Julio Torres

Last updated

Julio Torres
Born1987 (age 36–37)
San Salvador, El Salvador
Education The New School (BA)
Occupations
  • comedian
  • writer
  • actor
Years active2012–present

Julio Torres (born 1987) [1] is a Salvadoran writer, comedian, and actor. He is known as a writer for Saturday Night Live and as the co-creator, writer, and executive producer of the HBO series Los Espookys . He previously wrote for The Chris Gethard Show on truTV. He directed, wrote, and starred in the surrealist comedy film Problemista.

Contents

Early life and education

Julio Torres was born in 1987 in San Salvador, El Salvador. His father is a civil engineer; his mother is an architect and fashion designer. His mother and his sister, a designer, have collaborated with him on comedy projects. He moved to New York City to attend The New School; he graduated with a degree in literary studies in 2011. He says he has always wanted to pursue a career in writing for comedy. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Career

Torres worked as a writer on The Chris Gethard Show before he was hired to write for Saturday Night Live . [6] He worked at SNL from 2016 to 2019, writing sketches including "Papyrus" and "Wells for Boys". [2] [7] He was nominated for four Emmys as a member of the SNL writing team. [8] He appears on The Tonight Show and other late-night programs. [2] [3] His comedy is frequently described by critics as "otherworldly" and "surrealist," with elements of the fantastical and a melancholy undercurrent. [9] [10] [11]

After pitching a Spanish-language comedy to HBO, the comedian Fred Armisen brought Torres and Ana Fabrega on to co-write the series. Armisen and Torres had met when the former hosted SNL. [2] Torres was also a co-showrunner and actor on the project, which became Los Espookys . The first season aired in 2019, and it was renewed for a second season later that year. [12] Torres plays Andrés, a wealthy heir who searches for answers about his mysterious past. [13]

His comedy special My Favorite Shapes premiered August 10, 2019, on HBO. It was directed by his frequent collaborator Dave McCary and produced by Fred Armisen and Lorne Michaels. [14] Torres played the gay barista Jules in the 2021 comedy film Together Together . His first feature film, Problemista , was released in the United States released by A24 on March 1, 2024. [15] Torres wrote and directed the film, a surrealist comedy. He portrayed Alejandro, an El Salvadoran creative struggling to succeed in New York City before his work visa expires, alongside Tilda Swinton. [16]

Personal life

Torres is gay. He said in June 2020, "I never want to claim to speak for anybody else's experience. I am not here representing immigrants. I am not here representing Salvadorians, or Hispanics, or gay people. I can only share what's in me and that may or may not ring true with people, but I have never wanted to use any of those things as a calling card." [17] [8]

He is vegan. [13]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2019My Favorite Shapes by Julio TorresSelf
2021 Together Together Jules
2023 Problemista AlejandroAlso writer and director
Nimona Diego the Squire

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2015–2016 The Chris Gethard Show Self2 episodes
The Special Without Brett Davis Various roles6 episodes
2016 Horace and Pete Young hipsterEpisode #1.1
The Jim Gaffigan Show QED MCEpisode: "The List"
High Maintenance Art school kid 2Episode: "Tick"
2017–2019 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Correspondent8 episodes
Late Night with Seth Meyers Self3 episodes
2017 Comedy Central Stand-Up Presents SelfEpisode: "Julio Torres"
2018 The Shivering Truth Dale (voice)Episode: "Ogled Inklings"
2019 The Other Two JordanEpisode: "Chase Turns Fourteen"
2019–2022 Los Espookys Andrés ValdezMain role; also writer and executive producer
2021 Bob's Burgers Rodrigo (voice)Episode: "Y Tu Tina También"
Shrill Ricochet3 episodes
Ziwe SelfEpisode: "Immigration"
Tuca & Bertie (voice)Episode: "Sleepovers"
2021–present The Great North Crispin Cienfuegos (voice)15 episodes
2022 Search Party QuiqueEpisode: "Kings"

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References

  1. ↑ Yuan, Jada (June 11, 2019). "Julio Torres, Rising Weirdo: SNL's Otherworldly Secret Weapon Is about to Take over HBO". Vulture . Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Leifeste, Luke (March 2, 2018). "Julio Torres Is Changing the Shape of Comedy". GQ. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Julio Torres, BA Literary Studies '11". New School Alumni on Medium. October 24, 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  4. ↑ Travers, Ben (July 8, 2020). "'My Favorite Shapes' Molds Julio Torres' Imagination into a Gift for the World". IndieWire. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  5. ↑ Associated Press (September 11, 2019). "De 'Saturday Night Live' a HBO: el salvadoreño Julio Torres triunfa como comediante en Estados Unidos". Elsalvador.com (in Spanish). Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  6. ↑ Gordon, Arielle (August 6, 2018). "The Chris Gethard Show calls it quits". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Julio Torres". IMDb. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  8. 1 2 Hereford, André (August 8, 2019). "Julio Torres: The (New) Shape of Comedy". Metro Weekly. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  9. ↑ Herman, Alison (August 9, 2019). "It Is Not What It Is: The Magical World of Julio Torres". The Ringer. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  10. ↑ Soloski, Alexis (August 16, 2019). "Comedian Julio Torres Changes His Hair Color (Again)". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  11. ↑ Hurtado, Ludwig (August 20, 2019). "With his otherworldly comedy, Julio Torres doesn't check any boxes". NBC News. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  12. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (July 25, 2019). "'Los Espookys' Renewed For Season 2 By HBO". Deadline. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  13. 1 2 Rodrigues, Olivia (August 16, 2019). "The Radical Empathy of Comedian Julio Torres". frieze. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  14. ↑ "My Favorite Shapes by Julio Torres". hbo.com. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  15. ↑ Cordero, Rosy (January 18, 2024). "A24 Sets Release Date For Julio Torres's 'Problemista' Starring Tilda Swinton & RZA". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  16. ↑ Cardenas, Cat (March 17, 2023). "The First Movie From SNL's Weirdo Genius Is a Hilarious Twist on the American Dream". Slate . Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  17. ↑ Kirkl, Justin (June 23, 2020). "Life is more complex than one coming-out speech". Esquire . Retrieved November 17, 2020.

Further reading

  1. ↑ Online version is titled "The otherworldly comedy of Julio Torres".
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