Julio Torres
Born (1987-02-11) February 11, 1987
EducationThe New School (BA)
Occupations
  • comedian
  • writer
  • actor
Years active2012–present

Julio Torres (born February 11, 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.

Early life and education

Julio Torres was born in 1987 in San Salvador, El Salvador. His father is a civil engineer, and his mother is an architect and fashion designer; she, along with his designer sister, has collaborated with him on his comedy projects.

Torres moved to New York to attend The New School, where he graduated with a degree in literary studies in 2011. His aim had always been to pursue a career in comedy writing.[2][3][4][5]

Career

Torres worked as a writer on The Chris Gethard Show before being 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 has also appeared 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.

Torres' first feature film Problemista is slated for release in 2024.[15]

Personal life

Torres is gay. On his identity as it relates to his comedy, he said in 2020, "I never, 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."[16][8]

He is a vegan.[13]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2019 My Favorite Shapes by Julio Torres Self
2021 Together Together Jules
2023 Problemista Alejandro Also writer and director
Nimona Diego the Squire

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2015–2016 The Chris Gethard Show Self 2 episodes
The Special Without Brett Davis Various roles 6 episodes
2016 Horace and Pete Young hipster Episode #1.1
The Jim Gaffigan Show QED MC Episode: "The List"
High Maintenance Art school kid 2 Episode: "Tick"
2017–2019 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Correspondent 8 episodes
Late Night with Seth Meyers Self 3 episodes
2017 Comedy Central Stand-Up Presents Self Episode: "Julio Torres"
2018 The Shivering Truth Dale (voice) Episode: "Ogled Inklings"
2019 The Other Two Jordan Episode: "Chase Turns Fourteen"
2019–2022 Los Espookys Andrés Valdez Main role; also writer and executive producer
2021 Bob's Burgers Rodrigo (voice) Episode: "Y Tu Tina También"
Shrill Ricochet 3 episodes
Ziwe Self Episode: "Immigration"
Tuca & Bertie (voice) Episode: "Sleepovers"
2021–present The Great North Crispin Cienfuegos (voice) 15 episodes
2022 Search Party Quique Episode: "Kings"

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 (2018-03-02). "Julio Torres Is Changing the Shape of Comedy". GQ. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
  3. 1 2 "Julio Torres, BA Literary Studies '11". New School Alumni on Medium. 2019-10-24. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  4. Travers, Ben (2020-07-08). "'My Favorite Shapes' Molds Julio Torres' Imagination into a Gift for the World". IndieWire. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  5. Associated Press (2019-09-11). "De "Saturday Night Live" a HBO: el salvadoreño Julio Torres triunfa como comediante en Estados Unidos". Elsalvador.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  6. Gordon, Arielle (2018-08-06). "The Chris Gethard Show calls it quits". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
  7. "Julio Torres". IMDb. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  8. 1 2 Hereford, André (2019-08-08). "Julio Torres: The (New) Shape of Comedy". Metro Weekly. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  9. Herman, Alison (2019-08-09). "It Is Not What It Is: The Magical World of Julio Torres". The Ringer. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  10. Soloski, Alexis (2019-08-16). "Comedian Julio Torres Changes His Hair Color (Again)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  11. Hurtado, Ludwig (2019-08-20). "With his otherworldly comedy, Julio Torres doesn't check any boxes". NBC News. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  12. Andreeva, Nellie (2019-07-25). "'Los Espookys' Renewed For Season 2 By HBO". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  13. 1 2 Rodrigues, Olivia (2019-08-16). "The Radical Empathy of Comedian Julio Torres". Frieze. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  14. "My Favorite Shapes by Julio Torres". hbo.com. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  15. Cardenas, Cat (2023-03-17). "The First Movie From SNL's Weirdo Genius Is a Hilarious Twist on the American Dream". Slate. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  16. Kirkl, Justin (2020-06-23). "Life is more complex than one coming-out speech". Esquire. Retrieved 2020-11-17.

Further reading

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