Paul Rodriguez (actor)
Paul Rodriguez, Sr. is a Mexican-American actor, comedian, singer and rapper.
Early life
Paul Rodriguez was born in Culiacan, Sinaloa, to Mexican agriculture ranchers. His family later migrated to Compton, California, where Rodriguez enlisted in the United States Air Force and was subsequently stationed in Iceland and Duluth, Minnesota.Career
Television
Rodriguez first appeared in a.k.a. Pablo, a sitcom produced by Embassy Television for ABC, but the show was canceled after six episodes. In 1988 he replaced Bob Eubanks as host of The Newlywed Game for one season. El Show de Paul Rodriguez was on Univision from March 2, 1990, to January 1, 1993.From 2010 to 2011, Rodriguez hosted two seasons of the MTV Tr3́s comedy home video series Mis Videos Locos. The reality show features video footage of Latino people from various countries who are filmed by devices such as surveillance cameras and mobile phones.
Film
Rodriguez has appeared in several feature films, such as The Whoopee Boys with Michael O`Keefe, Denholm Elliott and Marsha Warfield,Blood Work with Clint Eastwood, D.C. Cab, Born in East L.A., Tortilla Soup, Rat Race, and Ali, and has also performed voiceover roles for King of the Hill, Dora the Explorer, and Beverly Hills Chihuahua. Rodriguez has also undertaken other roles in the film industry: He directed and starred in the film A Million to Juan, and he produced and appeared in the 2002 comedy film The Original Latin Kings of Comedy.In 2009 the Paul Rodriguez: Comedy Rehab movie featured a night of Latino comedy hosted by him, and Paul Rodriguez: Just for the Record, which documents a live performance, was released in 2011.
According to Deadline Hollywood, Rodriguez is expected to appear in the dark comedy feature film The Immortalist in 2020, along with Franco Nero, Sherilyn Fenn, Aries Spears, and Jeff DuJardin.
Awards
In 2004 Comedy Central ranked him at No. 74 on its list of the "100 Greatest Standups of all Time." Rodriguez was acknowledged with the "Humanitarian of the Year Award" by the City of Fresno for his work in the area of water conservation.Company owner
Rodriguez is a part-owner of the Laugh Factory comedy venue in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., where comedian/actor Michael Richards was filmed as he engaged in a highly publicized on-stage rant against two black male hecklers. Of Richards' repeated use of the word "nigger", Rodriguez said, "Once the word comes out of your mouth and you don't happen to be African American, then you have a whole lot of explaining to do." Rodriguez also has an interest in farming and owns operations in California's Central Valley.Charity work
Rodriguez is known for his charity work, and many of his comedy specials cover serious issues that are of concern to the Latino community. He has performed for several Comic Relief charity specials and, in 1995, he performed a television special live from San Quentin State Prison. He is the chairman of the California Latino Water Coalition, a group that campaigns to draw attention to California's dire water situation, and was influential in enacting the California Water Bond Measure.Politics
Rodriguez has been a vocal and active supporter of the Republican Party. In 2010 Rodriguez endorsed Republican Meg Whitman during her campaign against Jerry Brown to become governor of California. Rodriguez calls himself a "closeted Republican" but voted for Barack Obama in 2008. Rodriguez then endorsed Republican candidate Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential election and recorded a radio promotion in Spanish for Romney's campaign. Rodriguez also collaborated with former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger as part of his work with the California Latino Water Coalition. In 2018, Rodriquez announced that he supports many of the policies of Donald Trump.Personal life
Rodriguez's son Paul Rodriguez Jr. is a professional skateboarder.Discography
- 1986: You're in America now, speak Spanish
- 1997: Cheese 'n' macaroni
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
| 1983 | D.C. Cab | Xavier | |
| 1986 | Quicksilver | Hector Rodriguez | |
| 1986 | The Whoopee Boys | Barney Benar | |
| 1986 | Miracles | Juan | |
| 1987 | Born in East L.A. | Javier | |
| 1993 | Made in America | Jose | |
| 1994 | A Million to Juan | Juan Lopez | Director |
| 1994 | Rhythm Thief | Eladio | |
| 1995 | Rough Magic | Diego | |
| 1998 | Melting Pot | Gustavo Alvarez | |
| 2000 | Price of Glory | Pepe | |
| 2000 | Mambo Café | Gustavo Alvarez | |
| 2000 | G-Men From Hell | Winiford 'Weenie Man' | |
| 2001 | Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles | Diego | |
| 2001 | Tortilla Soup | Orlando Castillo | |
| 2001 | Rat Race | Taxi Driver | |
| 2001 | The Shipment | Jose Garcia | |
| 2001 | Ali | Dr. Ferdie Pacheco | |
| 2002 | Blood Work | Det. Ronaldo Arrango | |
| 2002 | Back by Midnight | Next Week | |
| 2002 | Time Changer | Eddie Martinez | |
| 2003 | Chasing Papi | Costas Delgado | Uncredited Role |
| 2003 | Baadasssss! | Jose Garcia | |
| 2004 | A Cinderella Story | Bobby | |
| 2005 | The World's Fastest Indian | Fernando | |
| 2006 | Cloud 9 | Mr. Wong | |
| 2006 | Swap Meet | Councilmen Gonzales | |
| 2006 | ' | Cupid | Voice Role Direct-to-Video Release |
| 2007 | One Long Night | Poncho | |
| 2008 | Vicious Circle | Professor | |
| 2008 | Beverly Hills Chihuahua | Chico | Voice Role |
| 2009 | Lonely Street | Det. Romero | |
| 2009 | Porndogs: The Adventures of Sadie | Bato | Voice Role |
| 2009 | The Deported | Ernesto | |
| 2010 | ' | Crazy Carlito | |
| 2016 | El Divino | Voice Role Post-production | |
| 2017 | Pray for Rain | Francisco Reynoso |
Awards and nominations
ALMA Award- 1999: Nominated, "Outstanding Performance by an Individual or Act in a Variety or Comedy Special"Comic Relief VIII
- 2002: Nominated, "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture"Tortilla Soup
- 2009: Nominated, "Best Supporting Actor/Feature Film"Beverly Hills Chihuahua
- 1996: Won, "Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Variety or Music Series/Special"Latino Laugh Festival