David Labrava

{{short description|American actor}}

{{Infobox person

| name = David Labrava

| image = File:David Labrava Sons of Anarchy FX Premiere September 2014 (cropped).jpg

| alt =

| caption = Labrava in 2014

| birth_name = David M. Labrava

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1962|10|19}}

| birth_place = Miami, Florida, U.S.

| occupation = {{flatlist|

| known_for = Playing Happy Lowman on Sons of Anarchy (2008–2014), and Mayans M.C. (2018–2023)

}}

David M. Labrava (born October 19, 1962){{cite web|last=Labrava|first=David|title=You People Rock!!! Thank You for All the Birthday Wishes!!!!!!|url=https://twitter.com/davidlabrava/status/391719007981539328|website=Twitter|access-date=5 December 2013|date=19 October 2013}} is an American actor, writer, tattoo artist, former member of the Hells Angels,{{cite web|last=Marnell|first=Blair|title=David Labrava on 'Sons of Anarchy'|url=http://www.craveonline.com/tv/interviews/177881-david-labrava-on-sons-of-anarchy|website=Crave Online|access-date=10 December 2013|date=10 November 2011}}{{cite web |title=David M. LaBrava is charged with two counts of felony drug possession and two misdemeanor charges for possession of the marijuana and the pipe. |url=http://www.zimbio.com/Hells+Angels/articles/b3iDA3BFJfZ/David+LaBrava+charged+two+counts+felony+drug |website=Zimbio |access-date=10 December 2013 |date=3 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927214918/http://www.zimbio.com/Hells%2BAngels/articles/b3iDA3BFJfZ/David%2BLaBrava%2Bcharged%2Btwo%2Bcounts%2Bfelony%2Bdrug |archive-date=27 September 2012 }} and motorcycle enthusiast. He is best known for his role as Happy Lowman in the FX series Sons of Anarchy and its spinoff, Mayans M.C..

Early life

Labrava was born in Miami, Florida, and spent time in Amsterdam, where he worked as a tattoo artist and bouncer at a club. He grew up riding dirt bikes and got his first Harley Davidson when he was 17. At 14, he was cooking chicharrón with Cubans in Hialeah, Florida.

Career

Labrava was initially hired as a technical advisor for Sons of Anarchy before being cast in the role of Happy Lowman. He remained with the show from its inception in 2008 until its finale in 2014.{{cite web|title=Sons of Ararchy {{!}} Happy |url=http://www.fxnetworks.com/soa/cast/happy |website=FX Networks |access-date=10 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212093141/http://www.fxnetworks.com/soa/cast/happy |archive-date=12 December 2013 }} He also co-wrote season 4, episode 10, titled "Hands," which was the only episode in seven seasons that ever won an award, an honorable mention from Time magazine.{{cite web|last=Radish|first=Christina|title=David Labrava Sons of Anarchy Interview|url=http://collider.com/david-labrava-sons-of-anarchy-interview/|website=Collider|date=15 November 2011 |access-date=5 December 2013}}

Labrava has authored a best-selling autobiography entitled Becoming A Son.{{cite tweet |author=David Labrava|user=DavidLabrava|number = 678094549776928776 |date=December 18, 2015|title=Book}}

Labrava wrote, produced, directed, and starred in his first feature film, Street Level (2015),{{cite book| title=Street Level| date=2015| author=Labrava, David (Writer, Producer, Director, Star)| url=https://m.imdb.com/title/tt4438594/?ref_=m_nm_knf_i2}} which is available on digital platforms.

Additionally, he writes the "Burnin' Rubber with Jimmy Carbone" column in the national hot rod magazine, Ol' Skool Rodz. He is credited as Dave "D.L." Labrava.{{cite news|title=Horn - Crew |url=http://www.olskoolrodz.com/horn/ |work=Ol' Skool Rodz |access-date=10 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213135311/http://www.olskoolrodz.com/horn/ |archive-date=13 December 2013 }} Previously, he used to write for The Horse motorcycle magazine and built a bike that made the cover in March 2001.{{cite journal|issue=13|date=March 2001|journal=The Horse |title=Cover}}

Personal life

Labrava resides in Oakland, California, with his dogs and practices Buddhism.{{cite web|last=Labrava|first=David|title=The Way of the Buddha is Unattainable I Vow to Attain It.|url=https://twitter.com/davidlabrava/status/401505222847000576|publisher=Twitter|date=15 November 2013}}

His son, Tycho, died by suicide on May 5, 2018, at the age of 16. There had been no previous outward signs of depression or any other mental health issues. Labrava wrote on Instagram, "I am broken," and encouraged his followers to communicate with their loved ones, because "there may not be any signs."{{cite web |title=Sons of Anarchy's David Labrava's Teenage Son Commits Suicide |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/934349/sons-of-anarchy-star-david-labrava-s-teenage-son-commits-suicide |website=E! Online |access-date=28 July 2018 |date=2018}}

=Legal trouble=

In 2008, Labrava was arrested in Missoula County, Montana, on two felony counts of possession of marijuana and two misdemeanor counts for possession of paraphernalia. A search warrant was obtained for his hotel room after a woman reported he had held her there against her will. After the search warrant was executed, 1.5 grams of hashish and a pipe were discovered.

Filmography

class="wikitable sortable"
Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

2008–2014Sons of AnarchyHappy LowmanTelevision series
Main role
71 episodes
Also a consultant
2015Street Level{{cite web| title=Street Level| date=2015| author=Labrava, David (Writer, Producer, Director Star)| website=IMDb| url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4438594/}}RicoFilm
2016The PackageTonyShort
20171% - The Voice WithinTop DogFilm
2018LuciferMikeTelevision series
1 episode
2018–2023Mayans M.C.Happy LowmanTelevision series
8 episodes
2019Tyga & YG & Santana: MamacitaHimselfMusic Video
2020Hunter's MoonVinnieFilm
2021ShadowsNicolasFilm
Post-production
TBDIrish Whisper 'The' Story of Jimmy HayeTellisFilm
Pre-production

References

{{Reflist}}