Being married to a Hollywood star can be difficult, but some couples make it work.
Ann Serrano gave everything for her famous husband — even one of her organs — but ended up being betrayed.
Ann Serrano might not be a name you immediately recognize, but she deserves to be known for more than just being “the wife of a celebrity.” Ann has built a career as both an actress and a producer. Some people may know her from *Arrested Development*, and she even appeared in an episode of *Curb Your Enthusiasm*.
Beyond her career, Ann is a devoted mom to a daughter she shares with a famous and groundbreaking actor. The couple met during a casting for a movie, which was Ann’s first casting job. They connected and got married in September 1993. Three years later, they welcomed a beautiful daughter, Mayan.
For a long time, their high-profile marriage seemed strong, but everything changed in the early 2000s when her famous husband got devastating news.
Doctors told him that his kidneys were failing because of a genetic condition, and he needed a transplant to survive. The surgery was urgent, but he delayed it for a year because he feared the media would find out. He didn’t want their 9-year-old daughter to read about his illness in the tabloids.
Even though he was a public figure, he managed to keep the illness a secret for some time. But soon, it became clear that he needed help. That’s when Ann offered something incredible — her own kidney.
For Ann, the choice was simple, as she said in an interview.
“It’s amazing to help another human being like this. You’re giving the gift of life,” she said.
The surgery was a success, and the famous actor was lucky that his body accepted the new organ. On top of that, he lost 45 pounds as his health got better. Thanks to Ann’s generosity, they looked forward to many more happy years together. But things didn’t turn out that way.
So, who was this man? None other than George Lopez, best known for starring in *The George Lopez Show*. Today, he is one of the most loved comedians, and in 2005, *Time* magazine named him one of “The Top 25 Hispanics in America.”
Abandoned by his parents
Born in 1961 in Los Angeles to a Mexican migrant worker, George Lopez had a tough start in life. His father left him when he was just two months old, and his mother left when he was 10. George was raised by his grandmother after that.
As a shy and introverted child, George spent much of his time daydreaming. No one could have guessed he would become a Hollywood star, but George turned his tough upbringing into comedy, using his pain to create jokes that connected with people everywhere.
“I started to find my comedic voice in the early ’90s, and it revolved around my grandmother as a sort of muse,” George once shared.
“She was really something. No car could go from zero to 60 as fast as my grandmother could go from calm to upset.”
**Discovered by Sandra Bullock**
It wasn’t long before Sandra Bullock noticed George, frustrated by the lack of Hispanic representation on TV.
ABC agreed, and in 2002, George became one of the few Latinos to star in a sitcom. The show was a huge success, with nearly 10 million viewers watching during its first season. George was the co-creator, writer, producer, and star.
Despite the success of *The George Lopez Show*, it was canceled in 2007, and George wasn’t pleased. He famously told the *Los Angeles Times*, “TV just became really, really white again.”
Professionally, it was a big setback, but at that time, George had just survived a life-threatening health issue.
**Secret surgery**
On April 19, 2005, George was taken into Cedars-Sinai Medical Center under the fake name “Tom Ace,” unsure if he would survive the surgery.
Thanks to Ann’s selfless act, he made it through.
Both George and Ann had surgery in side-by-side rooms, and the next day, their daughter visited them in the hospital. Ann said she didn’t feel any different with just one kidney.
Unfortunately, it all came crashing down, 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 couldn’t tolerate, and she made the painful choice to file for divorce. Unsurprisingly, their daughter Mayan stood by her mother’s side, offering support through the heartache.
Years later, Mayan shared more about her parents’ relationship on TikTok, even asking them directly why they 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 an acting career, posted 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 expressed regret for the pain he caused, especially to his daughter. The two didn’t speak for years.
Eventually, George went to therapy with her to work through their issues, admitting it was “awkward” but necessary.
“You have to be responsible for the trauma that you’ve caused,” George said. “For the first time in my life I said, ‘Yeah, I’m responsible for this, and I’m going to spend the rest of my life repairing it.’”
“To be a father is a very special thing,” George told *ET*. He continued, “To be estranged from your child is the worst thing ever, and for the first time in my life, I owned up to my mistakes. I’m lucky Mayan took me back into her life, and a little bit of the show is about that.”
Father and daughter eventually healed their relationship, and it led to something truly special. Not only did they reconcile, but they also turned their struggles into art. Now, they co-star in the NBC comedy *Lopez vs. Lopez*, a show loosely based on their journey of fixing a complicated relationship.
