George Lopez was born on April 23, 1961, in Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California, to Frieda and Anatasio Lopez, a migrant worker of Mestizo Mexican descent. His early life was marked by abandonment, as his father deserted him at just two months old, and his mother left him when he was 10 years old. Fortunately, he was raised by his maternal grandmother, Benita Gutierrez, a factory worker, and step-grandfather, Refugio Gutierrez, a construction worker.
Lopez attended San Fernando High School, graduating in 1979. He went on to star in his self-produced ABC sitcom George Lopez, which showcased his stand-up comedy skills and examined themes of race and ethnic relations, including Mexican American culture. Throughout his career, Lopez has received numerous honors for his work and contributions to the Latino community, including the 2003 Imagen Vision Award, the 2003 Latino Spirit Award for Excellence in Television, and the National Hispanic Media Coalition Impact Award.
In addition to his professional accolades, Lopez was also recognized as one of "The Top 25 Hispanics in America" by Time magazine in 2005. In his personal life, Lopez married Ann Serrano in 1993, and the couple had a daughter, Mayan, born in 1996. However, the couple announced their decision to end their marriage on September 27, 2010, and the divorce was finalized on July 1, 2011.
