Sal Velez Jr.

Info

Role

Director | Actor | Writer

Date of birth

02/02/1974

Place of birth

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Sal Velez Jr.

Biography

Sal Velez Jr. is one of Today's most versatile actors, an Improv Actor from Chicago's Second City. Sal Premiered 2020 in Warner Brothers The Way Back (2020) "The Way Back" starring Ben Affleck directed by Gavin O'connor, in the role of Miguel and rated one of The Way Back's favorite characters by Screen Rant Magazine. Sal is currently in consideration for 2021 Daytime Emmy Award for best supporting Actor in Rekindling Christmas, directed by James Ganiere in the role of Dean Sanborne. Considerations for the 2020 Sag Awards for "Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Drama Series". Black Summer Netflix, Considerations for the 2019 FYC Emmy Awards for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series". Black Summer Netflix. You can currently find Sal Velez Jr on the Netflix Original Series Black Summer (2019) released in over 90 countries world wide and currently sits among top five shows to watch! In the role of William, alongside Jaime King, Sal Velez Jr was submitted by Netflix to the 2019 Emmy Awards for "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series". Sal Velez Jr. was born in Chicago, Illinois as Salvador Velez Jr. to Vivian Hernandez, a school teacher and Salvador Velez, a U.S. Postman. A second generation Puerto Rican, Sal's parents divorced at an early age where Sal, his mother and sister relocated to Houston, Texas. Sal later returned to Chicago's Humboldt Park at the age of 14 to reconnect with his father. Growing up in the rough streets of Chicago, while working a full-time job in the Steel Worker's Union, A gifted Singer/ Songwriter Sal used entertainment as his muse, from impersonating iconic actors to singing Latin Jazz at local nightclubs. In 2001, Sal was discovered and invited to audition for Chicago's Second City theatre where he won a three-year scholarship. He studied improv, classical, sketch writing and musical theater and shortly after joined Second City's Touring Company. His love for performing found him in many Chicago productions including The Goodman Theater, Chicago Theatre Building, Nuyorican Poet Miguel Pinero plays and The Life of Cesar Chaves musicals. In 2009 Sal made the decision to move to Los Angeles and fully pursue film and television. Projects in Production: "Gentefied" as Rafael Morales Netflix Original directed by Marvin Lemus "On The Verge" as Jesus Netflix Original directed by Julie Delpy. "No More Goodbyes" as Angel directed by James Ganier. "Rekindling Christmas" https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt8377698?s=80bc88be-826a-c472-2e1f-8806accc818e&site_preference=normal as Dean Sanborn directed by James Ganier written Rebecca Ganier. He is also scheduled to shoot "Brooklyn All American" https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt5831434?s=00bc88bd-57a4-c1a8-cee3-dc52506b5bf8&site_preference=normal to play the role of Isaac Katzov alongside Chris Noth. Recurring Roles: Sal continues to take on the challenge of many demanding roles in major productions such as Kurt Sutter's "Mayans MC" on FX in role of Big Benny, ABC's drama "Ten Days in the Valley" in the role of Leonardo alongside Kyra Sedgewick, Amazon Studios' "Hand of God" in the role of Mike Alacala opposite Ron Perlman, NBC's "Chicago Justice" as Adrian Carrera, Oliver Stone's film Savages as El Negro alongside Benecio Del Toro and on Starz Network "Boss" directed by Gus Van Sant and Executive Produced by Kelsey Grammer. Sal is truly honored and humbled to be chosen by Netflix and the TV academy for his performance in "Black Summer" to be considered for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2019. Stephen King has even tweeted "Black Summer": "Just when you think there is no more scare left in zombies, THIS comes along. Existential hell in the suburbs, stripped to the bone." Velez is also known for his comedic lead character Eric, in the Digital series "Gente-fied", which premiered at Sundance in 2017 as well as his Voice Over roles as Berto in Telltale Games' "Walking Dead Series", and EA's 'Battle Field Hardline" as Mendez. Sal Velez Jr Sal was Submitted by Netflix for the 2020 Sag Awards for "Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Drama Series". Selected to be the cover of Chicago's Latino Extra newspaper for Next Generation Puerto Rican Actors. Sal Velez Jr. also received the Chrysalis Award by the San Jose Obrero Mission for his work with family shelters. "To inspire Laughter, create Knowledge, and to know Love is the true pursuit of happiness". - Sal Velez Jr.

Known For

Gentefied
Gentefied
7.4
7.4
Black Summer
Black Summer
6.6
6.6
The Way Back
The Way Back
6.5
6.5
On the Verge
On the Verge
6.5
6.5