J.R. Villarreal
{{Short description|American actor}}
{{Infobox person
|name = J.R. Villarreal
|alias = Juan Villarreal Jr.
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1992|9|28}}
|birth_place = Houston, Texas, United States
|occupation = {{Hlist | Actor | producer | assistant director}}
}}
J.R. Villarreal is an American actor, producer, and second-line director, best known for his roles as Javier in 2006 film Akeelah and the Bee, Black Scorpion on the Disney Channel action-comedy series Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion, and Tio Tonio on Netflix's On My Block-spinoff series Freeridge.
Career
= Early career: ''Akeelah and the Bee'' =
Inspired by early-2000s teen sitcoms That's So Raven, Boy Meets World, Even Stevens, and Smart Guy, Villarreal began acting at 10 years old, appearing in network procedurals Without a Trace, Cold Case, and House, among others.{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/ultra-violet-black-scorpion-scarlett-estevez-jr-villarreal-interview/|title=Scarlett Estevez & JR Villarreal Interview: Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion|first=Tatiana|last=Hullender|date=June 2, 2022|website=ScreenRant|access-date=May 22, 2024|archive-date=January 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103050655/https://screenrant.com/ultra-violet-black-scorpion-scarlett-estevez-jr-villarreal-interview/|url-status=live}} In 2006, he received acclaim for his role as Javier Mendez, a talented 12-year-old Mexican-American contestant from upscale LA suburb Woodland Hills who competes in the Scripps National Spelling Bee alongside actress Keke Palmer in Akeelah and the Bee, eventually becoming her friend (and subsequent love interest) in the film after extending an invitation to both his birthday party and middle school spelling club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/akeelah-and-the-bee-2006|title=Akeelah and the Bee movie review (2006); Roger Ebert|first=Roger|last=Ebert|website=www.rogerebert.com|access-date=2024-05-22|archive-date=2014-07-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708215542/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/akeelah-and-the-bee-2006|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2006/film/awards/akeelah-and-the-bee-1200517583/|title=Akeelah and the Bee|first=Justin|last=Chang|date=March 20, 2006|website=Variety|access-date=May 22, 2024|archive-date=July 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723071624/http://variety.com/2006/film/awards/akeelah-and-the-bee-1200517583/|url-status=live}}
= 2007–2014: Transition to adult roles =
In 2007, Villarreal appeared on procedural CSI: Miami before reuniting with Akeelah star Laurence Fishburne in the film adaptation of Don Winslow's 1997 novel The Death and Life of Bobby Z, appearing as the title character's son, Kit.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2007/film/reviews/bobby-z-1200555479/|title=Bobby Z|first=Joe|last=Leydon|date=October 9, 2007|website=Variety|access-date=May 22, 2024|archive-date=May 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521010732/https://variety.com/2007/film/reviews/bobby-z-1200555479/|url-status=live}} In 2011, Villarreal starred in film Magic City Memoirs as Mikey Acosta, a star high school baseball prospect in his senior year trying to navigate amongst the pressures and temptations of the Miami.{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmiami.org/pdf/press_clippings/jan2010/mh1-3-2010_magic.pdf|title='Magic City Memoirs' is youthful filmmakers' tribute to Miami|first=Lydia|last=Martin|website=The Miami Herald|date=January 3, 2010|access-date=December 18, 2024|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101636/http://www.filmiami.org/pdf/press_clippings/Jan2010/MH1-3-2010_Magic.pdf|url-status=live}} The film premiered at the Miami International Film Festival, winning the Pursuit of Perfection Award, before later premiering on streaming service Netflix in 2015. In 2013, Villarreal appeared in independent horror-comedy Ghost Team One as Brad, a college-aged roommate in a house thought to be haunted.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-ghost-team-one-1200725755/|title=Film Review: 'Ghost Team One'|first=Geoff|last=Berkshire|date=October 15, 2013|website=Variety|access-date=May 22, 2024|archive-date=May 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240522040038/https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-ghost-team-one-1200725755/|url-status=live}}
= 2015–present: Sitcoms, ''Black Scorpion'', ''Freeridge'' & ''Landman'' =
While moving to behind-the-scenes roles as a producer on film projects such as An American in Texas and Scumbags, Villarreal recurred on multiple television series: High & Mighty, Netflix' Medal of Honor, and ABC family sitcom United We Fall, which lasted for one season.{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/guillermo-diaz-united-we-fall/|title='Scandal' star Guillermo Diaz explains why he left drama behind for new sitcom 'United We Fall'|magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}
