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Jai Rodriguez

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jai Rodriguez
Rodriguez in 2010
Occupation(s)Actor, musician
Years active1993–present

Jai Rodriguez 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 also co-wrote a book with the other Queer Eye hosts. Rodriguez starred as Geoffrey in the sitcom Malibu Country from 2012 to 2013.

Personal life

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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.[citation needed] He is openly gay.

Career

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Acting

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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 acted in several plays, including Spinning into Butter at the Lincoln Center.[1] In 2005, he created and performed his stage show Jai Rodriguez: xPosed.[3] xPosed told the story of Rodriguez's life and struggle to come out to his religious family as well as 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 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 titled "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, he appeared in an episode of Bones as a murdering hairdresser.

On Malibu Country, Rodriguez was a regular cast member, playing record industry executive, Geoffrey.[4]

In November 2014, Rodriguez appeared as Diego Diaz in Kingdom as a physical therapist.

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

Television hosting

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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 culture host who was originally cast, but has been part of Queer Eye since the third episode. This show includes five men who respectively are a grooming guru, food and wine connoisseur, fashion savant, a fashion stylist, and a culture vulture.

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 teens develop their acting skills.[5]

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).[6]

On November 3, 2007, Rodriguez started co-hosting Ultimate Style, with Daisy Fuentes, on the Style Network. The weekly series covered 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.[7]

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

Music

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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 from 2004 to 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. "Broken", the first single from the album, was released on October 4, 2007.

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

Writing

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Rodriguez is also a co-author of the New York Times bestselling book[8][9] 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

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Year Film Role Notes
2002 The New Guy Jose
2005 The Producers Sabu
2009 Oy Vey! My Son Is Gay!! Angelo Ferraro
2015 Kiss Me, Kill Me Detective Santos
2019 From Zero to I Love You Andrew
2022 Bros Jason Shepherd
Year TV Role Notes
1993 All My Children Faith's Father TV debut
2003–2007 Queer Eye for the Straight Guy Himself culture expert
2007 Nip/Tuck Chaz Darling episode: "Chaz Darling"
2008–2009 Groomer Has It Himself host
2010 Gigantic Max Michaelson 3 episodes
2011 Detroit 1-8-7 Christina Draguilera/Joe episode: "Legacy/Drag City"
Harry's Law Amanda Knott episode: "Send in the Clowns"
2011, 2014 How I Met Your Mother Tom 2 episodes
2012 Days of Our Lives Matteo episode #1.11755
Are You There, Chelsea? Sandy/Chuck episode: "Dee Dee's Pillow"
Bones Theo episode: "The Don't in the Do"
2012–2013 Malibu Country Geoffrey series regular
2013 Betas Salazar episode: "One on One"
2014 Kingdom Diego Diaz 3 episodes
2015 Hell's Kitchen Himself episode: "17 Chefs Compete"
Liv and Maddie Jacob Michaels episode: "Ask Her More-A-Rooney"
2015–2019 EastSiders Jimmy 8 episodes
2016 Grace and Frankie Jojo episode: "The Negotiation"
Dance Moms Himself/host episode: "Girl Talk, Part 3"
The Bold and the Beautiful Photographer Sax episode #1.7357
2017 The Magicians Javier episode: "The Flying Forest"
Grey's Anatomy Max episode: "In the Air Tonight"
Sharknado 5: Global Swarming Peter TV movie
Dice Doug episode: "Fingerless"
Wisdom of the Crowd David Silva 2 episodes
Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television Roosevelt Manager episode: "Pilot"
Kendra on Top Himself season 6
2018 The Resident Channing Brewster episode: "Family Affair"
2019 Dollface Mario episode: "Beauty Queen"
2020 The Rookie Griffin episode: "The Overnight"
Equal José Sarria docuseries
The Eric Andre Show Himself episode: "Bone TV"
2022 Bosch: Legacy Officer Scott Templin 2 episodes
Uncoupled Jonathan #2 3 episodes
2023 Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens Detective Johnson 2 episodes
2023 Around the Sun (audio drama) Andrew 3 episodes

References

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  1. ^ a b Nunn, Jerry (October 31, 2007). "Jai Rodriguez: From Queer Eye To Queer Ear". Windy City Times. Archived from the original on January 4, 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e "All American Speakers". Biography of Jai Rodriguez. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
  3. ^ "Zanna and Queer Eye Star Jai Rodriguez is xPosed at January 31 Concert". Playbill. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  4. ^ "Malibu Country". ABC. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  5. ^ Teusink, Laura. "Jai-Walking". Academic Search Complete. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  6. ^ "Jai Rodriguez MySpace". Gnight update on my life. Retrieved July 17, 2007.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Styleyes Miami". Si TV. Archived from the original on March 12, 2008. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  8. ^ "Paperback Best Sellers". The New York Times. February 29, 2004.
  9. ^ "Carson Kressley Official Publisher Page". Simon and Schuster. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
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