As Hispanic Heritage month continues to highlight the contributions of all the Hispanic people in our society, there are many important Hispanic actors and actresses that deserve recognition for their work. Among these great actors is George Lopez.

Lopez is famous the world over for his variety of stand up comedy, acting, and voicework. His comedic talent has been responsible for many iconic roles, such as playing George Lopez on the George Lopez show, and the devious Mr. Electric in the cult classic The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl.

However, Lopez didn’t become a comedy sensation overnight. Unfortunately, the best comedians often come from harsh backgrounds. Born in Los Angeles in 1961, Lopez’s father abandoned him and his mother when Lopez was only a few months old. In 1971, Lopez would also be abandoned by his mother, leaving the10-year-old in the care of his grandparents.

Not long after graduating from high school in 1979, Lopez would pursue a career in stand up comedy, and in the late 80s and through the 90s, Lopez would become a decently successful comedian, occasionally having small roles in various TV shows.

Lopez’s comedy often revolved around Mexican culture, using his jokes to spread awareness of Mexican issues, while also providing entertainment anyone could enjoy. Because of his emphasis on Mexican culture, he was recruited by Sandra Bullock to help create a Spanish focused sitcom, something that didn’t really exist at the time. The show would be called George Lopez, and it would be picked up by ABC in 2002. 

The show would run for six seasons and eventually enter syndication in 2007. Its success combined with Lopez’s successful comedy would elevate his career to new heights, and for the next 10 years, Lopez would star and cameo in various films, comedy specials, and tv shows, solidifying himself not only as a hispanic icon, but and icon in the entire entertainment industry.