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{{short description|American comedian}}
#REDIRECT[[The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore]]
{{Use American English|date=June 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox comedian
| name = Ricky Velez
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|32|2021|10|19}}<ref name="tdb">{{cite news |last1=Wilstein |first1=Matt |title=Ricky Velez: From Late-Night Troublemaker to ‘Undeniable’ Stand-Up Star |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/ricky-velez-goes-from-late-night-troublemaker-to-undeniable-stand-up-star |work=The Daily Beast |date=October 19, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Queens]], New York, U.S.
| education =
| medium = {{hlist|Stand-up|film|television}}
| years_active = 2007–present
| spouse =
| children = 1
}}

'''Ricky Velez''' is an American stand-up comedian, writer, and actor.

== Early life ==

Ricky Velez was born and raised in [[Queens|Queens, New York]] in a blue-collar family with two brothers.<ref name="decider">{{cite web |last1=McCarthy |first1=Sean |title=Ricky Velez Reveals Why The NYC Board Of Education Wouldn't Let Him Film His HBO Special At The High School He Attended |url=https://decider.com/2021/10/27/ricky-velez-interview/ |work=Decider |date=October 27, 2021}}</ref><ref name="wwd" /> Velez is half Puerto Rican and half Irish.<ref name="remezcla">{{cite news |last1=Martinez |first1=Kiko |title=Meet Comedian Ricky Velez, Who Plays Pete Davidson's Puerto Rican-Irish BFF in 'The King of Staten Island' |url=https://remezcla.com/features/film/ricky-velez-king-of-staten-island/ |work=Remezcla |date=June 12, 2020}}</ref> One of his brothers introduced him to stand-up comedy through half-hour specials on [[Comedy Central]] and watching ''[[The Daily Show]]''.<ref name="mp" /> He studied drama at the [[Frank Sinatra School of the Arts]] in [[Astoria, Queens]].<ref name="deadline">{{cite news |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |title=Universal’s Judd Apatow-Pete Davidson Comedy Adds Stand-Up Comedian Ricky Velez |url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/pete-davidson-judd-apatow-film-adds-stand-up-comedian-ricky-velez-1202627609/ |work=Deadline |date=June 5, 2019}}</ref><ref name="decider" />

After graduating, Velez attended college for less than a year before he returned to Queens and tried to join the military.<ref name="decider" /> He was denied to the military and started working various odd jobs, including for his friend's carpet company, where he would lay carpet for red carpet events.<ref name="decider" /><ref name="mp" /><ref name="wwd" />

== Career ==
After returning to Queens at age 19, Velez started working for the Broadway Comedy Club, where he would take tickets while performing stand-up each night.<ref name="mp">{{cite news |last1=Given |first1=Molly |title=Ricky Velez is introducing himself to the world – Metro Philadelphia |url=https://metrophiladelphia.com/ricky-velez-is-introducing-himself-to-the-world/ |work=metrophiladelphia.com |date=October 19, 2021}}</ref><ref name="observer" /> He was dealing with depression at the time and felt he needed "the instant gratification that stand-up gives".<ref name="decider" /> During this time, he met [[Pete Davidson]] and would later become roommates with him.<ref name="wwd" />

In 2014, Velez won the New York's Funniest Stand-Up competition at the [[New York Comedy Festival]].<ref name="decider" /> As a result, he was able to land a role as one of the contributors for ''[[The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore]]'' (2015-2016).<ref name="decider" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Steinberg |first1=Brian |title=Comedy Central’s ‘Nightly Show’ Takes Shape With Panel |url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/comedy-centrals-nightly-report-takes-shape-with-panel-1201396954/ |work=Variety |date=January 9, 2015}}</ref> He has said that the experience on the show taught him that he did not like making daily television.<ref name="decider" /> Velez has played guest roles in several television shows, including one episode in [[Crashing (American TV series)|Crashing]] in 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Otterson |first1=Joe |title=Ricky Velez Sets HBO Comedy Pilot With ‘King of Staten Island’ Team (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/ricky-velez-hbo-pilot-judd-apatow-judah-miller-1234641752/ |work=Variety |date=June 18, 2020}}</ref>

