Being married to a star in Hollywood can be really challenging, but some couples find a way to make it work.
Ann Serrano, on the other hand, gave everything — even one of her organs — for her famous husband, only to end up feeling betrayed.
You might not recognize the name Ann Serrano right away, but she definitely shouldn’t just be known as “the celebrity’s wife.” Ann has built her own career as an actress and producer. Some of you may remember her from Arrested Development, and she even had a role in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Aside from her professional life, she’s also a loving mom to a daughter she has with a well-known and trailblazing actor. The two met during auditions for a film, which was Ann’s first casting experience. They hit it off and got married in September 1993. Three years later, they welcomed their lovely daughter, Mayan.
For a long time, their high-profile relationship appeared to be strong, but everything shifted in the early 2000s when her famous husband got some heartbreaking news.
Doctors informed him that his kidneys were failing because of a genetic issue, and he needed a transplant to live. The timing was crucial, but he postponed the surgery for a year, overwhelmed with the fear that the media would find out about his condition. He didn’t want their then 9-year-old daughter to see it in the tabloids.
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Even though he was a public figure, he was able to keep his illness hidden for a long time. However, it soon became obvious that he required assistance. That’s when Ann came forward, offering something remarkable — her own kidney.
For her, it was a straightforward choice, as she mentioned in an interview.
“It’s incredible to be able to assist another person in this manner. You’re providing the gift of life,” she stated.
The surgery went well, and the famous actor was fortunate that his body accepted the new organ. To add to that, he even shed 45 pounds as his health got better. Thanks to Ann’s kindness, they were excited about spending more joyful years together. But things didn’t go as planned.
So, who was this man? None other than George Lopez, who is famous for his hit sitcom The George Lopez Show. Today, he has become one of our favorite comedians and in 2005, he was recognized as one of “The Top 25 Hispanics in America” by Time magazine.
Left behind by his parents.
Born in 1961 in Los Angeles to a Mexican migrant worker, George Lopez had a tough beginning in life. His father abandoned him when he was just two months old, and later, his mother left him at the age of 10. George was brought up by his grandmother.
A quiet and reserved kid, he often found himself immersed in his own fantasies. Nobody could have imagined that he would eventually rise to fame as a Hollywood star, but George managed to turn his tough childhood into comedic genius, converting his struggles into jokes that connected with audiences everywhere.
“I began to discover my comedic style in the early ’90s, and it was largely inspired by my grandmother, who served as a sort of muse,” George once revealed.
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“She was truly remarkable. No vehicle could accelerate from zero to 60 as quickly as my grandmother could shift from calm to angry.”
Found by Sandra Bullock
It didn’t take long for Sandra Bullock to notice George, as she was annoyed by the lack of Hispanic representation on television.
ABC agreed, and in 2002, George became one of the few Latino actors to lead a sitcom. The series was a success, attracting nearly 10 million viewers in its first season. George took on multiple roles as co-creator, writer, producer, and star.
Even with its popularity, the show was canceled in 2007, leaving George dissatisfied. He famously told the Los Angeles Times, “TV just became really, really white again.”
Professionally, it was a significant setback, but at that moment, George had just triumphed over a life-threatening ordeal.
Secret surgery.
On April 19, 2005, he was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center using the name “Tom Ace,” not knowing if he would survive.
Thanks to Ann’s brave choice, he did.
Both had surgery in adjacent operating rooms, and by the following day, their daughter was visiting them at the hospital. Ann mentioned that she felt no different after losing one kidney.
“There was no question. When you find yourself in a situation where you might lose someone you care about, it’s an easy choice to make.”
However, despite all they endured, their marriage didn’t survive. After 18 years together, the couple announced their separation. Ann filed for divorce in 2010, stating “irreconcilable differences,” and it was finalized in 2011.
Cheating on his wife.
Ann has openly discussed the reasons behind their marriage’s collapse, pointing to George’s troubled childhood as a contributing factor. George himself admitted in an interview with Piers Morgan that he played a part in their breakup, even recognizing that some of the backlash he faced after their divorce was justified, especially since Ann had given him a second chance at life.
To the outside world, Ann and George seemed to have everything, but in reality, their relationship was far from ideal. About six years into their marriage, things changed dramatically. George had been unfaithful to Ann, and they had to face the issue directly.
Ann, determined to keep her family together, pushed for couples therapy, hoping their daughter would grow up with her dad around. George seemed to grasp the seriousness of his actions, and for a time, it looked like he had learned his lesson. But Ann was clear — if it happened again, their marriage would be over.
Sadly, it did happen again, and this time it was very public.
Ann discovered the heartbreaking truth by reading it in a tabloid. In that moment, she realized the man she had loved and supported was living a double life.
“It was a pretty devastating way to find out,” Ann shared on TheHourGlass Podcast in 2024.
This was something Ann could not accept, and she made the tough choice to file for divorce. Unsurprisingly, Mayan stood firmly by her mother’s side, helping her through the pain.
Years later, Mayan opened up about her parents’ relationship on TikTok, directly asking them why they got divorced. Ann replied, “Your dad didn’t realize you have to stop dating other people when you get married.”
A year later, Mayan, who is also pursuing a career as an actress, shared another video with the caption, “He cheated. She divorced him. We kept almost everything.”
Went into therapy.
George has been more reserved about the details but has shown regret for the pain he caused, especially to his daughter. The two didn’t speak for years.
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George finally went to therapy with her to sort out their problems, acknowledging it was “awkward,” but essential.
“You need to take responsibility for the trauma you’ve caused,” George stated. “For the first time in my life, I admitted, ‘Yeah, I’m responsible for this and I’m going to dedicate the rest of my life to fixing it.’”
“Being a father is incredibly special,” he shared with ET, adding: “Being estranged from your child is the worst feeling ever, and for the first time in my life, I took responsibility for my mistakes. I’m fortunate that Mayan welcomed me back into her life, and part of the show reflects that.”
Eventually, father and daughter were able to mend their relationship, leading to something truly meaningful. Not only did they reconcile, but they also transformed their personal challenges into art. They now co-star in the NBC comedy Lopez vs. Lopez, a show that resonates deeply, as it’s loosely inspired by their own experience of repairing a complicated relationship.
Surprisingly, despite everything, Ann and George have a good relationship. In fact, a decade later, Mayan asked them if they still loved each other, and both confessed that they did. Ann even called George her “husband and friend,” while George simply said, “I love Ann.”
