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Richard Cabral

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Richard Cabral
Cabral at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con
Born (1983-08-28) August 28, 1983 (age 41)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other namesBaby Jokes
OccupationActor
Years active2009–present
SpouseJaniece Sarduy (2014 – div. 2020)

Richard Cabral (born August 28, 1983) is an American actor, occasional producer and writer. He is best known for his roles on Mayans M.C. on FX, the ABC television series American Crime, which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 2015, and the Fox television series Lethal Weapon.

Early life

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Cabral grew up in East Los Angeles, in a second-generation Mexican-American family. He became active in gang activity from an early age.[1] He said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight that his family had been a part of the gang scene since the 1990s. He was a documented member of Varrio 213 in Montebello (East Los Angeles), California. When he was a child, he was separated from his family. He was incarcerated at the age of 13 for stealing a wallet.[2] Cabral developed an addiction to crack cocaine by the age of 15.[3] He obtained his GED as a teenager but once again got in trouble with the law. He was sentenced to prison for violent assault with a deadly weapon (shooting), and was released at the age of 25.

Career

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Cabral's entertainment career started in the Chicano Rap music scene as a member of the chicano rap group "Charlie Row Campo". He created several albums and features under the moniker "Baby Jokes", or "Joker". The music mostly depicted negative, gang-related street tales.

While Cabral was trying to turn his life around, his friends recommended he seek out the services of Homeboy Industries, a gang-intervention program based in Los Angeles. There he auditioned and landed his first role, which led him to further his skills through acting classes and seminars. In 2009, he began to act, with Cabral appearing in the television show Southland.[2] In 2010, he appeared in the music video for Bruno Mars' single "Grenade".[4]

In 2015, Cabral starred in the mini-series American Crime, in which he portrayed the character Hector Tontz.[5] For his role, Cabral was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie at the 2015 Primetime Emmy Awards.

In 2016, Cabral co-wrote with Robert Egan a one-man show called Fighting Shadows, about his experiences as a former gang member who spent years in and out of prison.[6]

Awards

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In 2013, Cabral won the Lo Maximo award from Homeboy Industries, which honors HI service recipients who give back to the community.[7]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role
2011 A Better Life Marcelo Valdez
2012 End of Watch 'Demon'
2013 Snitch 'Flaco'
2013 The Counselor 'The Green Hornet'
2014 Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones Arturo Lopez
2014 Walk of Shame Gang Member
2016 Blood Father 'Joker'
2017 Khali the Killer Khali
2018 Breaking In Duncan
2018 Peppermint Salazar
2018 All Creatures Here Below Hugo
2019 Windows on the World Domingo

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2009, 2011 Southland 'Joker' Ruiz Episode: "Derailed"
Cholo #2 Episode: "Code 4"
'Leprechaun' 3 episodes
2011 Body of Proof Jorge Episode: "Hunting Party"
2012 Luck Store Clerk

Episode: "#1.3"

2012 "The Big Bang Theory" Court Scene; Groom Episode: "The Countdown Reflection"
2013 Chicago Fire Inmate Rios Episode: "A Hell of a Ride"
2014 Bosch Jimmy Uribe (uncredited) Episode: "Chapter One: 'Tis the Season"
2014 Key and Peele Eduardo Episode: "Terrorist Meeting"
2015–2017 American Crime Hector Tonz 11 episodes
Sebastian De Le Torre 5 episodes
Isaac Castillo 5 episodes
2016–2017 Lethal Weapon Detective Alex Cruz 8 episodes
2018–2022 Mayans M.C. Johnny 'Coco' Cruz 35[8] episodes

Writer: "Dialogue With the Mirror"

2019 Into the Dark Santo Cristobal Episode: "Culture Shock"
2023 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Ivan "Dutch" Hernandez Episode: Dutch Tears
2023 Twisted Metal Loud Recurring role

Music Videos

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Year Song Band
2012 Good Girls Bad Guys Falling In Reverse
2010 Grenade Bruno Mars

Discograghy

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Year Song Artist
2010 East Side Classics Jasper Loco & Baby Jokes
2010 Gutter Tales Jasper Loco & Baby Jokes
2011 Life On The Streets Baby Jokes
2012 Wanted Baby Jokes

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2015 67th Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Nominated
19th OFTA Television Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
2016 20th Satellite Awards Best Ensemble – Television Series (shared with the ensemble) Won

References

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  1. ^ "Former Mexican Gang Member Richard Cabral Reveals How He Left Streets to Star in ABC's 'American Crime'". Latin Post.
  2. ^ a b Del Barco, Mandalit (16 September 2015). "How Former Gang Member Richard Cabral Went From Prison To Prime Time". NPR.
  3. ^ "'American Crime' Star Richard Cabral Reveals His Past of Crack Addiction, Life in Gangs". Entertainment Tonight.
  4. ^ Chestang, Rafael (2015-04-08). "'American Crime' Star Richard Cabral Reveals His Past of Crack Addiction, Life in Gangs | Entertainment Tonight". www.etonline.com. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  5. ^ "Richard Cabral as Hector Tontz - American Crime". ABC.
  6. ^ "FIGHTING SHADOWS with Emmy Nominee Richard Cabral to Play Rosenthal Theater". Broadway World.
  7. ^ Homeboy Industries. "Richard Cabral - Lo Maximo 2013 - Homeboy Industries". YouTube. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  8. ^ "Richard Cabral | Actor, Producer, Writer". IMDb. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
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