Paul Rodriguez (born January 19, 1955) is a Mexican-American actor and stand-up comedian.
Early life Paul Rodriguez was born in Culiacán, Sinaloa, to Mexican agriculture ranchers. His family migrated to Compton, California, where Rodriguez enlisted in the United States Air Force and was stationed in Iceland and in Duluth, Minnesota. Rodriguez was first assigned to Lackland AFB after completing training at Sheppard AFB, both in Texas. A1C Rodriguez worked in a Communications Center as a 29130 and had a Top Secret security clearance. He won Tops in Blue. He grew up in the Central Valley of Dinuba California and attended Dinuba High School.
Career Television Rodriguez first appeared in a.k.a. Pablo, a 1984 sitcom produced by Embassy Television for ABC, but the show was canceled after six episodes. He was a regular cast member of the 1988 sitcom Trial and Error, but it was cancelled after only three episodes aired. Later in the same year he replaced Bob Eubanks as host of The Newlywed Game for a season (which was renamed The Newlywed Game Starring Paul Rodriguez and also during his tenure as host, the doo-wop hit "The Book of Love" by The Monotones was used as its theme song). El Show de Paul Rodriguez was on Univision from March 2, 1990, to January 1, 1993.
From 2010 to 2011, Rodriguez hosted two seasons and 40 episodes 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 like surveillance cameras and mobile phones.
Film Rodriguez has appeared in several feature films, such as The Whoopee Boys with Michael O'Keefe, Denholm Elliott and Marsha Warfield, 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 worked in 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 stand up Comedy Special Paul Rodriguez: Comedy Rehab, produced and hosted by Rodriguez was released. Paul Rodriguez: Just for the Record, which documents a live performance was released in 2011.
In May 2021, Rodriguez made his debut on A Million Little Things as Gary's Dad. He re-united with Jeff Valdez, creator of the Latino Laugh Festival as host of the second annual HA! Comedy Festival, which will air on HBO Max. According to Deadline Hollywood, he is expected to appear in the dark comedy feature film The Immortalist which was scheduled to be released in November 2021. It also features Franco Nero, Sherilyn Fenn, Aries Spears, and Jeff DuJardin.
Awards
In 2004, Comedy Central ranked him at No. 74 on its list of the "100 Greatest Standups of all Time."
Rodriguez was acknowledged with the "Humanitarian of the Year Award" by the City of Fresno for his work in the area of water conservation.
Company owner
Rodriguez is a part-owner of the Laugh Factory comedy venue in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, where comedian/actor Michael Richards was filmed in a highly publicized on-stage rant against two black male hecklers. When asked about Richards's 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.""Richards Racial Tirade Draws Castigation" San Francisco Chronicle. news as retrieved December 18, 2006 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 his 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 television special 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 he was influential in enacting the California Water Bond Measure.
Politics
Rodriguez has been a vocal and active supporter of the Republican Party. In 2010 he endorsed Republican Meg Whitman during her campaign against Jerry Brown to become governor of California. Rodriguez calls himself a "closeted Republican" but voted for Barack Obama in 2008. He endorsed Republican candidate Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential election and recorded a radio promotion in Spanish for Romney's campaign. He also collaborated with former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger as part of his work with the California Latino Water Coalition. In 2018, Rodriguez announced that he supports many of the policies of Donald Trump.
Personal life
Rodriguez's son Paul Rodriguez (also known as "P-Rod") is a professional skateboarder.
Rodriguez was arrested for drug possession on March 28, 2025, in Burbank, California. He was reportedly "a passenger in a car that was stopped for vehicle code violations" and charged with possession of narcotics. He quickly denied possession of any illicit drug and said the arresting officer slapped him. He was again arrested in Burbank a few months later, again for narcotics possession. He was arrested the night of August 12, 2025, and released the following morning.
Rodriguez is Catholic.
Discography 1986: You're in America Now, Speak Spanish 1997: Cheese 'n' Macaroni
Filmography
+ Film Year Film Role Other notes 1983 D.C. Cab Xavier1986 Quicksilver Hector Rodriguez The Whoopee Boys Barney Benar Miracles Juan 1987 Born in East L.A. Javier 1993 Made in America Jose1994 A Million to Juan Juan Lopez Director Rhythm Thief Eladio 1995 Rough Magic Diego 1998 Melting Pot Gustavo Alvarez2000 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 Taxi Driver The Shipment Jose Garcia Ali Dr. Ferdie Pacheco2002 Blood Work Det. Ronaldo Arrango Back by Midnight Next Week Time Changer Eddie Martinez2003 Chasing Papi Costas Delgado Uncredited Role Baadasssss! Jose Garcia 2004 A Cinderella Story Bobby 2005 The World's Fastest Indian Fernando2006 Cloud 9 Mr. Wong Swap Meet Councilmen Gonzales Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen Cupid Voice RoleDirect-to-Video Release 2007 One Long Night Poncho2008 Vicious Circle Professor Beverly Hills Chihuahua Chico Voice Role2009 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 2011 Without Men Camacho 2016 El Americano: The Movie El Divino Voice Role 2017 Pray for Rain Francisco Reynoso 2021 Clifford the Big Red Dog Alonso Sanchez 2023 Tomorrow's Game Jorge Robles + Television Year Title Role Notes 1980 Norm Crosby's Comedy Shop Himself 1983 Gloria Jerry Episode: An Uncredited Woman 1984 a.k.a. Pablo Paul Rivera 6 episodes1986 Hardesty House Tall Tales & Legends Julio Episode: Ponce de Leon The Golden Girls Ramone Episode: Vacation 1988 Trial and Error Tony Rivera 8 episodes (5 unaired) 1988–1989 The Newlywed Game Himself 1990 Grand Slam Pedro Gomez 8 episodes1991 Hi Honey – I'm Dead Ralph (The Angel) TV-Movie Great Performances Satanas Episode: La Pastorela1995 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: Trust1995–1997Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildJesse the jester/Gilbert/TizocEpisode: 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 RoleTV-Movie 2000–2001 Resurrection Blvd. Paulie 4 episodes2002 American Family Flaco Episode: Mexican Revolution Mucha Lucha El Potrero Episode: Pinball Wizard2003 The Twilight Zone Rosas Episode: Tagged The Proud Family Limo Driver Voice RoleEpisode: Adventures in BeBe-Sitting Dora the Explorer Leon, the Circus Lion Voice RoleEpisode: Leon, the Circus Lion2005 The Buzz on Maggie Julio's Father Voice RoleEpisode: Lunchlady Zatch Bell! Teenager, Various Voices 1 episode 2010–2012 Mis Videos Locos Himself 40 episodes for MTV Tr3s
Awards and nominations ALMA Award 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
Imagen Awards 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
External links