Freddy Rodriguez
Freddy Rodriguez is an American actor renowned for his work in film and television, particularly for his Emmy Award-nominated performance as Federico Diaz in the acclaimed series *Six Feet Under* (2001-2005). Born on January 17, 1975, in Chicago, Illinois, Rodriguez discovered his passion for acting in junior high school, initially auditioning to escape a math test. Despite struggles with drama classes, he persevered and began his acting career with significant roles starting in the mid-1990s, including his breakout role in *Six Feet Under*. He also featured in notable films such as *Planet Terror* (2007) and *Bobby* (2006), and enjoyed a recurring role in the popular series *Ugly Betty* (2006-2010).
Throughout his career, Rodriguez has showcased versatility, transitioning from dramatic to comedic roles, and has been involved in various projects, including voice work for animated series. He is married to Elsie Rodriguez and has two sons. His journey from a reluctant student to an accomplished actor highlights his dedication to his craft and the impact he has made in the entertainment industry.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Freddy Rodriguez
Actor
- Born: January 17, 1975
- Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois
Contribution: Freddy Rodriguez is an actor best known for his Emmy Award–nominated role in the television show Six Feet Under (2001–5) and his performance in the 2007 film Planet Terror.
Background
Freddy Rodriguez was born on January 17, 1975, in Chicago, Illinois. He first discovered acting when a junior high school teacher gave the class the option to audition for the Whirlwind Performance Company. Although Rodriguez initially auditioned to avoid taking a math test, he has noted that the experience made him realize that he wanted to act for the rest of his life. Still, performing did not come easily for Rodriguez. While he loved acting itself, he hated learning about its history and fought constantly with his drama teacher. He barely passed his first-year drama class, but he eventually mustered through it.
Career
Rodriguez’s first film role was a major one in the 1994 crime drama The Fence. His breakthrough roles, however, did not come until a year later, when he appeared in small roles in the films A Walk in the Clouds, a romantic drama starring Keanu Reeves, and the crime film Dead Presidents. Two years later, Rodriguez costarred in the cult comedy The Pest, a film about a con man paid $50,000 to help hunt down a crazed white supremacist.
In 1998 Rodriguez starred in the thriller Shock Television and played the titular role in Joseph’s Gift, a modern retelling of the biblical story of the patriarch Jacob’s son Joseph. The actor then obtained several small roles in films such as Can’t Hardly Wait (1998) and Payback (1999) and the television movie For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story.
In 2001 Rodriguez took on one of the roles for which he would become best known, that of mortician Federico Diaz in HBO’s (Home Box Office) award-winning drama Six Feet Under, a dark comedy about an American family that runs a funeral home. He acted in the series from its first season in 2001 until its highly praised series finale in 2005. In 2003 Rodriguez was nominated for an Emmy Award for best supporting actor in a drama series and shared in the Screen Actors Guild Award for best ensemble cast in a drama series. While working on Six Feet Under, Rodriguez also starred in the independent film Red Zone (2003) and took small roles in films such as Dallas 362 (2003) and Havoc (2005). In addition, Rodriguez landed a recurring role in the award-winning medical comedy Scrubs, appearing in three episodes during the show’s third season in 2003 and 2004.
Following Six Feet Under, Rodriguez starred in the action film Harsh Times (2005), a story about two old high school friends who often find themselves on the wrong side of the law. He then took roles in the adventure film Poseidon (2006), which focuses on the passengers onboard a capsized luxury cruise ship, and in the historical drama Bobby, a biopic about the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.
The next major film for Rodriguez was 2007’s Planet Terror, directed by Robert Rodriguez. The film was half of the double feature Grindhouse, which also featured director Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof. In Planet Terror, Rodriguez plays Wray, a war veteran who returns home to see his ex-girlfriend. The two then help save their Texas town from swarms of zombies born of nearby military experiments.
Following his work on Planet Terror, Rodriguez took a role in the Golden Globe–winning television comedy Ugly Betty. Rodriguez plays Gio Rossi, a love interest of Betty, played by America Ferrera. He appeared in twelve episodes of the comedy; during this time, he concentrated mostly on this role, appearing in only a handful of other projects.
After the end of his role on Ugly Betty, Rodriguez landed several recurring television roles, including a part in the short-lived 2011 series Chaos. In 2012 he obtained a leading role in the television movie Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden, which tells the stories of the soldiers who participated in the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden and which received mixed reviews. Of the several military-themed films in which Rodriguez appeared around this time, 2014's Fort Bliss alone received positive reviews; in that indie film, he played the supporting role of Captain Garver. He also did voice work for animated projects, including the adventure series Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters (2012–13) and Young Justice, the latter of which he continued with through 2019.
In 2014 Rodriguez became a series regular on the NBC medical drama The Night Shift, playing Michael Ragosa over the first two of its four seasons. He left the show to costar as attorney Benny Colón on the CBS dramedy Bull, about a trial consultant modeled on the real-life Dr. Phil McGraw. In his first turn as a lawyer, Rodriguez appeared alongside Michael Weatherly, who played the titular character, Dr. Jason Bull. In 2023, Rodriguez starred as Detective Greco in an episode of the television series Wu-Tang: An American Saga.
Impact
Rodriguez had no interest in becoming an actor until a school assignment made him realize his true calling. Ever since, he has proven himself to be a skilled actor capable of filling a wide range of roles, and he has received a number of awards in recognition of his work.
Personal Life
Rodriguez lives in California with his wife, Elsie, whom he married in 1995. They have two sons, Giancarlo and Elijah.
Bibliography
Bellafante, Ginia. “Can You Wear Silly Hats with Your Cloak and Dagger?” New York Times. New York Times, 30 Mar. 2011. 28 Aug. 2013.
Elder, Robert K. “When Hollywood Came to Humboldt Park.” Chicago Tribune. Tribune, 7 Dec. 2008. Web. 28 Aug. 2013.
"Freddy Rodriguez." Internet Movie Database, 2024, www.imdb.com/name/nm0135585/f. Accessed 20 Sept. 2024.
Glanton, A. Dahleen. “A Little Limelight Goes a Long Way.” Chicago Tribune. Tribune, 14 June 1991. Web. 28 Aug. 2013.
Martin, Denise. “He Adds the Salsa to the Big Dance.” Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2008. Web. 28 Aug. 2013.
Otterson, Joe. “Why CBS Legal Drama ‘Bull’ Stretched Freddy Rodriguez as an Actor (Exclusive Video).” TheWrap, 11 Oct. 2016, www.thewrap.com/bull-cbs-freddy-rodriguez-explains-how-this-role-stretched-him-as-an-actor-exclusive-video. Accessed 20 Sept. 2024.
Rodriguez, Freddy. “Freddy Rodriguez: I Feel So Blessed.” Interview by Jarett Wieselman. New York Post. NYP Holdings, 13 July 2009. Web. 28 Aug. 2013.
Terrero, Nina. “Actor Freddy Rodriguez on Playing by His Own Rules.” NBC Latino. NBC Universal, 25 June 2012. Web. 28 Aug. 2013.