Jose "Joey" Abril is a multifaceted individual who has made a name for himself in the entertainment industry as an actor, producer, writer, music composer, and lyrical artist. He is best recognized for his portrayal of gangster-type characters in blockbuster films such as Furious 7, alongside Vin Diesel, and his appearances in critically acclaimed TV shows like NBC's Chicago P.D, TNT's Murder in the First, and CBS's Extant, starring Halle Berry.
Since making his acting debut as an extra on Sons of Anarchy in 2013, Joey has accumulated an impressive 24 credits, including one as an Associate Producer for his work on Conflicted, a crime drama that explores the story of two brothers on opposite sides of the law who fight for justice in their own unique way.
While Joey has spent a significant amount of time playing gangsters, inmates, and recovering addicts on TV, he has actually spent a much larger portion of his life playing those roles in real life. Born in Los Angeles, California to teenage parents in the small East Side town of El Sereno, an area known for its strong Mexican culture and high gang violence, Joey grew up in a broken home with limited positive role models. As a result, he turned to gang life at the age of 14, following the example set by the gangsters and street types who surrounded him.
However, not long before his acting debut, Joey was released from jail for the last time and made a promise to himself and his family to turn his life around. Today, he is a motivational speaker and mentor to troubled youths who find themselves stuck in similar cycles of pain and violence. As a father of three and recently engaged, Joey prioritizes family above all else and channels his past experiences into his work.
On Instagram, Joey has gained over 17,000 followers by consistently sharing a message of hope and positivity with his audience. He promotes being a present and involved father, showcasing videos of himself coaching his son's football, baseball, and basketball teams at the same park where he used to engage in gang activity as a teenager. His popular hashtag #FromTheHoodToHollywood serves as a symbol of his transformation and a precursor to the transformations that are still to come.
