In 2002, Lopez became one of the few Latinos to star in a television comedy series, following in the footsteps of Desi Arnaz, Freddie Prinze, and John Leguizamo.

After receiving the news that his show was canceled in 2007, Lopez criticized president of ABC Entertainment Steve McPherson for using racially motivated reasons for his decision.

[9][10] Lopez was a cast member and commentator for HBO's hit sports show Inside the NFL for the 2003–04 football season.

Although O'Brien had reservations about the move and initially refused TBS's offer, Lopez supported and even advocated for it, making it different from the 2010 Tonight Show conflict that saw O'Brien depart NBC after a proposal to push Tonight back 30 minutes for Jay Leno to return to the 11:35 p.m.

[15] On April 18, 2013, it was announced that Lopez would be starring in his own sitcom on FX called Saint George, which premiered on March 6, 2014.

[16][17][18] Saint George was produced under Debmar-Mercury and Lionsgate Television's syndication model, which states that if a show hits certain ratings thresholds in its first 10-episode run, it triggers an additional 90-episode order.

[19] In August 2015, TV Land announced a straight-to-series order for Lopez, a semi-autobiographical single-camera sitcom,[20] which debuted on March 30, 2016.

Brown Is the New Green: George Lopez and the American Dream is a 2007 documentary directed and produced by Phillip Rodriguez.

In 2010, Lopez appeared in The Spy Next Door with Jackie Chan, starring as a villain named Glaze.

[citation needed] The following year Lopez reprised his role as Papi for Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2, and was the voice of a toco toucan, Rafael, in the animated box-office hit Rio, alongside Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, will.i.am, and Jamie Foxx.

[25] Lopez's autobiography Why You Crying was published by the Touchstone/Fireside division of Simon & Schuster, and placed in The New York Times bestsellers top twenty.

Lopez was a consultant on the vetting and hiring of comedic talent for the line’s existing fleet-wide comedy clubs.

His doctors had told him in April 2004 that he was going to require an organ transplant but he postponed the operation until finishing the fourth season of George Lopez.

The transplant was successful; Lopez lost 45 lb (20 kg) after the operation due in part to the improvement in his health.

Lopez is a supporter of the Democratic Party and endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for President in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

[38][37] Lopez was a featured celebrity golfer in the 2004 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and the 2004 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

[citation needed] A native of Los Angeles who grew up in the San Fernando Valley's Mission Hills, Lopez devotes much time to the community.

He is a recipient of the Manny Mota Foundation Community Spirit Award and was named Honorary Mayor of Los Angeles for his extensive fund-raising efforts benefiting earthquake victims in El Salvador and Guatemala.