Rico Rodriguez (born July 31, 1998) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Manny Delgado on the ABC sitcom Modern Family (2009–2020). He received several Screen Actors Guild Awards for his performance. He has also appeared in numerous other television shows and movies—both as himself and other characters—before, during, and after the show's run, such as Epic Movie, Endgame, El Americano: The Movie, and Nickelodeon's The Substitute and Unfiltered.
Early life
Rodriguez was born in Bryan, Texas, the son of Diane and Roy Rodriguez, who owned Rodriguez Tire Service. He has three older siblings; brothers Ray and Roy Jr. and sister Raini Rodriguez, who is also an actress. He is of Mexican descent.
Career
At age nine, he played a character in Cory in the House. He later had guest appearances on the series ER, iCarly, Nip/Tuck, and My Name Is Earl.
In September 2009, he began playing Manny Delgado in Modern Family. His role was said to be "crazy hard" to cast by co-creator Steve Levitan. In 2010, he said he is sometimes nothing like Manny, although he also named some similarities between them. Later, in 2016, Rodriguez said he had "grown into the character", finding more in common with him. For the role, Rodriguez and the cast of Modern Family were nominated eight times for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, winning four times.
The same year Modern Family was released, he also appeared in a season six episode of NCIS as Travis, a boy who discovers a gun and dead body. He wrote a book that was published in November 2012, titled Reel Life Lessons... So Far. Among other things, he discusses what it was like having Sofía Vergara as his character's mother on Modern Family, writing that she treats him like he were her own son.
In 2015, Rodriguez played the character of Jose in Endgame, a coming-of-age film about a Mexican middle-schooler who joins a chess team. It received a score of 50% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on eight reviews. Rodriguez later voiced a character named Raha in The Lion Guard, part of The Lion King franchise, which ran from 2016 to 2019. The show's cast also included Modern Family co-star Sarah Hyland. In 2016, Rodriguez played a parrot named Cuco in the animated film El Americano: The Movie. Its director, Ricardo Arnaiz, was very pleased with the casting.
Modern Family ended after eleven seasons in April 2020. He announced on Instagram that "words cannot even begin to describe the life-changing experience I have had on this show". Since then, he has made appearances as himself on The Substitute and Unfiltered, both on Nickelodeon.
Personal life Rodriguez is a Houston Rockets fan. He has described himself as an avid reader.
On March 12, 2017, Rodriguez's father, Roy, died at age 52.
Filmography Film + Year Title Role Notes2007Epic MovieChanchitoParkerKid on Playground #2Short film2008Babysitters BewareMarco2009Opposite DayKid Janitor2011The MuppetsHimselfCameo2015EndgameJose2016El Americano: The MovieCucoVoice2025SneaksIceVoice
Television + Year Title Role Notes2006–2007Jimmy Kimmel Live!Ice cream kid prankster10 episodes2007Cory in the HouseRico2 episodesERJamesEpisode: "Crisis of Conscience"Nip/TuckKid #1Episode: "Duke Collins"iCarlyBoy Riding Toy HorseEpisode: "iRue the Day"2008My Name Is EarlKidEpisode: "Girl Earl"2009NCISTravis BuckleyEpisode: "Hide and Seek"2009–2020Modern FamilyManny DelgadoMain role; 226 episodes2011Kick Buttowski: Suburban DaredevilLuigi VendettaVoice, episode: "Luigi Vendetta"Good Luck CharlieLeoEpisode: "The Bob Duncan Experience"2012R.L. Stine's The Haunting HourChiEpisode: "The Weeping Woman"Sesame StreetPresenter1 episodeMadNorman, Costumed Boy, Linus Van PeltVoice, episode: "Frankenwinnie/ParaMorgan"2013Family GuyManny DelgadoEpisode: "Boopa-dee Bappa-dee"2014CyberchaseOllieVoice, episode: "The Cyberchase Movie, Part 1"2015Jake and the Never Land PiratesSnow-FootVoice, episode: "The Legendary Snow-Foot!"Austin & AllyBennyEpisode: "Burdens & Boynado"2016Chopped JuniorGuest JudgeEpisode: "Quail Quest"Victor and ValentinoValentinoVoice, pilot episodeNickelodeon's Ultimate Halloween Haunted HouseHimselfMain role2018–2019The Lion GuardRahaVoice, 2 episodes2018Double DareHimselfContestant; episode: "Team Rico vs. Team Raini"2020The SubstituteHimselfEpisode: "Rico & Raini Rodriguez" UnfilteredHimselfEpisode: "Super Cats & Fierce Ice Cream!"2024 Bunk'dBaxter BarcaEpisode: "Free Fall and Pickleball"
Awards and nominations AssociationYearCategoryWorkResultALMA Award2011Favorite TV Actor – Supporting Role in a ComedyModern Family2012Imagen Award2010Best Supporting Actor – Television2015Best Young Actor – TelevisionScreen Actors Guild Award2009Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series2010201120122013201420152016Teen Choice Award2010Choice TV: Male Breakout Star2011Choice TV: Male Scene Stealer2013Young Artist Award2010Outstanding Young Performers in a TV Series2011
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