She Gave Up Her Organ to Save Him, But What Happened Next Will Break Your Heart

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.

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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.

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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.’”

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“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.”

This Girl Lost Her Star Dad at Only Two — He Didn’t Include Her in His Will, So His Co-stars Gave Up Money for Her

His daughter was upset because she could not find her father after he passed away. But there were other things she would miss out on besides his presence. She was not named in the actor’s will. Three of the actor’s costars sacrificed their wages for her out of concern for her well-being.

In the superhero movie “The Dark Knight,” this well-known celebrity portrayed The Joker, a psychotic criminal mastermind with a perverted sense of humor. The actor has portrayed numerous additional characters, such as those in “Lords of Dogtown” and “I’m Not There.”

The actor, his wife and daughter leave Sydney International Airport for their New York home on January 14, 2006 in Sydney, Australia. | Source: Getty Images

On January 14, 2006, in Sydney, Australia, the actor, his wife, and his daughter depart from Sydney International Airport for their New York residence. | Source: Getty Images

The actor met Michelle Williams in 2004 while “Brokeback Mountain” was being filmed, and the two fell in love. Matilda Rose, their baby girl, was ushered into the world a year later. Sadly, the couple split up in 2007, but the actor’s devotion to his kid never wavered.

The actor would put his daughter in his backpack, hop on the tube, and head to Terry Gilliam’s house to discuss a project they were working on, according to the director.

Michelle Williams and the actor during "Awake and Sing!" Opening Night - After Party at Marriott Marquis Ballroom in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Michelle Williams with the performer at the Marriott Marquis Ballroom’s Opening Night – After Party for “Awake and Sing!” in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Sadly, Matilda’s father passed away unexpectedly in 2008 at the age of two at his New York apartment. Due to her inability to comprehend her father’s abrupt absence, little Matilda would frequently ask her mother incomprehensible questions about him, which Michelle was unable to respond to. She was continuously asking:

“Where is my father?”

The Actor’s Costars Help His Daughter Out Financially

The actor was filming “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” just before he tragically his away. The movie tells the story of a traveling theater group whose leader offers his spectators the option of satisfying their own desires for enlightenment or satisfying their ignorance after placing a wager with the Devil.

Johnny Depp (L) and Jude Law attend 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald' UK Premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square on November 13, 2018 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

On November 13, 2018, in London, England, Johnny Depp (L) and Jude Law attend the UK premiere of “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” at Cineworld Leicester Square. | Found via Getty Images

Terry Gilliam, the filmmaker, was unsure about whether to continue with the film or find a replacement after the star passed away. After some persuasion from his daughter, he ultimately chose the latter. He cast actors Colin Farrell, Jude Law, and Johnny Depp to portray the remaining roles in the movie in lieu of Ledger. Gilliam stated:

“No one questioned if the role was appropriate for them or how much they would be paid. Since they were all friends of Heath’s, they all wanted the movie to be completed in his honor.

Irish actor Colin Farrell poses on the red carpet as he arrives to present the movie "Pride and Glory" on October 28, 2008, at Rome's Film Festival 2008 | Source: Getty Images

On October 28, 2008, at Rome’s Film Festival 2008, Irish actor Colin Farrell poses on the red carpet upon arriving to introduce the film “Pride and Glory.” | Source: Getty Images

Tom Cruise and other A-list celebrities offered to play Ledger, but Gilliam rejected them because they were unfamiliar with the actor.

The three actors were more anxious about his daughter than Gilliam was about whether it made economical sense to replace him.

The actor at the Various Locations in Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, California | Source: Getty Images

The performer in Santa Barbara, California, in Various Locations | Source: Getty Images

The three performers gave Matilda their entire wage in a gesture of exceptional kindness, working for little pay and keeping none of it for themselves. The star’s two-year-old daughter was not named in his will, it would later come to light.

The Actor’s Millions Showdown

Long before his daughter was born, the celebrated actor Heath Ledger penned a will that left his estimated $118,000 wealth to his parents and three sisters. After the birth of his daughter, he never revised the will.

Actress Michelle Williams and daughter Matilda Rose, 2, return to their Boerum Hill home after learning of the death of actor Heath Ledger, Matilda's father, on January 23, 2008 in Brooklyn, New York. | Source: Getty Images

After learning of the death of Matilda’s father, actor Heath Ledger, on January 23, 2008 in Brooklyn, New York, actress Michelle Williams and her two-year-old daughter Matilda Rose, return to their Boerum Hill home. | Found via Getty Images

That would normally imply that his daughter was not entitled to any inheritance from her father. However, a year following the actor’s passing, everything drastically changed.

Actress Michelle Williams (R) and daughter Matilda Ledger walk to their Boerum Hill home in the borough of Brooklyn on October 30, 2009 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

On October 30, 2009, in New York City, actress Michelle Williams (right) and her daughter Matilda Ledger stroll to their Boerum Hill residence in the borough of Brooklyn. | Source: Getty Images

Kim Ledger, the actor’s father, stated to The Sunday Times that his family would not touch any of Ledger’s fortune; rather, they would donate it all to the actor’s daughter. According to Fox News, he stated:

“No claim is made. Matilda has received everything from our family.

Actress Michelle Williams and her daughter Matilda are seen on October 30, 2009 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. | Source: Getty Images

On October 30, 2009, actress Michelle Williams was spotted in the Brooklyn borough of New York City with her daughter Matilda. | Found via Getty Images

The choice caused friction between Kim and his brothers, two of whom asserted that because Ledger’s father had mismanaged their grandfather’s wealth in the past, he was not qualified to serve as the actor’s executor.

Kim was saved, nevertheless, by Robert John Collins, an Australian who served as Ledger’s executor, who dismissed Kim’s brothers’ false charges. The brothers argued as a result of the claims, and they have since remained distant.

Matilda’s Present Life: A Mirror Image of Her Deceased Father

When her father died, Matilda was just two years old; yet, fifteen years later, she is an adult. From the very rare images of the 17-year-old that are available online, it is clear how much she resembles her father. Her grandfather Kim, among other family members, commented on the striking similarities.

“She bears a great deal of his mannerisms.” She has a lot of curiosity. Heath has never slept since he was two, and Matilda is the same way, so she has his vitality.

Kim showered his granddaughter with praise, describing her as a bundle of fire who exuded the same aura as Ledger. Not only did Matilda acquire her father’s characteristics, but she also bore traits from her mother, who dedicates her life to preserving Ledger’s memories for his daughter.

The young child’s never-ending search to learn more about her dad’s life and character is what has remained constant about him.

Michelle Ledger has done an amazing job parenting Matilda on her own since her father passed away, and as the actor’s sister Kate Ledger would later tell People:

“I believe that she creates such a lovely atmosphere for Matilda to grow up in, particularly given the kind of industry she works in.”

Kate described Michelle as grounded and mentioned how much Matilda looked like her brother, who passed away. She revealed that she is reminded of her brother by everything Matilda does.

Simple actions carried out by Matilda on her own, such picking up a pencil and getting on a skateboard, were identical to those that Ledger would have undertaken.

In addition, she says People, “I tell her about her daddy every time we see each other,” in an effort to preserve her brother’s memories in his daughter. I narrate to her tiny tales about him as a child, including how he used to follow me around with a cricket bat.

Matilda maintains a low profile despite having famous parents; the few pictures of her that are accessible feature her with her mother in various public settings.

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