Jai Rodriguez

Jai Rodriguez (born June 22, 1979) is an American actor and musician best known as the culture guide on the Bravo network's Emmy-winning American reality television program Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. He has also co-authored a book with the other Queer Eye hosts. Rodriguez starred as Geoffrey in the ABC sitcom Malibu Country from 2012 to 2013.

Not to be confused with Jay Rodriguez.

Jai Rodriguez
Rodriguez in 2010
Born (1979-06-22) June 22, 1979
Brentwood, New York, United States
OccupationActor, musician
Years active1993–present
Websitemyspace.com/jairodriguezmusic

Personal life

Rodriguez is of Puerto Rican and Italian descent,[1] He performed with gospel choirs from the age of eleven, and studied musical theater at the Boces Cultural Art Center in Syosset, New York (now called Long Island High School for the Arts).[2] He also attended Smithtown Christian School and Smithtown High School (now Smithtown West) where he performed in various plays.

Career

Acting

Rodriguez is a stage actor and singer best known for his roles in the Toronto cast of Broadway stage musical Rent, as Angel, and the Off-Broadway musical Zanna, Don't!, as Zanna.[2] He has also acted in several plays, including Spinning into Butter at the Lincoln Center.[1] In 2005, he created and performed his own one night stage show, "Jai Rodriguez: xPosed."[3] xPosed told the story of Rodriguez's life and struggle to come out to his religious family, and of his career on stage and in Queer Eye. His Queer Eye co-stars Ted Allen and Carson Kressley appeared as themselves.

In November 1993, at age 14, Rodriguez appeared in one episode of the daytime drama All My Children. In August 2005, he made a two-day guest appearance on the ABC daytime drama One Life to Live.[2]

In November 2005, while Queer Eye was on filming hiatus, he joined the cast of The Producers on Broadway for three months, playing the role of Carmen Ghia. He played a different role, that of Sabu, in the 2005 Producers movie.

In August 2007, Rodriguez filmed a guest starring role in drama series Nip/Tuck, playing the character of Chaz Darling. The episode (also titled "Chaz Darling") aired in November 2007.

In March 2010, Rodriguez appeared as a newscaster in the music video for "Telephone", with Lady Gaga and Beyoncé.

In February 2011, Rodriguez appeared in an episode of the ABC series Detroit 1-8-7 titled "Legacy; Drag City", playing a drag queen.

In March 2011, Rodriguez made an appearance in an episode of NBC's Harry's Law, titled "Send in the Clowns", as a transgender woman fired after an affair with a club owner was exposed.

In November 2011, Rodriguez appeared in an episode of How I Met Your Mother called "The Rebound Girl", playing the husband of Barney Stinson's brother. He appeared again in March 2014 in the episode "Gary Blauman".

Rodriguez regularly guest performs in Cookin' With Gas , a long-running all improv show, at The Groundlings Theatre in Los Angeles.

In April 2012, appeared in an episode of Bones as a murdering hairdresser Theo Alex Norman.

As of May 2012, the new ABC sitcom Malibu Country has been picked up. Rodriguez is a regular cast member, playing record industry executive, Geoffrey.[4]

In November 2014, Rodriguez appears as Diego Diaz in Kingdom on DirecTV Audience Network, a physical therapist treating MMA fighter Nate Kulina, played by Nick Jonas.

From August 2014, Rodriguez appears as "Ritchie Valentine" in The Horizon.

Television hosting

In 2003, Rodriguez became Queer Eye's resident "Culture Vulture", functioning as the show's expert on the topic of culture, and the show's success brought him increased exposure. He was a replacement host for the show's originally-cast culture host, but has been part of Queer Eye since the third episode. This show includes five guys, known as the "Fab Five." The roles of the "Fab Five" are a grooming guru, food and wine connoisseur, fashion savant, a designer doctor, and a culture vulture. The purpose of the show is to create a better sense of fashion, function, and culture between all straight men.[5] A very interesting aspect of the show is the chemistry and great casting of the "Fab Five." These actors seem like they have been the best of friends since drama camp began back in time. However, none of the men knew each other before the show started.[6] Since Jai Rodriguez is the youngest guy in the clique by ten years, he is considered to be the unique one. He came into the show after it had already begun. Also, Jai is the only person of color on the show.[7]

In April 2004, Jai hosted Bravo on With the Show. This was a contest on Bravo in which 50 actors and actresses won a trip to New York City to work with Broadway professionals. This three-day workshop helped these 10 to 17-year-old teens develop their acting skills.[8]