Velez collaborated with his long-time best friend Pete Davidson on ''[[The King of Staten Island]]'', a semi-biographical film about Davidson by [[Judd Apatow]] that was released in 2021.<ref name="wwd">{{cite news |last1=Nordstrom |first1=Leigh |title=Ricky Velez, The Next Big Thing in Stand-Up, on Healing Through Comedy |url=https://wwd.com/eye/people/ricky-velez-king-of-staten-island-hbo-special-1203662591/ |work=WWD |date=June 30, 2020}}</ref> Velez co-starred with Davidson and was also a writer and producer on the film.<ref name="wwd" /><ref name="nzy">{{cite news |last1=Wong |first1=Curtis M. |title=Comedian Ricky Velez Is Proving Himself As More Than Just Pete Davidson’s Best Friend |url=https://nz.news.yahoo.com/comedian-ricky-velez-proving-himself-120009867.html |work=Yahoo News |date=October 13, 2021 |language=en-NZ}}</ref> Velez was cast in June 2019 after Davidson asked him to audition for the part of one of his close friends who is a bad influence on Davidson's character.<ref name="deadline" /><ref name="wwd" /><ref name="remezcla" /> Velez was excited to be able to deal with topics such as mental health in the film.<ref name="wwd" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Ricky Velez Will Be Undeniable |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/ricky-velez-interview-comedians-you-should-know-2020.html |work=Vulture |date=October 23, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Velez was also signed by [[William Morris Endeavor]] in 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cordero |first1=Rosy |title=WME Signs Comedian Ricky Velez |url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/wme-signs-comedian-ricky-velez-1234855123/ |work=Deadline |date=October 13, 2021}}</ref>

Judd Apatow helped Velez release his first stand-up special later that year on [[HBO]], ''Ricky Velez: Here's Everything'', which was executive produced by Apatow and Pete Davidson.<ref name="decider" /> The special deals with topics such as mental health and his family.<ref name="decider-review">{{cite news |last1=McCarthy |first1=Sean |title='Ricky Velez Here's Everything' HBO Max Review: Stream It or Skip It? |url=https://decider.com/2021/10/25/ricky-velez-heres-everything-on-hbo-max-stream-it-or-skip-it/ |date=October 25, 2021}}</ref> Velez described the special as "me introducing myself to the world".<ref name="mp" /> He had attempted to film the special at his high school alma mater, the [[Frank Sinatra School of the Arts]], but the board of education did not allow it.<ref name="decider" /> It was eventually filmed over two shows at [[Brooklyn Steel]] on August 28, 2021, with most of the footage used in the special from the second show.<ref name="observer">{{cite news |last1=Zemler |first1=Emily |title=Rising Comedian Ricky Velez Knows ‘People are Addicted to Fun’ in New HBO Special |url=https://observer.com/2021/10/hbo-ricky-velez-heres-everything-interview-judd-apatow-pete-davidson/ |work=Observer |date=October 22, 2021}}</ref> Velez had toured for five months prior to filming to work on the material during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="observer" /> The special received positive reviews, with [[Jason Zinoman]] in [[The New York Times]] describing it as a "solid introduction to his spiky, propulsive comedy".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zinoman |first1=Jason |title=Four Stand-Up Specials That Showcase Hard-Working Comics |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/29/arts/television/four-stand-up-specials-to-watch.html |work=The New York Times |date=October 29, 2021}}</ref><ref name="decider-review" />

In 2023, Velez portrayed Alex in the television comedy show [[Single Drunk Female]], where he is the former boss and eventual boyfriend of Sam, portrayed by [[Sofia Black-D'Elia]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Robledo |first1=Anthony |title=Why “Single Drunk Female” Explored Emotional Sobriety In Season 2 |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/anthonyrobledo/single-drunk-female-emotional-sobriety-season-2 |work=BuzzFeed News |date=April 24, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

== Personal life ==

When Velez was 21, he became roommates with [[Pete Davidson]] in [[Brooklyn Heights]].<ref name="decider" /> Velez has said that period of his life was fun but unhealthy.<ref name="decider" />

Velez's mom died in 2016, a few months before ''The Nightly Show'' was cancelled, which led to a tough period in his life.<ref name="decider" /> He was able to use his stand-up performances, especially at the New York Comedy Club, as part of his healing process.<ref name="decider" /> During the pandemic, Velez started attending therapy when he did not have stand-up as an emotional outlet.<ref name="mp" />

