Julio Torres (born 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. He directed, wrote, and starred in the surrealist comedy film Problemista.

Torres was born in San Salvador, El Salvador. His father is a civil engineer; his mother is an architect and fashion designer. His mother and his sister, a designer, have collaborated with him on comedy projects. He moved to New York City to attend The New School, graduating with a degree in literary studies in 2011. He says he has always wanted to pursue a career in comedy writing.^[2][3][4][5]

Torres worked as a writer on The Chris Gethard Show before he was 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 appears 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. His first feature film, Problemista, was released in the United States released by A24 on March 1, 2024.^[15] Torres wrote and directed the film, a surrealist comedy, in which he portrays Alejandro, an El Salvadoran creative struggling to succeed in New York City before his work visa expires, alongside Tilda Swinton.^[16]

Torres is gay. He said in June 2020, "I 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."^[17][8]

He is vegan.^[13]