Olga Merediz Joins Cast of George Lopez's New FX Comedy SAINT GEORGE

Broadway's Olga Merediz will soon take on the role of Geroge Lopez's mother.

According to Deadline, Merediz has joined the cast of FX's upcoming comedy SAINT GEORGE, playing Lopez's mother Alma - a "feisty, combative" woman "with an acerbic wit."

SAINT GEORGE marks Lopez's first starring role in a sitcom since his long-running ABC series, George Lopez. The multi-camera ensemble comedy revolves around the chaotic life of a recently divorced working class Mexican-American turned successful entrepreneur. In the sitcom, Lopez will portray a man who struggles to balance his demanding ex-wife, his 11-year-old son, his overbearing mother who just moved in, and his uncle, as well as his new role as a philanthropist "giving back" by teaching history once a week at a night school.

Matt Williams and his Wind Dancer Films partner David McFadzean, co-created SAINT GEORGE with Lopez, and the trio will serve as executive producers. Michael Rotenberg (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) is executive producer. Dete Meserve and Judd Payne will also serve as executive producers. Production of the series begins in August.

The series will be produced by Lionsgate Television in association with Wind Dancer Films, Travieso Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment.

FX has ordered 10 Episodes of Saint George and, as is standard with the 10/90 model, if the series meets designated ratings thresholds over it first 10-episode run, the network will trigger an additional 90-episode order.

Merediz, a Broadway, TV, and film actress is probably best known for originating the role of Claudia in the Broadway musical In the Heights where she received a Tony Award nomination. She played the role for the show's entire Broadway run. In addition to In the Heights, Broadway credits include Reckless alongside Mary-Louise Parker, Man of La Mancha, and LES MISERABLES. She also appeared as Rosie in Mamma Mia! Merediz has appeared off-Broadway in Women Without Men, The Human Comedy, andThe Public Theater's NYSF The Taming of the Shrew in Central Park. Merediz won a 2007 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance for her role in the off-Broadway run of In the Heights, as well as a 2007 HOLA Award from the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors for Outstanding Performance by a Featured Female Actor. At the 2008 Tony Awards, she received a nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for the Broadway incarnation of In the Heights. Ms. Meredez film works include The Place Beyond The Pines with Ryan Gosling,The Angriest Man In Brooklyn alongsideRobin Williams and Mila Kunism, in Mr. Popper's Penguins with Jim Carrey, Robert Pattinson in Remember Me,Kevin Spacey in K-Pax, John Leguizamo in Fugly, Meryl Streep in Music of the Heart, Madonna in Evita, andSamuel L. Jackson in Changing Lanes. Her TV show credits include Royal Pains, Blue Bloods, Law & Order SVU, The Jury (recurring), Hope & Faith (recurring), Pan Am, Law & Order (recurring). Merediz also appeared on the pilot episode of the FOX TV series Past Life, as well as an episode of Throwdown with Bobby Flay as a judge.