Yenque's professional name, J.R. Yenque, is a tribute to his late grandfather, Jose Rafael Yenque, whose guidance had a profound impact on his life and career. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Yenque is the son of veteran actress Teresa Yenque, who has appeared in numerous TV shows and films, including 30 Rock, Law & Order, and The Sopranos.
Growing up, Yenque would often watch his mother's performances from the backstages and wings of the New York theater scene. At the age of 14, his life took a dramatic turn when his mother enrolled him in an acting workshop. This workshop helped him overcome his shyness, stutter, and weight issues, transforming him into a confident and gifted actor.
Yenque attended several New York City high schools before landing at City-As-School, an alternative high school that utilizes various art forms to engage its students. It was there that he discovered his talents as a dancer and received a scholarship to Ballet Hispanico of New York. He trained extensively and performed with several theater companies, eventually touring internationally in West Side Story, earning rave reviews for his portrayal of Bernardo.
Yenque's discovery of drama as a transformative tool at 14 has driven his passion for helping teens navigate the challenges of adolescence. In 2014, he founded Arts for a Better Tomorrow, an international nonprofit organization that offers innovative social-emotional arts-based programs to youth. The organization teaches dramatic arts and media storytelling to help young people develop life-coping tools, self-care, and self-expression.
Arts for a Better Tomorrow serves youth in underserved communities, public schools, and orphanages in Los Angeles, California, and Tijuana, Mexico. As the founder of the organization, Yenque has presented at several major academic conferences, including the Association for Theatre in Higher Education and the International Association for Language Learning Technology.
With over a decade of experience as a professional actor and devoted humanitarian, Yenque has earned an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from California State University San Marcos. He continues to inspire others, particularly today's youth, through his work both on and off-screen.
