Paul Rodriguez

For Rodriguez's son, the professional skateboarder, see Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder).
Paul Rodriguez

Rodriguez at a USO show aboard the USS Nimitz, June 19, 2003
Born (1955-01-19) January 19, 1955
Mazatlan, Mexico
Years active 1983–present
Children Paul Rodriguez, Jr.

Paul Rodriguez (born January 19, 1955[1]) is a Mexican-American stand-up comedian and actor.

Early life

Rodriguez was born in Mazatlan, Mexico to Mexican agriculture ranchers.[1] His family migrated to East Los Angeles, California, where Rodriguez enlisted in the United States Air Force and was subsequently stationed in Uruguay and Duluth, Minnesota, U.S. Rodriguez considered becoming a lawyer, but instead ventured into the field of comedy.

Career

Television

He first appeared in a.k.a. Pablo, a sitcom produced by ABC, but the show was canceled after seven episodes. In 1988 Rodriguez replaced Bob Eubanks as host of The Newlywed Game and lasted one season before cancellation. During his tenure as host, the show began using the 1958 song "Book of Love", by The Monotones, as a theme song. He later hosted a Friday nighttime television show called El Show de Paul Rodriguez that was broadcast 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.[2]

Film

Rodriguez has appeared in several feature films, such as 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 that is hosted by Rodriguez[3] and Paul Rodriguez: Just for the Record, which documents a live performance by the comedian, was released in 2011.[4]

Awards

In 2004 Comedy Central ranked him at #74 on its list of the "100 Greatest Standups of all Time."[5] Rodriguez was acknowledged with the "Humanitarian of the Year Award" by the City of Fresno for his work in the area of water conservation.[6]

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.[7] 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."[8] 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 Rodriguez's 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 comedy television special that was broadcast 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 the enactment of the California Water Bond Measure.[9]

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.[10] Rodriguez then endorsed Republican Candidate Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential election and recorded a radio promotion in Spanish for Romney's campaign.[11] Rodriguez also collaborated with former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger as part of his work with the California Latino Water Coalition.[10]

Personal life

Rodriguez's son Paul Rodriguez Jr. is a professional skateboarder (also known as "P-Rod").[12][13]

Discography

Filmography

Film
Year Film Role Other notes
1983 D.C. Cab Xavier
1986 Quicksilver Hector Rodriguez
The Whoopee Boys Barney Benar
Miracles Juan
1987 Born in East L.A. Javier
1993 Made in America Jose
1994 A Million to Juan Juan Lopez Director
Rhythm Thief Eladio
1995 Rough Magic Diego
1998 Melting Pot Gustavo Alvarez
2000 Price of Glory Pepe
Mambo Café Gustavo Alvarez
G-Men From Hell Winiford 'Weenie Man'
2001 Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles Diego
Tortilla Soup Orlando Castillo
Rat Race Gus the Cabbie
The Shipment Jose Garcia
Ali Dr. Ferdie Pacheco
2002 Blood Work Det. Ronaldo Arrango
Back by Midnight Next Week
Time Changer Eddie Martinez
2003 Chasing Papi Costas Delgado Uncredited Role
Baadasssss! Jose Garcia
2004 A Cinderella Story Bobby
2005 The World's Fastest Indian Fernando
2006 Cloud 9 Mr. Wong
Swap Meet Councilmen Gonzales
Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen Cupid Voice Role
Direct-to-Video Release
2007 One Long Night Poncho
2008 Vicious Circle Professor
Beverly Hills Chihuahua Chico Voice Role
2009 Lonely Street Det. Romero
Porndogs: The Adventures of Sadie Bato Voice Role
The Deported Ernesto
2010 Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore Crazy Carlito
2016 El Americano: The Movie[14] El Divino Voice Role
Post-production
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1983 Gloria Jerry Episode: An Uncredited Woman
1984 a.k.a. Pablo Paul Rivera 6 episodes
1986 Hardesty House
Tall Tales & Legends Julio Episode: Ponce de Leon
The Golden Girls Ramone Episode: Vacation
19881989 Trial and Error Tony Rivera 8 episodes
19881989 The Newlywed Game Himself
1990 Grand Slam Pedro Gomez 8 episodes
1991 Hi Honey - I'm Dead Ralph (The Angel) TV-Movie
Great Performances Satanas Episode: La Pastorela
1995 Live in San Quentin, Paul Rodriguez Himself Live TV-Special
The Eddie Files Construction Worker Episode: Geometry - Invasion of the Polygons
Touched by an Angel Ben Rivera Episode: Trust
1996 Latino Laugh Festival Himself Live TV-Special
1998 King of the Hill Jacinto Episode: Three Days of the Kahndo
2000 Ready to Run T.J. Voice Role
TV-Movie
20002001 Resurrection Blvd. Paulie 4 episodes
2002 American Family Flaco Episode: Mexican Revolution
2003 The Twilight Zone Rosas Episode: Tagged
The Proud Family Limo Driver Voice Role
Episode: Adventures in BeBe-Sitting
Dora the Explorer Leon, the Circus Lion Voice Role
Episode: Leon, the Circus Lion
2005 The Buzz on Maggie Julio's Father Voice Role
Episode: Lunchlady
2005 Zatch Bell Teenager, Various Voices 1 episode
2010–2012 Mis Videos Locos Himself 40 episodes for MTV Tr3s

Awards and nominations

ALMA Award

Imagen Awards

NCLR Bravo Awards

References

  1. 1 2 "Paul Rodriguez Biography (1955-)". Film Reference. Advameg, Inc. 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  2. "Comedian Paul Rodriguez Returns to Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas With Second Season of 'Mis Videos Locos'". PR Newswire. PR Newswire Association LLC. 8 March 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  3. Perry Seibert (2013). "Paul Rodriguez: Comedy Rehab: Overview". msn Entertainment. Microsoft. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  4. Cammila Collar (2013). "Paul Rodriguez: Just for the Record: Overview". msn Entertainment. Microsoft. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  5. Comedy Central Presents: 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time at the Internet Movie Database
  6. Steven Bloom (2 September 2010). "Paul Rodriguez - The original Latin King of Comedy at Tommy T's this weekend!". Sacramento Press. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  7. Lynn Elber (20 November 2006). "Michael Richards, aka Kramer, spews racial slurs during stand-up". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  8. "Richards Racial Tirade Draws Castigation" SFgate.com news as retrieved December 18, 2006
  9. "About". Paul Rodriguez. Paul Rodriguez. 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  10. 1 2 Torey Van Oot (27 September 2010). "Paul Rodriguez endorses Meg For all these reasons Rodriguez is widely considered a sellout in the Latino community. Whitman". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  11. Adriana Maestas (19 October 2012). "Comedian Paul Rodriguez Cuts An Ad For Romney". Politic365. Politic365. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  12. Stephen Cox (11 April 2013). "Paul Rodriguez Interrogated". The Berrics. The Berrics. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  13. Giovanni Reda (11 April 2012). "WEDNESDAYS WITH REDA Day With P-Rod Part 2" (Video upload). The Berrics. The Berrics. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  14. "Cast/Characters". El Americano The Movie. Olmos. 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2013.

External links

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