Freddy Rodriguez

Chicago native Freddy Rodriguez plays supporting roles on stage, screen, and television. A good film is not whole without the performance of a supporting actor, so does "Six Feet Under" (2001). The HBO TV series would never be 'tasty' enough without the constant witty remarks from Federico 'Rico' Diaz. The man behind the exceptional character was Freddy Rodriguez. Puerto Rican by blood, this petite actor added color to the Golden Globe winning series, not with typical 'hunky' feature of Latin guys, but with his charming and light humor. So pleasant that the Golden Globe nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series was bestowed upon him in 2002.

Rodriguez was born on January 17, 1975 in Chicago, Illinois and raised in the same area. His interest in acting began in this city too. When he was 14, a youth theater company, Whirlwind Performance Company locked him in their pilot production. He made an impression and for the talent, he received a two-year scholarship at Chicago Center for the Gifted that was conducting a summer program. Addicted to stage performance, he continued to sum up his record in doing plays up to 20 productions. He chose drama to be his major in Chicago's Lincoln Park High School and had a sip of dancing and choreographing while there. Unfortunately, all of his talents were hidden in his hometown. He felt the need to expand his horizon. Thus, in 1994 he tried playing in "The Fence". The term 'trying' was probably not quite right as, minding that it was his first movie, it offered him a big role as young Terry Griff.

Lucky for him, an actor to fill in the position of a Latin family member was sought in "A Walk in the Clouds" (1995). The fresh actor earned a chance to play along Keanu Reeves and sensed the experience of playing in a Golden Globe winner film. Still in 1995, he took the job appearing in "Dead President". In this movie he met the serious version of Chris Tucker, who was amid his stardom also but not yet funny. Rodriguez was indeed the funny one. In "The Pest" (1997) he played a comical role as Ninja and was next a jock in a teen movie starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, "Can't Hardly Wait" (1998). Since then, Rodriguez's presence was not acknowledged more than teen star, but in "Party of Five" (1999) series and "Payback" (1999), he built himself an invisible bridge to a much noticeable role in "Six Feet Under".

Having a cute face didn't fail him in attracting teen roles like Victor in "Chasing Papi" (2003). Appeared occasionally in "Scrubs" TV series as Mark Espinosa, he chased his fortune in other movies, such as "Pledge of Allegiance" (2005) and also "Harsh Times" (2005) as Christian Bale's friend. His project in 2006 was quite jam-packed as he was involved in Wolfgang Peterson's "Poseidon" and M. Night Shyamalan's "Lady in the Water". Then, he came full circle in a huge production titled "Bobby" which received a Golden Globe Awards nomination in 2006 for Best Motion Picture - Drama. Keen on trying something else, Rodriguez landed cameos at Santana's video clip 'Into the Night' and Fergie's 'Glamorous'.

Off the Hollywood life, he was married to Elsie Rodriguez with whom he has two sons named Giancarlo Rodriguez and Elijah Rodriguez. In 2007, the actor joined the cast of ABC's comedy-drama series "Ugly Betty," being tipped to play the role of Gio, the new love interest for the series' main character Betty, played by America Ferrera.

Freddy Rodrguez will play Michael Ragosa, the new no-nonsense boss of NBC's new show "The Night Shift", which begins in the Fall of 2013.