Velez has a son, born in 2018, who can be seen playing guitar at the end of his 2021 HBO comedy special.<ref name="wwd" /><ref name="decider" />

==Filmography==
=== Films ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|2020
|''[[The King of Staten Island]]''
|Oscar
|co-writer, co-producer
|-
|2022
|''[[I Love My Dad]]''
|Derek
|
|-
|2022
|''[[The Listener (film)|The Listener]]''
|Ellis
|
|-
|2023
|''[[Good Burger 2]]''
|Scrawny goon
|
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|2015
|''[[Master of None]]''
|Ricky
|1 episode
|-
|2015-2016
|''[[The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore]]''
|
|contributer
|-
|2018
|''[[Crashing (American TV series)|Crashing]]''
|Himself
|1 episode
|-
|2021
|''[[Pause with Sam Jay]]''
|Party guest
|1 episode
|-
|2023
|''[[Single Drunk Female]]''
|Alex
|6 episodes
|-
|2023
|''[[Bupkis (TV series)|Bupkis]]''
|Ricky
|1 episode
|-
|2023
|''[[Ten Year Old Tom]]''
|voice role
|2 episodes
|}

=== Stand-up ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Title
!Notes
|-
|2021
|''Ricky Velez: Here's Everything''
|HBO Special
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|https://www.rickyvelez.com/}}
*{{IMDb name|nm6618353}}
*{{AllMovie name|ricky-velez-an467437}}
*{{Rotten Tomatoes person|ricky_velez}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Velez, Ricky}}
[[Category:1986 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American comedy actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American television writers]]
[[Category:American stand-up comedians]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American male actors]]
[[Category:Male actors from Queens, New York]]
[[Category:21st-century American comedians]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:Comedians from Queens, New York]]
[[Category:American male comedians]]

Revision as of 21:55, 8 June 2024

Ricky Velez
Born1988 or 1989 (age 35–36)[1]
Queens, New York, U.S.
Medium
  • Stand-up
  • film
  • television
Years active2007–present
Children1

Ricky Velez is an American stand-up comedian, writer, and actor.

Early life

Ricky Velez was born and raised in Queens, New York in a blue-collar family with two brothers.[2][3] Velez is half Puerto Rican and half Irish.[4] One of his brothers introduced him to stand-up comedy through half-hour specials on Comedy Central and watching The Daily Show.[5] He studied drama at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria, Queens.[6][2]

After graduating, Velez attended college for less than a year before he returned to Queens and tried to join the military.[2] He was denied to the military and started working various odd jobs, including for his friend's carpet company, where he would lay carpet for red carpet events.[2][5][3]

Career

After returning to Queens at age 19, Velez started working for the Broadway Comedy Club, where he would take tickets while performing stand-up each night.[5][7] He was dealing with depression at the time and felt he needed "the instant gratification that stand-up gives".[2] During this time, he met Pete Davidson and would later become roommates with him.[3]

In 2014, Velez won the New York's Funniest Stand-Up competition at the New York Comedy Festival.[2] As a result, he was able to land a role as one of the contributors for The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore (2015-2016).[2][8] He has said that the experience on the show taught him that he did not like making daily television.[2] Velez has played guest roles in several television shows, including one episode in Crashing in 2018.[9]

Velez collaborated with his long-time best friend Pete Davidson on The King of Staten Island, a semi-biographical film about Davidson by Judd Apatow that was released in 2021.[3] Velez co-starred with Davidson and was also a writer and producer on the film.[3][10] Velez was cast in June 2019 after Davidson asked him to audition for the part of one of his close friends who is a bad influence on Davidson's character.[6][3][4] Velez was excited to be able to deal with topics such as mental health in the film.[3][11] Velez was also signed by William Morris Endeavor in 2021.[12]

