12.29.2009
Paul Rodriguez
"The Original Latin King of Comedy"
Paul Rodriguez' career has spanned more than two decades and includes starring roles and featured appearances in over 30 films and countless television series and specials.
As a stand-up comedian, it is estimated that Paul has performed live to well over one million concert goers from coast to coast building a solid, loyal fan base. Hands down, he has become the "Original Latin King of Comedy."
Paul's first big break came while doing comedy warm-ups for Norman Lear's show "Gloria." Lear ultimately wrote and developed a weekly series for Paul, "a.k.a. Pablo," the first televison show about a Mexican American family on mainstream television. He went on to do two other series, "Trial and Error," and "Grand Slam" for CBS. For four years Paul hosted "El Show de Paul Rodriguez," an entertainment talk show for the Spanish-language Univision Network. The show reached an international audience throughout the United States and 17 other countries in Central and South America.
In addition, Paul also found time to guest star in several episodes of Showtime's original series "Resurrection Boulevard," and starred in six comedy specials for HBO, including "Loco Slam," "Live in San Quentin" and the most recent being "Idiots and Armadillos," which he also wrote and executive-produced. He also served as host for The Alma Awards on the ABC and the Latino Laugh Festival for Showtime, as well as his own television creations including four specials for the Fox Broadcasting Company
Paul segued nicely from television to motion pictures, making his feature film debut in the Universal Pictures comedy "D.C. Cab." Paul's directorial debut came in 1994 with the film "A Million to Juan," a family comedy he wrote and also starred in. Paul also had costarring roles in Orion Pictures' "Miracles," Paramount's "The Whoopee Boys," Columbia Pictures "Quicksilver," and Universal's "Born in East L.A.", as well as "Made in America." He landed the coveted role of outspoken fight physician Freddie Pacheco in Columbia Pictures big budget biopic "Ali" for director Michael Mann and Producer John Peters. Other movie roles that followed are New Line Cinema's "The Price of Glory," starring Jimmy Smitts, Metro-Goldwyn's "Tortilla Soup," with Hector Elizondo; “Crocodile Dundee in LA" with Paul Hogan; "The Shipment" with Mathew Modine, Jerry Zucker's "Rat Race,” “Chasing Papi” directed by Linda Mendoza, "Blood Work" directed by Clint Eastwood, "A Cinderella Story" starring Hilary Duff, "The World's Fastest Indian" starring Sir Anthony Hopkins. True to his stand-up comedy roots, Paul was the executive producer and co-star of the beloved comedy concert film, “The Original Latin Kings of Comedy,” distributed by Paramount Pictures.
Slated for released in 2010 are three new films from Paul: "The Deported" directed by Lance Kawas, "It's Not Like That Anymore" co-starring Felipe Esparza, and "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore," a sequel to 2001's popular children's film "Cats & Dogs."