George Lopez

One of the most prominent Mexican-Americans to be recognized in mainstream American popular culture, George Lopez has decided to retire from stand-up comedy when he turns the age of 55 in nine years time.  The 46-year-old Latino funnyman explains that he doesn't want to risk his health as he hits his 60s.

Lopez, who previously starred in the sitcom George Lopez for five years, already had one major health scare.  He suffered from a genetic disorder in 2005, which caused his kidneys to deteriorate.  That same year, he received a kidney transplant from his wife.  Since then, the couple has become spokespeople for the National Kidney Foundation.

"I'm almost 50 years old and I have one kidney.  I don't want to be a lifer [at comedy].  I don't really see myself doing this beyond 55... and who's to say that, even before then, I won't just start to curtail my activities a little bit?  It has been, it will be, a pretty good run.  I'd like to take more time off, but I don't because it's important to strike while the iron is hot.  I think it's just time to have fun.  It's time to have cake," he told society magazine Dune.

In addition to the television series George Lopez, Lopez is credit for his work in Real Women Have Curves, The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl, Balls of Fury, Tortilla Heaven, and Bread and Roses, just to name a few.  Though he's already announced his decision to retire in the future, that doesn't mean that Lopez won't be active in the movie circuit.  In fact, he has been cast in Swing Vote, an upcoming comedy starring Kevin Costner, Kelsey Grammer, Willie Nelson, Stanley Tucci, Dennis Hopper, and Nathan Lane, and the film Henry Poole is Here, which stars Luke Wilson, Radha Mitchell, and Morgan Lily.  Both films are slated to hit theaters later this year.


-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: PR Inside
(Image courtesy of georgelopez.com)