…And all the while, his 20-year acting career finds him juggling three key roles at same time: “Bishop” Losa on FX’s Mayans M.C., “Cristobal Sifuentes” on HBO’s Barry, and “Adam Siever” on CBS’s SEAL Team.
Mayans MC New Episode — Tuesday, October 30th FX Network, 10:00 PM
By Elia Esparza
FX’s Mayans M.C. premiered on September 4th and it has not disappointed! The Sons of Anarchy spinoff is trekking down the same path heading to television ratings “Hitsville.”
Michael Irby
Portraying, Obispo “Bishop” Losa, the Mayans MC club president is actor-producer, Michael Irby, who is currently a thespian on the go working on three shows simultaneously– a rare opportunity that doesn’t happen often. Aside from Mayans MC, Irby is also “Cristobal Sifuentes, a Bolivian drug lord on HBO’s Emmy-nominated dark comedy, Barry and he returns as “Adam Siever” on SEAL Team, for CBS.
We are so fortunate to have been able to pin down the super busy, juggler of three important roles actor to speak with us:
LatinHeat: You’ve been in several high profile TV series where your character is surrounded by a strong and loyal team of characters – Does Mayans MC feel different and if it does, how so?
Michael Irby: At the core it’s the same because you have men dealing with high intense situations, the difference was the loyalty was always to the law versus in Mayans the loyalty is to ourselves.
LH: How did the Mayans MC gig come about? Did they make you audition for the“Bishop” role?
MI: I absolutely had to audition. People tend to forget the steps that have to be taken to get the roles, but I feel really fortunate that I got called in to be auditioned. The rest is history.
LH: Tell us about “Bishop” – is he a bad ass with empathy or a bad ass with an evil streak deep down?
MI: Both sides of the coin, there’s a higher purpose to what were all doing and if you’ve got to bring out the evil in a situation than its going to come out. It goes back to the lone wolf mentality and military training. If you don’t step up you get the hammer so you have to step up. I believe the evil can be brought out in anyone in certain situations.
LH: I notice some of your past characters have a Latino last name but most are non-ethnicity specific. With your rich cultural background, who or how do you identify most with – Mexican American or Black or simply both, biracial? Only asking because I think in the acting profession, you’re in a win-win position—at least it should be.
MI: Been very fortunate to play an array of characters, I probably identify more in my part with my African American side of me. My cultural palettes is something I enjoyed growing up with my grandma two doors down from us, who always had the most amazing home-cooked Mexican food. My parents are still together, I would say I identify with both cultures. I never brought Latino or being black to the table. For me it was always about being honest and just being a good person. Growing up, the schools want you to check a box for one or the other and I couldn’t.
LH: In your opinion, what is it about Mayans MC that resonates with all audiences? It’s not just being watched by Latinos, but by a broader audience.
MI: You can connect with the family aspect about it on one level because you don’t have to like them but you put up with them because they’re family. On another level, something that resonates with everyone is that everyone wants to be a little bit of a bad guy. Everyone is interested and has been a little bit curious about what this culture is like– it’s a peek behind the curtain of what really goes on.
LH: You come from a sports background – soccer and read that an injury derailed a promising sports career and how you fell into acting – if your son one day tells you he wants to be an actor, what would you advise him?
MI: I would probably have my silent shudder, and then I would tell him to “GO FOR IT,” and I would hook him up with whoever I could and help him in any way I can. I don’t have a family business to pass down to him but I do have this.
LH: About your Mayan MC co-stars – had you ever worked with any of these guys before? Lots of testosterone – any tension among your cast mates?
MI: I had never worked with these guys before, with the exception of Tony Plana. It’s quite refreshing getting to work with these guys. In this industry, everyone can be so sensitive which is great, but we’re all there to get the work done. When it gets a little hot it gets a little hot, nothing personal but we are a family. It’s always love.
LH: In between shooting scenes, do actors kind of click in groups ala the way they’re portrayed in show?
MI: I’ve been in other shows where everyone runs back to their trailer, but on Mayans it really feels like we’re onto something special. Everybody hangs out in between tapes.
LH: I read that Dennis Haysbert and Max Martini are close friends, and because I’m a huge fan of both these actors, have to say you make a great team. Any chance you’ll work with them in a project the three of you create? I think it would be amazing!
MI: Hahaaha Dennis and Max are great! I’ve known them since we worked on The Unit. We hang out once or twice a week and we are always brainstorming something. We talk about doing a movie version of The Unit… so who knows, maybe we’ll do it. They’re both really special, I love those boys.
Michael Irby
LH: At the end of your career, what do you hope you would have accomplished as an actor?
MI: I would hope that I would have accomplished a stable family. I don’t need awards. I want to be able to provide for my family at my chosen profession with something I love doing, and to be able to get out of the business on my terms. I just want to be able to put out the most honest work that I could.
LH: To young actors with diverse backgrounds, what do you say to them as they confront many of the racism barriers that a lot of actors of color confront? How should they rise above it?
MI: The only way to rise above something is to not give it a breath. I don’t see racism as much of an issue in the industry anymore. At the end of the day we have to start making our own movies and telling our own stories and we cant be afraid and we all have to come together and rise up.
LH: To young Latinos glorifying Mayans MC and gang activity, what do you say to them to keep them on the straight and narrow?
MI: You can’t really glorify the Mayans as role models but you can see the people in the clubs as role models for everything they’ve been through. At the end of the day LOVE LOVE LOVE, yourself and others.
LH: Any tidbits you can share about future Mayans episodes?
MI: Season two, a comedic side and total departure from what everyone has come to know from Bishop. Stay tuned. You’re going to love it!
Thank you, Michael!
Irby is repped by Agency for the Performing Arts (APA); Coronel Group/Manager; Jonas Public Relations.
Michael Irby is an American actor/producer whose Mexican and African American roots allow him to bring an extra and unique cultural edge to every role he portrays.
Mayans MC Show Creators: Elgin James, Kurk Sutter Stars: JD Pardo, Clayton Cardenas, Sarah Bolger, Michael Irby, Carla Baratta, Richard Cabral, Raoul Max Trujillo, Antonio Jaramillo, Danny Pino, Edward James Olmos appearing in the 10 episodes, with original Sons of Anarchy co-star Emilio Rivera appearing in six of the 10 episodes of season one. Mayans MC has been picked up for a second season for 2019.
Emilio Rivera and Michael Irby
Michael Irby is an actor and producer born in Palm Springs, CA and raised in Cabezon, CA. He is most known for his portrayal of Charles Grey on The Unit (2006-2009). Other credits include HBO’s Barry (2108), Seal Team (2017-present) True Detective (2015), Almost Human (2014), Law Abiding Citizen (2009), Flightplan (2005), and Fast Five (2011). He has a passion for writing poetry, specifically spoken-word. Grabbing the attention of producers, his original poetry is often incorporated into his storylines.
*Special thanks for this interview to Lori Jonas and Hailey Kissee (Jonas PR)
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