Paul Rodriguez
| Paul Rodriguez | |
|---|---|
|
Rodriguez at a USO show aboard the USS Nimitz on June 19, 2003 | |
| Birth name | Paul Rodriguez, Sr. |
| Born |
January 19, 1955 Mazatlan, Mexico |
| Medium | Stand-up comedy, film, television |
| Nationality | American |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Genres | Observational |
| Children | Paul Rodriguez, Jr. |
Paul Rodriguez, Sr. (born January 19, 1955[1]) is a Mexican-American stand-up comedian and actor.
Early life
Paul Rodriguez was born in Mazatlan, Mexico, to Mexican agriculture ranchers.[1] His family later migrated to Compton, California, where Rodriguez enlisted in the United States Air Force and was subsequently stationed in Uruguay and Duluth, Minnesota. Following military service, Rodriguez became a comedy writer and performer
Career
Television
He 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 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 "The 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]
Also appeared on Golden Girls Season 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
- 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 | |
| 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 |
| 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 | |
| 1988–1989 | Trial and Error | Tony Rivera | 8 episodes |
| 1988–1989 | 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 | |
| 1995-1997 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Jesse the jester/Gilbert/Tizoc | Episode: Sleeping Beauty/The Fisherman and his Wife/The Shoemaker and the Elves |
| 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 |
| 2000–2001 | 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
- 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
NCLR Bravo Awards
- 1996: Won, "Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Variety or Music Series/Special" - Latino Laugh Festival
References
- 1 2 "Paul Rodriguez Biography (1955-)". Film Reference. Advameg, Inc. 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ Perry Seibert (2013). "Paul Rodriguez: Comedy Rehab: Overview". msn Entertainment. Microsoft. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
- ↑ Cammila Collar (2013). "Paul Rodriguez: Just for the Record: Overview". msn Entertainment. Microsoft. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
- ↑ Comedy Central Presents: 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Lynn Elber (20 November 2006). "Michael Richards, aka Kramer, spews racial slurs during stand-up". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
- ↑ "Richards Racial Tirade Draws Castigation" SFgate.com news as retrieved December 18, 2006
- ↑ "About". Paul Rodriguez. Paul Rodriguez. 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
- 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.
- ↑ Adriana Maestas (19 October 2012). "Comedian Paul Rodriguez Cuts An Ad For Romney". Politic365. Politic365. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
- ↑ Stephen Cox (11 April 2013). "Paul Rodriguez Interrogated". The Berrics. The Berrics. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
- ↑ Giovanni Reda (11 April 2012). "WEDNESDAYS WITH REDA Day With P-Rod Part 2" (Video upload). The Berrics. The Berrics. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
- ↑ "Cast/Characters". El Americano The Movie. Olmos. 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
External links
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