In May 2007, Rodriguez announced he would be appearing as a regular judge on two new reality shows: MTV's Shower Power (an American Idol-type singing contest) and Court TV's The Jury, (a Judge Judy-type show where cases are decided by a panel of celebrity judges).[9]

On November 3, 2007, Rodriguez started co-hosting (with Daisy Fuentes) a new show, Ultimate Style, on the Style Network. The weekly series covers celebrities, fashion, beauty, home and all things related to style. Also in 2007, Rodriguez hosted one season of travel/style show Styleyes on Sí TV.[10]

Rodriguez also hosted the Animal Planet reality TV show Groomer Has It, which premiered April 12, 2008 on Animal Planet. He also appears on GSN Live as a sub host.

Music

As a singer, Rodriguez has performed on stage and as a recording artist. In 2002, he created his own musical cabaret show, titled Monday Night Twisted Cabaret, which ran at New York gay club xl for a year.[2] Rodriguez continued to perform Twisted Cabaret on a sporadic basis between 2004–2006.

Rodriguez released his first single, "Love Is Good", on the indie record label Arrive at Eleven Productions in March 2003.[2] He then recorded his debut album for Airgo Records. The first single from the album, Broken, was released on October 4, 2007.

Rodriguez appeared as one of the celebrity singers on the Fox reality TV show Celebrity Duets, which premiered August 29. He was eliminated on September 22, 2006.

Books

Rodriguez is also a co-author of the New York Times bestselling book,[11][12] Queer Eye for the Straight Guy: The Fab Five's Guide to Looking Better, Cooking Better, Dressing Better, Behaving Better, and Living Better (Published by Clarkson Potter, 2004).

Filmography
Year Film Role Notes
2002The New GuyJose
2005The ProducersSabu
2009Oy Vey! My Son Is Gay!!Angelo Ferraro
2015Kiss Me, Kill MeDetective Santos
2019From Zero to I Love YouAndrew
Year TV Role Notes
1993All My ChildrenFaith's FatherTelevision debut
2003–2007Queer Eye for the Straight GuyHimselfCulture expert
2007Nip/TuckChaz DarlingEpisode: Chaz Darling
2008–2009Groomer Has ItHimselfHost
2010GiganticMax Michaelson3 episodes
2011Detroit 1-8-7Christina Draguilera/JoeEpisode: Legacy/Drag City
Harry's LawAmanda KnottEpisode: Send in the Clowns
2011, 2014How I Met Your MotherTom2 Episodes
2012Are You There, Chelsea?Sandy/ChuckEpisode: Dee Dee's Pillow
BonesTheoEpisode: The Don't in the Do
2012–2013Malibu CountryGeoffreySeries regular
2014KingdomDiego Diaz3 episodes
2015Hell's KitchenHimselfEpisode: 17 Chefs Compete
2016Grace and FrankieJojoEpisode: The Negotiation
Dance MomsHimself/HostEpisode: Girl Talk, Part 3
2017Grey's AnatomyMaxEpisode: In the Air Tonight
The MagiciansJavierEpisode: The Flying Forest
Kendra on TopHimselfSeason 6
2020EqualJosé SarriaDocuseries
The Eric Andre Show Himself Episode: Bone TV

References
  1. Nunn, Jerry (October 31, 2007). "Jai Rodriguez: From Queer Eye To Queer Ear". Windy City Times. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  2. "All American Speakers". Biography of Jai Rodriguez. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
  3. "Playbill". Zanna and Queer Eye Star Jai Rodriguez is xPosed at January 31 Concert. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved March 2010. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  4. http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/malibu-country
  5. Insua, Christina. "Queer Eye's Jai Rodriguez". Academic Search Complete. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  6. Gordon, Devin. "Queen for a Day". Academic Search Complete. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  7. Vary, Adam B. "Pride, Patriotism, and Queer Eye". Academic Search Complete. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  8. Teusink, Laura. "Jai-Walking". Academic Search Complete. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  9. "Jai Rodriguez MySpace". Gnight update on my life. Retrieved July 17, 2007.
  10. ::SiTV: Styleyes:: Archived May 15, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  11. "Paperback Best Sellers". The New York Times. February 29, 2004.
  12. "Simon and Schuster". Carson Kressley Official Publisher Page. Retrieved March 2010. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.