Judd Apatow helped Velez release his first stand-up special later that year on HBO, Ricky Velez: Here's Everything, which was executive produced by Apatow and Pete Davidson.[2] The special deals with topics such as mental health and his family.[13] Velez described the special as "me introducing myself to the world".[5] He had attempted to film the special at his high school alma mater, the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, but the board of education did not allow it.[2] It was eventually filmed over two shows at Brooklyn Steel on August 28, 2021, with most of the footage used in the special from the second show.[7] Velez had toured for five months prior to filming to work on the material during the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] The special received positive reviews, with Jason Zinoman in The New York Times describing it as a "solid introduction to his spiky, propulsive comedy".[14][13]

In 2023, Velez portrayed Alex in the television comedy show Single Drunk Female, where he is the former boss and eventual boyfriend of Sam, portrayed by Sofia Black-D'Elia.[15]

Personal life

When Velez was 21, he became roommates with Pete Davidson in Brooklyn Heights.[2] Velez has said that period of his life was fun but unhealthy.[2]

Velez's mom died in 2016, a few months before The Nightly Show was cancelled, which led to a tough period in his life.[2] He was able to use his stand-up performances, especially at the New York Comedy Club, as part of his healing process.[2] During the pandemic, Velez started attending therapy when he did not have stand-up as an emotional outlet.[5]

Velez has a son, born in 2018, who can be seen playing guitar at the end of his 2021 HBO comedy special.[3][2]

Filmography

Films

Year Title Role Notes
2020 The King of Staten Island Oscar co-writer, co-producer
2022 I Love My Dad Derek
2022 The Listener Ellis
2023 Good Burger 2 Scrawny goon

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2015 Master of None Ricky 1 episode
2015-2016 The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore contributer
2018 Crashing Himself 1 episode
2021 Pause with Sam Jay Party guest 1 episode
2023 Single Drunk Female Alex 6 episodes
2023 Bupkis Ricky 1 episode
2023 Ten Year Old Tom voice role 2 episodes

Stand-up

Year Title Notes
2021 Ricky Velez: Here's Everything HBO Special

References

  1. ^ Wilstein, Matt (October 19, 2021). "Ricky Velez: From Late-Night Troublemaker to 'Undeniable' Stand-Up Star". The Daily Beast.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o McCarthy, Sean (October 27, 2021). "Ricky Velez Reveals Why The NYC Board Of Education Wouldn't Let Him Film His HBO Special At The High School He Attended". Decider.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Nordstrom, Leigh (June 30, 2020). "Ricky Velez, The Next Big Thing in Stand-Up, on Healing Through Comedy". WWD.
  4. ^ a b Martinez, Kiko (June 12, 2020). "Meet Comedian Ricky Velez, Who Plays Pete Davidson's Puerto Rican-Irish BFF in 'The King of Staten Island'". Remezcla.
  5. ^ a b c d e Given, Molly (October 19, 2021). "Ricky Velez is introducing himself to the world – Metro Philadelphia". metrophiladelphia.com.
  6. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 5, 2019). "Universal's Judd Apatow-Pete Davidson Comedy Adds Stand-Up Comedian Ricky Velez". Deadline.
  7. ^ a b c Zemler, Emily (October 22, 2021). "Rising Comedian Ricky Velez Knows 'People are Addicted to Fun' in New HBO Special". Observer.
  8. ^ Steinberg, Brian (January 9, 2015). "Comedy Central's 'Nightly Show' Takes Shape With Panel". Variety.
  9. ^ Otterson, Joe (June 18, 2020). "Ricky Velez Sets HBO Comedy Pilot With 'King of Staten Island' Team (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  10. ^ Wong, Curtis M. (October 13, 2021). "Comedian Ricky Velez Is Proving Himself As More Than Just Pete Davidson's Best Friend". Yahoo News.
  11. ^ "Ricky Velez Will Be Undeniable". Vulture. October 23, 2020.
  12. ^ Cordero, Rosy (October 13, 2021). "WME Signs Comedian Ricky Velez". Deadline.
  13. ^ a b McCarthy, Sean (October 25, 2021). "'Ricky Velez Here's Everything' HBO Max Review: Stream It or Skip It?".
  14. ^ Zinoman, Jason (October 29, 2021). "Four Stand-Up Specials That Showcase Hard-Working Comics". The New York Times.
  15. ^ Robledo, Anthony (April 24, 2023). "Why "Single Drunk Female" Explored Emotional Sobriety In Season 2". BuzzFeed News.
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