George Lopez

This beloved, Mexican-American comic played the stand-up circuit for well over a decade before landing his eponymous sitcom in 2002. (It helped that he had movie star Sandra Bullock as his champion and executive producer.) As the show's cocreator, writer, producer and star, Lopez was able to showcase his skewed point of view, impeccable timing and Latino pride. Not only was the series a hit, it helped push open the door for other Hispanic-flavored projects. A workaholic, Lopez somehow still found the time to continue touring, record a Grammy-winning comedy album, pen an autobiography and play golf. In 2005 the tireless comedian was finally forced to take a break to undergo a kidney transplant operation. His wife was the organ donor.George Lopez Fast Facts:

• Worked as a DJ on MEGA 92.3 in Los Angeles.
• Stand-up albums include Right Now Right Now, Team Leader and Alien Nation.
• Was discovered when Sandra Bullock approached him to star in a Latino-based TV series she wanted to produce. She has since guest-starred on the show as his accident-prone coworker, Amy.
• Published a 2004 autobiography, Why You Crying?.
• Founded the George & Ann Lopez-Richie Alarcón CARE Foundation, which provides resources for education.
• Engaged in public feuds with two other comedians: He accused Carlos Mencia of stealing his material and Jay Leno of being "a backstabber" for not inviting Lopez on his show more frequently.

• George Lopez Relationships:
• Ann Serrano Lopez - Wife
• Mayan - Daughter