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IMDbPro

Luna Lauren Velez

  • Actress
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,0003458
Luna Lauren Velez at an event for Dexter (2006)
Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, and Hailee Steinfeld explain to IMDb how they shout, grunt, and yell their 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' voiceover lines; Luna Lauren Velez and Brian Tyree Henry reveal what they would be doing with their lives in another universe; and more.
Play clip3:04
Shameik Moore and Jake Johnson Improv a 'Spider-Verse' Scene
17 Videos
66 Photos
Born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, New York among eight siblings, including her twin sister Lorraine, Lauren Velez dreamed of becoming an actress ever since she played a groundhog in a school play in second grade. Immediately following high school, she received a scholarship from the Alvin Ailey Dance School which led to her first job performing in the national touring company of the musical "Dreamgirls". Later she became understudy for actress Phylicia Rashad in Broadway's "Into the Woods". Her most visible role was that of "Nina Moreno" on the cop drama New York Undercover (1994). With her varied performances and Afro-Latin background and appearance, Velez's success is considered -- by fans and critics alike -- a breakthrough for Latina actresses who do not fit the stereotypical "Europeanized Hollywood" version of Latin females. As a result, Velez deservedly has a large multi-ethnic following.
BornNovember 2, 1964
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornNovember 2, 1964
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,0003458
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Awards
    • 6 wins & 18 nominations

Photos66

Luna Lauren Velez in Dexter (2006)
Luna Lauren Velez in Thicker Than Blood (1998)
Mickey Rourke and Luna Lauren Velez in Thicker Than Blood (1998)
Donnie Wahlberg, Marisa Ramirez, and Luna Lauren Velez in Blue Bloods (2010)
Téa Leoni and Luna Lauren Velez in Madam Secretary (2014)
Donnie Wahlberg and Luna Lauren Velez in Blue Bloods (2010)
Luna Lauren Velez and Chet Grissom in How to Get Away with Murder (2014)
Luna Lauren Velez in How to Get Away with Murder (2014)
Luna Lauren Velez in How to Get Away with Murder (2014)
Luna Lauren Velez in How to Get Away with Murder (2014)
Luna Lauren Velez in How to Get Away with Murder (2014)
Viola Davis and Luna Lauren Velez in How to Get Away with Murder (2014)

Known for:

Dexter (2006)
Dexter
8.7
TV Series
  • Lt. Maria LaGuerta
  • Capt. Maria LaGuerta
  • Det. Maria LaGuerta(as Lauren Velez)
Oz (1997)
Oz
8.7
TV Series
  • Dr. Gloria Nathan
Oscar Isaac, Jake Johnson, Daniel Kaluuya, Hailee Steinfeld, Karan Soni, Shameik Moore, and Issa Rae in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
9.0
  • Rio Morales(voice)
  • 2023
James DeMonaco, Gerard McMurray, and Kristen Solis in The First Purge (2018)
The First Purge
5.2
  • Luisa
  • 2018

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actress

  • Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse
    • Rio Morales (voice)
    • Post-production
    • 2024
  • Oscar Isaac, Jake Johnson, Daniel Kaluuya, Hailee Steinfeld, Karan Soni, Shameik Moore, and Issa Rae in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
    Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
    • Rio Morales (voice)
    • 2023
  • Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)
    Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
    • Breanna Diaz
    • 2023
  • Mary J. Blige, Shane Johnson, Method Man, Naturi Naughton, and Michael Rainey Jr. in Power Book II: Ghost (2020)
    Power Book II: Ghost
    • Evelyn Castillo
    • TV Series
    • 2022–2023
  • Jimmy Smits, Richard Kind, Kevin Rankin, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, and Amanda Warren in East New York (2022)
    East New York
    • Tamika Martin
    • TV Series
    • 2022–2023
  • John Malkovich, Tyrese Gibson, and Christopher Backus in Rogue Hostage (2021)
    Rogue Hostage
    • Sunshine
    • 2021
  • Andy Garcia and Dafne Keen in Ana (2020)
    Ana
    • Camila
    • 2020
  • New York Undercover (2019)
    New York Undercover
    • Nina Moreno
    • TV Movie
    • 2019
  • Samuel L. Jackson, Regina Hall, Richard Roundtree, and Jessie T. Usher in Shaft (2019)
    Shaft
    • Bennie Rodriguez (as Luna Lauren Vélez)
    • 2019
  • Haley Bennett in Swallow (2019)
    Swallow
    • Lucy (as Luna Velez)
    • 2019
  • Windows on the World (2019)
    Windows on the World
    • Eva
    • 2019
  • Murder
    • Captain Lili Alvarez
    • TV Movie
    • 2018
  • Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
    Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
    • Rio Morales (voice)
    • 2018
  • Tom Selleck, Bridget Moynahan, Donnie Wahlberg, and Will Estes in Blue Bloods (2010)
    Blue Bloods
    • Special Agent Veronica Molina
    • TV Series
    • 2017–2018
  • James DeMonaco, Gerard McMurray, and Kristen Solis in The First Purge (2018)
    The First Purge
    • Luisa
    • 2018
  • Lucas Till in MacGyver (2016)
    MacGyver
    • Cassandra Glover
    • TV Series
    • 2017

Producer

  • America Adrift (2016)
    America Adrift
    • producer (as Lauren Luna Vélez)
    • 2016

Videos17

Shameik Moore and Jake Johnson Improv a 'Spider-Verse' Scene
Clip 3:04
Shameik Moore and Jake Johnson Improv a 'Spider-Verse' Scene
Officer Downe
Clip 2:12
Officer Downe
Final Trailer
Trailer 1:40
Final Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:03
Official Trailer
Fox Promo Trailer
Trailer 0:32
Fox Promo Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:39
Official Trailer
In US Theaters July 4
Trailer 0:31
In US Theaters July 4
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:54
Official Trailer
Truth
Trailer 0:41
Truth
Dexter - Season 4
Trailer 3:29
Dexter - Season 4
Rosewood Lane
Trailer 1:56
Rosewood Lane
Rosewood Lane
Trailer 1:54
Rosewood Lane

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative names
    • Lauren Velez
  • Height
    • 5′ 4½″ (1.64 m)
  • Born
    • November 2, 1964
    • Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
  • Spouse
    • Mark Gordon1993 - 2015 (divorced)
  • Relatives
    • Lorraine Velez(Sibling)
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Pictorial

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Has an identical twin sister, Lorraine, who often plays doubles for her on sets. Her twin has taken over roles for her on Broadway, and starred in London on the West End stage in Rent.
  • Quotes
    I don't have children, but I have 17 nieces and nephews, and they more than make up for anything that I can do. I have a stepdaughter, and I adore her to pieces, and I think about adoption. There are so many kids at different ages and stages that need families.

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