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, Sal used entertainment as his muse, from impersonations of iconic actors to singing Latin Jazz in nightclubs. In 2001, he was discovered and invited to audition for the infamous Chicago’s Second City where he won a three-year scholarship and studied Improv, Classical, Sketch Writing and Musical Theater and soon after joined their Second City Tour Company. His love for performing found him in many Chicago productions at The Goodman Theater to the Chicago Theatre Building, from Nuyorican Poet Miguel Pinero plays to the Life of Cesar Chavez musicals. After the loss of Sal’s father in 2007, he made the decision to move on to Los Angeles in 2009 to fully pursue Film and TV. You can currently find Sal Velez Jr. on the FX New series Mayans M.C. as “Big Benny” , created by Kurt Sutter, starring Emilio Rivera, Danny Pino and J.D. Pardo. Also as Leonardo on ABC’s newest drama “10 Days in the Valley” starring Kyra Sedgwick. Projects on the way Netflix Series “Black Summer” as Velez.. Gavin Oconner’s “Torrance” Warner Brothers as Migue, “Gente-fied” as Erik a Comedy series produced by Macro and America Ferrara,. Recurring roles on NBC’s drama Chicago Justice as Adrian Carrera or opposite Ron Perlman in season two of Amazon’s Hand of God as Mike Alcala . Known for the dark role of Mexican cartel Negro in Savages, directed by Oliver Stone and the Voice of Berto, in Telltale Games’ “Walking Dead Sal Velez Jr. was selected to be the cover of Chicago’s Latino Extra newspaper for Next Generation Puerto Rican Actors. Sal Velez Jr. was chosen as the monthly cover of Nuevo Impact magazine. Sal Velez Jr. also received the 2013 Chrysalis Award by the San Jose Obrero Mission for his work with family shelters. “To inspire Laughter, create Knowledge, and to know Love is the true pursuit of happiness”. -Sal Velez Jr.