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Sal Velez Jr. is an improvisational actor affiliated with Chicago's Second City.
His romantic comedy "Switch Up," in which he stars as Ty and serves as Executive Producer, was accepted into the 2024 South By Southwest Film Festival.
He received the 2022 Omni Cultural TV NATPE Excellence Award.
He was considered for the 2021 Daytime Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Dean Sanborne in "Rekindling Christmas," directed by James Ganiere.
He was also considered for the 2020 SAG Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series for "Black Summer" on Netflix, and for the 2019 FYC Emmy Awards for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for the same show.
Recent works include Warner Brothers' "The Way Back" (2020), starring Ben Affleck and directed by Gavin O'Connor, where Sal played Miguel—one of the film's favorite characters according to Screen Rant Magazine.
He appeared in Rio Vista Films' "Rekindling Christmas," directed by James Ganiere, portraying Dean Sanborne. The film received a Daytime Emmy nomination.
Sal stars as Rafael Morales in the Netflix Original Series "Gentefied," directed by Marvin Lemus, Linda Yvette Chavez, and America Ferrera. The show was nominated for a 2021 Peabody Award and ranked among Netflix's Top 10 shows.
He also played Jesus in Netflix's "On The Verge," directed by Julie Delpy, which made the Top 10 shows on Netflix.
In Netflix's "Black Summer" (2019), released in over 90 countries and ranked among the top five shows to watch, Sal portrayed William alongside Jaime King. Netflix submitted his performance for the 2019 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
Born Salvador Velez Jr. in Chicago, Illinois, to Vivian Hernandez, a school teacher, and Salvador Velez, a U.S. Postman, Sal is a second-generation Puerto Rican. After his parents' early divorce, he relocated with his mother and sister to Houston, Texas, before returning to Chicago's Humboldt Park at age 14 to reconnect with his father. Growing up in Chicago's tough neighborhoods while working full-time in the Steel Worker's Union, Sal, a talented singer-songwriter, found inspiration in entertainment, from impersonating iconic actors to performing Latin Jazz at local nightclubs.
In 2001, he was discovered and invited to audition for Chicago's Second City theatre, earning a three-year scholarship. He studied improv, classical acting, sketch writing, and musical theater, eventually joining Second City's Touring Company. His passion for performing led to roles in various Chicago productions, including The Goodman Theater, Chicago Theatre Building, Nuyorican poet Miguel Pinero plays, and musicals about Cesar Chavez. In 2009, Sal moved to Los Angeles to pursue film and television full-time.
Current projects in production include:
- "The Rookie" as Captain Fossett (2025-2026)
- Comedy "House of Tragedy" (2024), directed by Corbin Timbrook
- "Gentefied" as Rafael Morales, Netflix Original directed by Marvin Lemus
- "On The Verge" as Jesus, Netflix Original directed by Julie Delpy
- "No More Goodbyes" (2024) as Angel, directed by James Ganiere
- "Brooklyn All American" (2024) as Isaac Katzov
Sal continues to take on challenging roles in major productions, including ABC's "The Rookie," FX's "Mayans MC" as Big Benny, ABC's drama "Ten Days in the Valley" as Leonardo alongside Kyra Sedgwick, Amazon Studios' "Hand of God" as Mike Alacala opposite Ron Perlman, NBC's "Chicago Justice" as Adrian Carrera, Oliver Stone's film "Savages" as El Negro alongside Benicio Del Toro, and Starz Network's "Boss," directed by Gus Van Sant and executive produced by Kelsey Grammer.
He is honored to have been chosen by Netflix and the TV Academy for consideration for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2019 for "Black Summer." Stephen King praised "Black Summer," tweeting: "Just when you think there is no more scare left in zombies, THIS comes along. Existential hell in the suburbs, stripped to the bone."
Sal is also known for his comedic lead role as Eric in the digital series "Gentefied," which premiered at Sundance in 2017, as well as his voice-over work as Berto in Telltale Games' "Walking Dead" series and as Mendez in EA's "Battlefield Hardline."
Netflix submitted Sal for the 2020 SAG Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series. He was featured on the cover of Chicago's Latino Extra newspaper as part of the Next Generation of Puerto Rican Actors. Additionally, he received the Chrysalis Award from the San Jose Obrero Mission for his dedicated work with family shelters, abused families, schools, and youth shelters.
"To inspire laughter, create knowledge, and to know love is the true pursuit of happiness." – Sal Velez Jr.
