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Sal Velez Jr. is a Improvisation Actor from Chicago's Second City.
Accepted into the 2024 South By Southwest Film Festival, "Switch Up" a romantic comedy , Playing the role of Ty and Executive Producing on the project.
Recipient of the 2022 Omni Cultural TV NATPE Excellance Award.
Considerations 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.
Recent Releases 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.
Rio Vista Films Rekindling Christmas, directed by James Ganiere in the role of Dean Sanborne. Rekindling Christmas received a Daytime Emmy Nomination.
Netflix Original Series "Gentefied" as Rafael Morales directed by Marvin Lemus, Linda Yvette Chavez, America Ferrera Nominated for 2021 Peabody Award. Top 10 Shows on Netflix
Netflix Original Series "On The Verge" as Jesus directed by Julie Delpy. Top 10 Shows on Netflix
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:
"The Rookie" as Captain Fossett (2025- 2026)
Comedy House of Tragedy (2024) Director 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 Ganier.
"Brooklyn All American" (2024) to play the role of Isaac Katzov .
Recurring Roles: Sal continues to take on the challenge of many demanding roles in major productions such as ABC's "The Rookie", 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 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.
