Rodolfo Mancuso (born February 28, 1992) is an American Internet personality, musician, filmmaker, and actor. He is known for making comedy skits with his friends on YouTube and Vine as well as for being behind many voices in the YouTube channel Awkward Puppets. He made his filmmaking debut in 2024 with Música.

Early life Rodolfo Mancuso was born and grew up in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, the son of an Italian-American father and a Brazilian mother, along with a sister, Marianna. Rudy attended Glen Ridge High School and Rutgers University Newark. He lived in Rio de Janeiro for a while and speaks Portuguese fluently. He started playing the piano at the age of five.

Career

Mancuso started his Vine channel in 2013. He was often known for his Latino characters as well as his IRL videos. Mancuso's partnered with Shots Studios to create videos and launched his YouTube channel in 2016.Shots Studios rebrands from selfie app to social star video factory. TechCrunch (October 5, 2016). Retrieved on 2017-04-30.

He has been featured on Comedy Central's Drunk History and HBO's Outpost. He also starred in YouTube Red's Keys of Christmas along with Mariah Carey and DJ Khaled.YouTube Plans Christmas Special Starring Mariah Carey, Rudy Mancuso. Hollywood Reporter (December 5, 2016). Retrieved on 2017-04-30.

Awkward Puppets, a puppet series on the YouTube platform, is owned by Mancuso and Shots Studios. He was the opener for Justin Bieber's Purpose World Tour in Brazil's section of his Latin America shows in 2017.Rudy Mancuso to Open for Justin Bieber Tour in Brazil. People.com. Retrieved on April 30, 2017.

Dolce & Gabbana invited Mancuso to walk in their Milan Men's Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2018 show on June 17, 2017. He performed and presented an award at the 2017 MTV Millennial Awards in Mexico.

In July 2017, Mancuso performed at Villa Mix, in Goiânia for two consecutive days. On October 6, 2017, he released his first single, "Black & White," in collaboration with songwriter/producer Poo Bear. On October 7, 2017, Mancuso performed at the Villa Mix festival in São Paulo.

Mancuso's next single, "Mama", was his first video single without a featured artist. The video, which he directed, featured Chantel Jeffries and according to Billboard evoked "odd nostalgia". He also released an original song coloration with Alesso on the latter's channel. In 2018, Mancuso directed the music video for Lele Pons' debut solo single "Celoso" and the music video for Alesso's single "REMEDY." Mancuso also directed the music video for O.A.R.'s single "Miss You All The Time" which was released in October 2018.

Mancuso collaborated with fellow comedian and musician Simon Rex for the video "Storytelling" which was released on his channel July 2018.

In September 2018, Mancuso joined O.A.R. at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado for a performance. He and fellow Shots Studios artist Lele Pons hosted the 2018 Hispanic Heritage Foundation Awards show. The two performed Pons' "Celoso," with Mancuso playing the instrumental on the piano.

In September 2018, Mancuso released his fourth single, "Lento." In October 2018, he released "Superhero Therapy" with Lele Pons, Anwar Jibawi, and King Bach. The video is the most recent installment of his super hero series, which has over 68 million views total.

In November 2018, Mancuso both performed and received an award at the 2018 ALMAs. The award was presented by fellow Shots Studios star Alesso. He also performed a cover of Queen's You're My Best Friend in support of Netflix's Bohemian Rhapsody (film) and the Mercury Phoenix Trust which was released to his YouTube channel. He also hosted the 'Concert for Tommy's Field', a charity event held at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles. Performances included Lele Pons, Bryce Vine, and others.

Mancuso has produced sponsored videos working with companies such as Target and Clif bar which blend music and comedy. He also appeared in a video with basketball star Stephen Curry for Brita water filters.

Filmmaking In 2022, Mancuso was working on his directorial debut Música, starring himself, Camila Mendes, Francesca Reale, & JB Smoove and premiered on Prime Video in April 2024. After the premiere, Mancuso was reportedly set to direct the thriller "Stand-In" for Amazon MGM Studios & "Bob the Musical" for Walt Disney Pictures.

Personal life From 2015 to early 2022, Mancuso was in a relationship with Australian actress Maia Mitchell.

As of 2020, Mancuso lives in Studio City, Los Angeles.

In July 2022, Mancuso began dating actress Camila Mendes. The two first met on the set of Música. They became engaged on October 24, 2025.

Discography Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected details Title Album details bored at home Released: April 23, 2020 Labels: Shot Studios Music Formats: digital download

Singles Year Title Album 2017 "Black & White" rowspan="7" 2018 "Magic" "Mama" "Lento"2019"Anda Pal Carajo (APC)" "Circle of Love" "I Think I'm Cool" 2024 Various Upgraded (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Filmography

Music videos YearTitleCharacter2017"Black and White"Himself2018"Magic""Everything is Alright""Mama""Lento"2019"I Think I'm Cool"

Film YearTitleCharacterNotesRef.2016The Keys of ChristmasHimselfPetting ScorpionsLeader2019 Rim of the World Wes2020 A Celebration of the Music from CocoHimself2023The FlashAlbert Desmond2024MúsicaRudyDirectorial debut, also writer, executive producer, and composer

Series YearTitleCharacterRef.2015Drunk HistoryManuel Bonilla2016OutpostCorresponding2025It: Welcome to DerryCaptain Pauly Russo

Television YearTitleRoleNotesRef.20172017 MTV Millennial AwardsPresenterPresented International Hit of the Year2018Vai AnittaHimself6 episodes

References

External links

Rudy Mancuso on Spotify Rudy Mancuso on Kinopoisk