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Ricky Velez

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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. He co-starred with his best friend, Pete Davidson, in The King of Staten Island (2021), which he also helped write and produce. His first stand-up special, Ricky Velez: Here's Everything, was released on HBO in October 2021.

Early life

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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

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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

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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

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Films

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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

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Year Title Role Notes
2015 Master of None Ricky 1 episode
2015–2016 The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore contributor
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

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

References

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  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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