Remarkably, despite everything, Ann and George maintain a good relationship. In fact, years later, Mayan asked them if they still loved each other, and both admitted they did. Ann even called George her “husband and friend,” while George simply said, “I love Ann.”
My Daughter-in-Law Made Me Choose between Living in Basement or Nursing Home
After Cecile’s husband, Henry, passes on, she seeks solace by moving into her son’s house. But when she gets there, her daughter-in-law makes her choose between their dark and unwelcoming basement and a nursing home. What happens when Cecile decides on another option altogether?
Losing a partner after forty years of marriage is traumatizing. Loneliness is felt immediately, but it becomes all the more consuming as time goes on. When Henry, my husband, died of a heart attack, I felt this sense of loneliness harder than anything else.
The grief took over, and all I wanted was to be around family. I have two sons, Jack and Edward – Edward moved to Oxford straight out of college because he was awarded the opportunity to further his studies. He calls me every evening just to chat about our days. Jack, on the other hand, lives not too far away from me. He is married to Lucy and has a son named after my husband.
So, now that I’m all alone in this big house Henry bought when we were just starting our family, I’ve been trying to decide whether to sell the house or live with Jack, as he offered, or move out by myself.I decided to try living with Jack. It would be the most comforting thing. But little did I know, Lucy had other plans for my accommodation. I asked my niece to pack up the place while I settled into my new home with Jack and his family. So, I was at their doorstep, suitcases at my feet
. Ready to take on the role of a live-in mother and grandmother — taking over the kitchen whenever Lucy needed me. Lucy came to open the door, a mug of coffee in her hand, and told me that their house was bursting at the seams with the limited space and that the only room available was Henry Jr.’s room. But she wasn’t about to upset the room and change it in any way. It was for Henry when he returned from his semester at college. I understood that. It was his space, and I didn’t want to be a burden.
But I had assumed that Jack would have sorted something out for me — he was the one who asked me to move in if I needed it. “Cecile, we’ve got a bit of a space issue, as you can see,” Lucy repeated. “You’ve got two options,” she continued. “There is the basement, or there’s a nursing home. Your call, grandma.” Talk about a rock and a hard place. Now, let me tell you about their basement.
It’s not the basement you may find in some homes — there’s no converted space for gaming, sewing, or arts and crafts. It’s not a den or cozy room for guests. Jack’s basement is more of a cold, humid dungeon with a bedframe that sighed at every move and a mattress with sharp springs. This was not the comfort I needed.”Lucy,” I said, shuffling my weight from one foot to the other.
“I appreciate the options, dear. But I’ll pass on the basement and nursing home combo.” Cue to my son — trying to play the peacemaker. He came up from behind Lucy, his arm around her waist. “Mom, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking when I invited you to stay. Lucy has a point. We’re tight on space. I promise to get some furniture for the basement to make it comfortable for you.” A basement life wasn’t for me. A nursing home wasn’t for me — at least not yet. So, I just took matters into my own hands.
I dragged my suitcases to the car and drove to my niece’s home. I stayed there for a week while looking for a place I could buy. The house was already on the market, and once it was sold, I knew I would have more than enough money to buy a small place for myself. When everything was settled, my niece helped me move in, and I felt empowered. Maybe I didn’t need family as much as I thought I did.
Edward was worried about me being alone, but I reassured him I would be fine. I moved into the new apartment soon after – a cozy one-bedroom, perfect for me and the cat I hoped to adopt. The bonus was that it came fully furnished, so I didn’t have to worry about anything.
Then, Jack phoned and asked me to dinner with him and Lucy. I drove to their home, wondering what they expected from me. We sat down for dinner, and I told them I had bought an apartment and lived there alone. “I thought you were staying with Mia,” Jack said, referring to my niece.”You can’t be serious!” Lucy exclaimed at the same time. “I did stay with Mia until I moved. I needed my own space.”
“You said that you want to be around family, so I offered,” Jack said, turning red. “Yes, but if it meant being shipped off to a nursing home or having to stay in your basement, I think I’m better off alone.” Then, I left. A few weeks later, I adopted my cat. But I also rewrote my will, leaving everything to Edward, who continues putting money into my account every month, even though I told them I didn’t need it.
“A son must help his Mom,” he said. He also asked me if I wanted to move abroad with him — but how could I? I needed to be close to where Henry rests, at least for now. So, from basement dilemmas to a cozy haven of my own, life certainly throws you for a loop. If your child gave you those options, what would you have done? Here’s another story for you: Elizabeth placed her father in a nursing home and never saw him again. She only visited him at his funeral. But the young woman’s karma caught up with her and taught her a harsh lesson when she received a letter from him after his death…
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