George Lopez is one of the premiere comedic talents in the entertainment industry today. He is the co-creator, writer, producer and star of the ABC and Warner Bros. Television-produced sitcom George Lopez. The show, which is executive-produced by Bruce Helford (The Drew Carey Show, Roseanne) and actress Sandra Bullock, will debut its sixth season in early 2007.
In September 2006, Lopez released his newest standup CD, El Más Chingón (The Baddest), on Oglio Records. His last CD, Team Leader, was released on Oglio Records to great public acclaim and was nominated for a 2004 Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. His previous bestselling CD, Right Now Right Now, was released in 2001. In May 2004, Lopez's autobiography, Why You Crying?, was released on the Touchstone/Fireside division of Simon & Schuster and entered in the New York Times Bestsellers top twenty. The book was co-written by Emmy Award-winning writer and sportscaster Armen Keteyian.
Lopez hosted the 48th Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in 2007. This will mark the only official PGA event with a celebrity host and the first time the Bob Hope Classic has had a celebrity host since Bob Hope himself. He also headlined his first HBO standup special, American's Mexican, broadcast live from Phoenix in early 2007, and recently completed production on the Spyglass/Rogue/Universal feature film, Balls of Fury, released in April 2007.
In 2005 Lopez starred in the Robert Rodriguez-Miramax/Dimension feature film, The Adventures of Shark Boy & Lava Girl, and in 2004 starred in the ABC-TV/Wonderful World of Disney Christmas movie, Naughty or Nice. He earned kudos for his performance in the HBO Films drama Real Women Have Curves, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to tremendous reviews, receiving the 2002 Audience Award. Previously he was featured in the acclaimed drama Bread and Roses, directed by British filmmaker Ken Loach. The film received critical acclaim after its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
Lopez is a two-time host of the Latin Grammy Awards and a cohost of the Emmy Awards. He was also a commentator for HBO's hit sports show, Inside the NFL, for the 2003-2004 football season. In 2001 he hosted a major morning radio show for Clear Channel Communications in Los Angeles. He was the first Latino to have headlined the keystone morning radio slot on an English language station in LA—the nation's top radio market.
Maintaining an extremely active schedule as a standup comedian, Lopez is a sell-out attraction coast to coast and has headlined concerts at prestigious venues—Las Vegas Hilton, Foxwoods Casino, ARCO Arena in Sacramento, the Town Hall in New York, the Shoreline Amphitheater in San Francisco, Next Stage in Dallas, SBC Center in San Antonio, Save Mart Center in Fresno, Dodge Theater in Phoenix, San Jose Sate University Events Center in San Jose—and has performed for the President at the historic Ford Theatre in Washington, DC.
In December 2004 Lopez set an attendance record at Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles with seven consecutive sold-out performances and over 42,000 in total attendance. His live comedy concert, Why You Crying?, debuted on Showtime on Memorial Day weekend 2004. The DVD of the concert special was released by Paramount Home Entertainment in September 2005.
A native of Los Angeles who grew up in San Fernando Valley's Mission Hills, Lopez devotes much time to the community. He has received the Manny Mota Foundation Community Spirit Award and was named Honorary Mayor of Los Angeles for his extensive fundraising efforts benefiting earthquake victims in El Salvador and Guatemala. In September 2004, he was honored with the Spirit of Liberty Award presented by People for the American Way, and in February 2004 was presented the 2004 Artist of the Year and Humanitarian Award by Harvard University. The Award was presented by the president and dean of Harvard University and honored Lopez's artistic work and charitable endeavors. He also received the 2003 Imagen Vision Award, 2003 Latino Spirit Award for Excellence in Television and the National Hispanic Media Coalition Impact Award.
In 2006 the Hollywood Walk of Fame presented Lopez with a star on legendary Hollywood Boulevard. In August 2005, Time Magazine recognized him as one of The 25 Most Influential Hispanics In America, and he recently made his debut in the Harris Poll for Favorite TV Personalities as one of the top ten favorites of 2005.
Lopez persevered through a life of congenital kidney disease. In April 2005 he received a kidney transplant, donated from his wife, Ann. He is in the best condition of his life, and he and Ann are national spokespeople for the National Kidney Foundation.
Lopez currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and family.