In 2022, Villarreal was cast in the lead role as Black Scorpion / Cruz de la Vega on Disney Channel program Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion, a show recognized by critics for its meaningful celebration of cultural heritage and the customs of the Mexican American community. The show remained on the network for 16 episodes. He would next recur as comedic relief Tio Tonio on Netflix' short-lived On My Block spin-off Freeridge.{{Cite web|url=https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/freeridge-cast-guide-on-my-block|title=Solve the Mystery of Who's Who on 'Freeridge'|website=Netflix Tudum|access-date=2024-05-22|archive-date=2023-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207093921/https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/freeridge-cast-guide-on-my-block|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://tvline.com/news/freeridge-cancelled-season-netflix-on-my-block-spinoff-1234970620/|title=On My Block Spinoff Freeridge Cancelled by Netflix After One Season|first=Andy|last=Swift|date=April 12, 2023|website=TVLine|access-date=May 22, 2024|archive-date=May 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521005118/https://tvline.com/news/freeridge-cancelled-season-netflix-on-my-block-spinoff-1234970620/|url-status=live}} Villarreal appeared as Juan "Cinco" Lopez, the underworld-dealing second husband of Latin vocalist Jenni Rivera in Jenni, a 2024 biopic about Rivera's life.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/03/jenni-rivera-biopic-vix-film-annie-gonzalez-cast-1235281872/|title=Jenni Rivera Biopic Greenlit At Vix; Annie Gonzalez To Star & Executive Produce|first=Rosy|last=Cordero|date=March 8, 2023|website=Deadline|access-date=May 22, 2024|archive-date=January 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111115354/https://deadline.com/2023/03/jenni-rivera-biopic-vix-film-annie-gonzalez-cast-1235281872/|url-status=live}}
In 2024, Villarreal received acclaim for his recurring arc as antagonist Manuel Lopez on Taylor Sheridan television drama Landman set in the Texas Oil fields.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/04/landman-octavio-rodriguez-j-r-villarreal-cast-1235876647/|title=Taylor Sheridan's 'Landman' Adds Octavio Rodriguez & J.R. Villarreal|first=Rosy|last=Cordero|date=April 5, 2024|website=Deadline|access-date=May 22, 2024|archive-date=April 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417080500/https://deadline.com/2024/04/landman-octavio-rodriguez-j-r-villarreal-cast-1235876647/|url-status=live}} He will next appear as Chino in 2025 thriller film The Low-End Theory.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/sidney-flanigan-joins-the-low-end-theory-cast-1235638461/|title=Sidney Flanigan Boards Indie Thriller 'The Low End Theory'|first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=November 27, 2023|website=Deadline|access-date=December 18, 2024|archive-date=December 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213191928/https://deadline.com/2023/11/sidney-flanigan-joins-the-low-end-theory-cast-1235638461/|url-status=live}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 2003
| Senor White | | |
| 2005
| Harvest of Redemption | Young Oscar | |
| 2006
| Javier Mendez | |
| 2007
| The Death and Life of Bobby Z | Kit | |
| 2011
| Mikey Acosta | |
| 2013
| Brad | |
| 2015
| Hector | |
| rowspan="2"| 2017
| An American in Texas | Paul Villarreal | Co-Producer |
| Whiteblood
| Rico | |
| 2022
| Scumbags | | Exec-Producer |
| 2023
| The Uncanny | Terrence | |
| 2024
| Jenni | Juan 'Cinco' Lopez | |
| 2025
| The Low-End Theory | Chino | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 2003
| Nelson Rodriguez | Episode: "A Tree Falls" |
| 2004
| Boy #2 | Episode: "The Plan" |
| rowspan="3"| 2005
| Marcos Garcia | Episode: "Promising Treatment" |
| House
| Manny | Episode: "Humpty Dumpty" |
| Ghost Whisperer
| Joseph Borgia | Episode: "On the Wings of a Dove" |
| 2007
| Ben Tavez | Episode: "No Man's Land" |
| rowspan="2"| 2013
| Chamacas | | Episode: "Bikini Line" |
| The Bridge
| Mando | Episode: "The Beast" |
| 2014
| Nights with Platanito | Himself | Guest Appearance (2 episodes) |
| 2017
| High & Mighty | Hugo | Recurring (7 episodes) |
| 2018
| Justin Gallegos / Gallegos | Recurring (2 episodes) |
| 2020
| Felix Rodriguez | Recurring (3 episodes) |
| 2022
| Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion | Black Scorpion / Cruz de la Vega | Lead role (16 episodes) |
| 2023
| Tio Tonio | Recurring (7 episodes) |
| 2024
| Landman | Manuel Lopez | Recurring (4 episodes) |
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Villarreal, J.R.}}
Category:Male actors from Houston
Category:Hispanic and Latino American male actors
Category:American male child actors
Category:American male film actors