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Born in New York to an FDNY officer, Justin excelled as an athlete across multiple disciplines. He left team sports early to focus on his passion for BMX biking. Throughout his teenage years, he dedicated countless hours mastering tricks, becoming one of the most recognized BMX riders of his era. His skills earned him magazine features and sponsorships from bike companies, as well as a contract with the renowned VANS sneaker brand. Just before turning eighteen, he shifted his focus from BMX to weightlifting to pursue his dream of playing football. Despite starting late, Justin quickly made an impact, starring on the 1991 Junior College championship team at Nassau Community College. While in college, he set a record at the ADFPA American Drug-Free National Collegiate Powerlifting Championship. After earning a biology degree from community college, he secured a full football scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh. Having played only eight games of organized football, he had a brief stint with the Arizona Cardinals in 1995. Later, he declined a starting position with the Baltimore Stallions, who went on to win the Grey Cup in the CFL—a decision that stayed with him for some time.
Physically, Justin has been tested weighing 305 lbs., running a 4.71-second 40-yard dash, achieving a 36-inch vertical leap, completing a 4.4-second 20-yard shuttle, and a 10.3-foot broad jump. He bench pressed 500 lbs. raw and officially squatted over 700 lbs. raw at the ADFPA Collegiate Nationals (with polygraph and urinalysis). Years later, he slimmed down to 266 lbs. to play defensive end/outside linebacker, running a 4.51-second 40-yard dash, jumping 42 inches vertically, completing a 4.20-second shuttle, and bench pressing 225 lbs. for 39 reps. Around 2000, he was featured in a full-page spread in ESPN Magazine. Unfortunately, while filming his first movie during the combine, he was committed to a project in the Caribbean for two months, causing him to miss initial mini-camp and resulting in the loss of his contract.
Between 1999 and 2000, Justin entered fitness modeling, appearing on covers and spreads, writing for several publications, and earning the title Mr. Fitness 2000. Shortly after, he left modeling to focus on acting. On a whim, he crashed an audition and secured a supporting role in Life's A Beach, but left California immediately after returning from filming in the Caribbean, moving back to the East Coast.
Eventually, he returned to Hollywood to pursue acting with relentless discipline, fully aware of the sacrifices required to succeed in the highly competitive industry. He declined offers for reality TV and professional wrestling. In early 2006, he audaciously approached a casting studio disguised as a UPS messenger, convinced the casting director to let him improvise on camera for a role they were not actively casting, and subsequently landed a part in Balls of Fury.
Off-screen, Justin spends much of his time with his Great Dane, Da' Moose, strength training, researching, writing, hiking, fishing, and mountain biking. He is deeply passionate about studying ancient civilizations, philosophy, consciousness, and the nature of reality.
Books by Justin Lopez include: As A Man Traineth (2009), The Starving Artist Diet (2012), Sheep (2019), and The Fire of the Logos and the Way of Being (2020).
Author’s website: likeMindlikeBody.com
He is also dedicated to working with mentally disabled children and the homeless.
