As I delve into the vibrant world of Rico Rodriguez, it’s quite evident that this multi-talented individual has managed to weave a captivating tapestry of creativity and versatility across various domains. From his humble beginnings on the hit sitcom “Modern Family” to his foray into voice acting, podcast production, and even co-founding a production company with his sister Raini, Rico seems to have embraced life’s opportunities with open arms.
The coolest kid to ever appear on TV screens is none other than Manny Delgado, a character skillfully portrayed by Rico Rodriguez across 11 seasons of “Modern Family.” This popular sitcom revolves around Jay Pritchett (Ed O’Neill), the stepfather figure, and his two adult children, Claire Dunphy (Julie Bowen) and Mitchell Pritchett (Jesse Tyler Ferguson). As they juggle their families and life’s complexities, Manny provides insightful advice that belies his age, often offering fresh perspectives during heated disputes that might otherwise seem impossible to resolve.
During his tenure on “Modern Family,” Rodriguez effortlessly won over audiences, appearing in over 200 episodes. This cherished TV family bid farewell to viewers in 2020, but since departing the Pritchett household, Rodriguez has been remarkably active – not necessarily in ways one might anticipate.
Who is Rico Rodriguez?
Before landing his breakout role, Rico Rodriguez had already been active in the industry for quite some time. He started his acting journey at the age of six when he moved to Los Angeles and has since been captivating audiences with his talent for over a decade. Some might recognize him as the young Guillermo from Jimmy Kimmel’s show back in 2006 on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”. His career really picked up speed in 2007, with guest appearances on numerous popular shows. This journey began with his role as James during Season 13 of “ER” in the episode titled “Crisis of Conscience.” He later joined the cast of the family comedy “That’s So Raven” spin-off, “Cory in the House,” appearing in two episodes titled “Rock the Vote” and “Mall of Confusion” during Season 1. The latter part of the 2000s saw Rodriguez taking on more guest roles, including one that you might have missed on an episode of “NCIS”.
In 2009, he secured his breakout part as Manny Delgado, with Rodriguez mentioning that over time, he and Manny practically merged into one entity. During an interview with Sioux City Journal in 2018, he expressed the profound impact the show had on him, stating, “Being a part of this series is a blessing. It’s been quite the ride—a thrilling one, and I adore it.” His only regret was not being able to delve deeper into Manny’s football storyline. Rodriguez garnered numerous award nominations throughout the show’s run, including Teen Choice Awards. Furthermore, he contributed to the “Modern Family” cast winning SAG awards in the outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series category. The future continues to hold great promise for this versatile actor who has since explored various other endeavors and solidified his status as a household name.
Rico Rodriguez has participated in some game shows
Since wrapping up “Modern Family”, Rico Rodriguez has been exploring the realm of game shows. On this sitcom, he served as a judge for an episode titled “Quail Quest” on “Chopped Junior”, and also made an appearance on an installment of “Celebrity Family Feud”.
After that, he made an appearance as a special guest on “The Substitute,” a hidden camera series from Nickelodeon where celebrities disguise themselves as substitute teachers. Rodriguez can be seen in Season 1, Episode 6, with his sister Raini Rodriguez (famous for playing Maya Blart in the “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” films) providing cues from another location. In this episode, Rodriguez plays a teacher with an eccentric organizational method that results in him damaging much of the classroom technology. Nickelodeon’s Facebook page showcased his metamorphosis, which included a wig with curly hair and a mustache that left students completely bewildered during the unveiling because he was virtually unrecognizable.
He’s not new to gracing award show stages either. At the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards, he made history by being the youngest person ever, just 18 years old, to deliver a speech at the beginning of the ceremony. In the year 2020, he had the honor of presenting at the “WWE: Slammy Awards,” an event that was significant for his WWE fanbase, as he often shares pictures from “Monday Night Raw” on his Instagram account.
He acted in a thriller podcast series
Rico Rodriguez’s humor shines through brilliantly when he delivers funny lines. After his time on “Modern Family,” he’s expanded his acting prowess onto a medium that primarily utilizes voice work: He lends his voice to the 10-episode podcast titled “How to Win Friends and Disappear People,” alongside Leslie Grace, who was initially set to star in the cancelled “Batgirl” film.
In a modern-day New York City, Grace (the character), a vampire who’s been wandering for many years, moves in next door to Nancy, a computer scientist (played by Soni Bringas). Together, they explore a dangerous realm, and the story unfolds. The podcast debuted in 2023, with Rodriguez expressing his enthusiasm for the venture on Instagram. He shared the show’s trailer along with the statement that it would keep viewers at the edge of their seats. “This was an enjoyable experience to be involved in!” he concluded.
As a dedicated fan, I can tell you that this show takes me right into the heart of the action with its first-person narrative approach. Starting from Episode 3, “(Undead) Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” Rodriguez brings her character Louise to life. This captivating podcast comes from QCode, as their CEO and founder, Rob Herting, shared with Deadline. It’s a perfect blend for enthusiasts of true crime and those who love comedic thrillers. The series cleverly employs vampire folklore to delve into the complexities of modern relationships and emotions specific to our digital era.
Rico Rodriguez started a production company with his sister
Outside of entertaining audiences on camera as Rico Rodriguez, he collaborates off-screen with his sister Raini. Likewise, Raini has an extensive acting resume. Apart from the “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” films, she’s recognized for her roles in Disney series such as “Austin & Ally” and “Bunk’d,” and she’s no stranger to voice acting either. Fans of Studio Ghibli productions will recognize her voice from the English version of “When Marnie Was There,” where she portrayed Nobuko, while more recently, she has been lending her voice to Sammy Gutierrez in the animated Netflix series “Jurassic World: Chaos Theory.
Raini has ventured into the realm of directing, with her directional debut being an episode of “Austin & Ally”. She has since joined forces with her brother to establish their own production company. In a July 2024 interview with ABC11, Rico revealed, “I’ve been doing quite a bit of writing, my sister and I have our own production company. At the moment, we are working on a few projects that are in the development stage.” Further details about these projects remain undisclosed.
As one of the numerous projects we’ve been collaborating on, here I am talking about the Raini & Rico Foundation – a venture my sibling and I have established. We shared this exciting news with Shine on Media, revealing our mission to support the Head Start Program in Texas, primarily by supplying school essentials to young learners.
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2024-12-23 00:30