Ricky Velez

Ricky Velez, an American stand-up comedian, writer, and actor, was born in 1988 or 1989 in Queens, New York. Growing up in a blue-collar family with Puerto Rican and Irish heritage, Velez developed an early interest in comedy through half-hour specials on Comedy Central and “The Daily Show.” He pursued drama studies at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria, Queens. His journey into comedy began after a brief stint in college and various odd jobs, leading him to work at the Broadway Comedy Club where he would perform stand-up nightly. This period, which coincided with dealing with depression, established his career path and connected him with fellow comedian Pete Davidson, with whom he later became roommates.

Velez’s career gained significant momentum in 2014 when he won the New York’s Funniest Stand-Up competition at the New York Comedy Festival. This achievement led to a role as a contributor for “The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore” from 2015 to 2016. He has appeared in various television shows, including a guest role in “Crashing” in 2018. A notable milestone in his career was his collaboration with Pete Davidson and Judd Apatow on the 2020 film “The King of Staten Island.” Velez not only co-starred as Oscar but also contributed as a writer and co-producer, addressing themes such as mental health within the narrative. In 2021, he further cemented his standing by releasing his first HBO stand-up special, “Ricky Velez: Here’s Everything,” executive produced by Judd Apatow and Pete Davidson. The special, filmed at Brooklyn Steel, offered a personal introduction to his comedy, exploring topics like mental health and family.

His acting career has continued to expand with roles such as Derek in “I Love My Dad” (2022) and Ellis in “The Listener” (2022). In television, he portrayed Alex in six episodes of “Single Drunk Female” in 2023, where he played a significant recurring character. The same year, he also appeared in an episode of “Bupkis” and lent his voice to two episodes of “Ten Year Old Tom.” Velez’s growth in the entertainment industry has also been recognized by major agencies, culminating in his signing with William Morris Endeavor in 2021, and continuing representation by Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Entertainment Law Firm.