993
Film
Paparazzi
Mexican Man
2004
Film
Beverly Hills Chihuahua
Ring Announcer
2008
Film
Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman
Additional Voices (voice)
2003
Series
Diff'rent Strokes
1978
Film
Mr. Jones
Henry
1993
Film
Cold Heaven
Young Doctor
1992
Film
American Me
Pedro Santana
1992
Film
Selena
Juan Luis
1997
Film
Velvet Buzzsaw
Roadside Vendor
2019
Film
The End of Violence
Tito
1997
Film
Chalino
Don Chente
2019
Film
The Astronaut Farmer
Pepe Garcia
2007
Film
The Banger Sisters
Pump Attendant
2002
Film
Kubrick's War: The Making of Full Metal Jacket
Self - T.H.E. Rock, Full Metal Jacket
Film
El Chicano
El Gallo
2019
Film
Out to Sea
Mexican Dancer
1997
Film
The Devil Has a Name
Farmhand 1
2019
Film
Midnight Madness
Blade - Blue Team
1980
Film
Born in East L.A.
What's Happening Boy
1987
Film
There Goes My Baby
Chicano
1994
Film
Centurion: The Dancing Stallion
Jorge Rodriquez
2023
Film
Roses on the Vine
Mr. Rodriguez
2025
Film
Atropia
Jerry Jiminez
2025
Film
El padrino: The Latin Godfather
Loco
2004
Film
The Old Ways
Javi
2021
Film
Hammerlock
Ward Clemson
2002
Film
El Diablo
Sentry
1990
Film
Get Out of My Room
Illegal Alien (segment 'Born In East L.A.')
1985
Film
After the SIlence
John Sanchez
1996
Film
Million Dollar Mystery
Hijacker
1987
Film
Seven Cemeteries
Abuelo
2024
Film
Culture Shock
Coyote
2019
Film
Zoot Suit
Hobo
1981
Film
Silver City
Tony Guerra
2004
Film
Blue Tiger
Luis
1994
Film
River of Rage: The Taking of Maggie Keene
Paco
1993
Film
Flypaper
Leon
1999
Film
Luminarias
2000
Film
Hunter: Return to Justice
Chuck "Jumpy" Lopez
2002
Film
Go for Sisters
Morales
2013
Film
Acuitzeramo
Salvador
2019
Film
From the Files of Joseph Wambaugh: A Jury of One
Alfredo Ramirez
1992
Film
The Glitter Dome
Chuey Verdugio
1984
Film
Journey
Boone
1995
Film
Price of Glory
Hector Salmon
2000
Film
Pucker Up and Bark Like a Dog
Carlos
1989
Film
ESL: English as a Second Language
Pepe
2005
Film
American Son
Cristina's Father
2008
Film
An Evergreen Christmas
Jose
2014
Film
Baby Blue
Bud
2025
Film
Nightman
Mr. Alvarez
1997
Film
Lost in Plainview
Roberto
2006
Film
...And the Earth Did Not Swallow Him
El Mohado
1995
Film
Delfino's Journey
Abuelo
2025
Film
You Know I Love You
Abuelo
2026
Film
Road to Juarez
Manuel
2015
Film
Monday Nights at Seven
Jorge
2016
Film
Lookwell
Manny
1991
Film
Corridos! Tales of Passion and Revolution
Juan, el Diablo
1987
Film
Moe
2023
Film
Down the Drain
Chico
1990
Film
Cartel
Steve Rodriguez / Bill Matthews
1990
Film
Spiked
Jose
2021
Film
Missing Pieces
Castillo
2001
Addicto de Salsa
2009