Paul Rodriguez (actor)
Paul Rodriguez | |
---|---|
Occupation(s) | Comedian, Actor |
Paul Rodriguez (born January 19, 1955) is a Mexican-born American stand-up comedian and actor.
Biography
Personal life
Rodriguez was born in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico to parents who were migrant farm laborers.[1] He was raised in East Los Angeles and served in the military, where he was stationed in Iceland and Duluth, Minnesota. His son Paul Rodriguez Jr. is a professional skateboarder and his nick name is P-Rod.
Career
Rodriguez considered becoming a lawyer, but instead went into comedy. His first shot at national fame, the ABC sitcom a.k.a. Pablo, was canceled after seven episodes.
In 1988, Paul replaced Bob Eubanks as host of The Newlywed Game. The show lasted one season before being canceled. Rodriguez has starred in several feature films including, D.C. Cab, Born in East L.A., Tortilla Soup, and Ali. He directed and starred in the film A Million to Juan. Rodriguez has also performed voice-over roles on King of the Hill, Dora the Explorer and Beverly Hills Chihuahua.
Many of his comedy specials involve serious issues for the Latino community, and Rodriguez is known for his charity work. He has performed on several Comic Relief charity specials. In 1995, he performed a comedy television special live at San Quentin State Prison. He produced and was featured on the 2002 comedy special titled The Original Latin Kings of Comedy. In 2004, Comedy Central ranked him 74th on its list of the 100 Greatest Standups of all Time.[2]
Rodriguez is a part-owner of the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood, California, the site of comedian/actor Michael Richards' highly-publicized on-stage rant against two African American men who were heckling him.[3] 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".[4]
Rodriguez also has an interest in farming with operations in California's Central Valley. He is the chairman of the California Latino Water Coalition, a group trying to draw attention to California's dire water situation. He also had a night show called "El Show de Paul Rodriguez" on Univision in the early 1990s.
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | Lonely Street | Det. Romero | |
2008 | Beverly Hills Chihuahua | Chico | Voice Role |
2007 | One Long Night | Poncho | |
2006 | Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen | Cupid | Released Direct-to-DVD |
Swap Meet | Councilmen Gonzales | ||
Cloud 9 | Mr. Wong | ||
2004 | A Cinderella Story | Bobby | |
2003 | BAADASSSSS! | Jose Garcia | |
Chasing Papi | Costas Delgado | Uncredited Role | |
2002 | Time Changer | Eddie Martinez | |
Blood Work | Det. Ronaldo Arrango | ||
Back by Midnight | Next Week | ||
2001 | Ali | Dr. Ferdie Pacheco | |
The Shipment | Jose Garcia | ||
Rat Race | Gus the Cabbie | ||
Tortilla Soup | Orlando Castillo | ALMA Award (nominated) | |
Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles | Diego | ||
2000 | G-Men from Hell | Winiford 'Weenie Man' | |
Mambo Café | Frank | ||
Price of Glory | Pepe | ||
1998 | Melting Pot | Gustavo Alvarez | |
1995 | Rough Magic | Diego | |
1994 | Rhythm Thief | Eladio | |
A Million to Juan | Juan Lopez | ||
1993 | Made in America | Jose | |
1987 | Born in East L.A. | Javier | |
1986 | The Whoopee Boys | Barney Benar | |
Quicksilver | Hector Rodriguez | ||
Miracles | Juan | ||
1983 | D.C. Cab | Xavier |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | The Buzz on Maggie | Mr. Hairlegger | Voice Role Episodes: Lunch Lady and Racoooon! |
2003 | Dora the Explorer | Leon, the Circus Lion | Voice Role Episode: Leon, the Circus Lion |
The Proud Family | Limo Driver | Episode: Adventures in BeBe-Sitting | |
The Twilight Zone | Rosas | Episode: Tagged | |
2002 | American Family: Journey of Dreams | Flaco | Episode: Mexican Revolution |
2000-2001 | Resurrection Blvd. | Paulie | |
2000 | Ready to Run | T.J. | Voice Role TV-Movie |
1998 | King of the Hill | Jacinto | Episode: Three Days of the Kahndo |
1995 | Touched by an Angel | Ben Rivera | Episode: Trust |
1995 | The Eddie Files | Construction Worker | Episode: Geometry-Invasion of the Polygons |
1991 | Great Performances | Satanas | Episode: La Pastorela |
Hi Honey - I'm Dead | Ralph, the Angel | TV-Movie | |
1990 | Grand Slam | Pedro Gomez | TV-Movie |
1988 | Trial and Error | Tony Rivera | |
1986 | The Golden Girls | Ramone | Episode: Vacation |
Tall Tales and Legends | Julio | Episode: Ponce de Leon | |
Hardesty House | Episode: Pilot | ||
1984 | a.k.a. Pablo | Paul Rivera | |
1983 | Gloria | Jerry | Episode: An Uncredited Woman |
References
- ^ Paul Rodriguez Biography (1955-)
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0429332/
- ^ "Michael Richards, aka Kramer, spews racial slurs during stand-up" at signonsandiego.com.
- ^ "Richards Racial Tirade Draws Castigation" SFgate.com news as retrieved December 18, 2006