Rico Rodriguez Bio
Rico Rodriguez, born on July 31, 1998, is an American actor widely recognized for his long-running television work. He first rose to widespread attention as Manny Delgado on the ABC sitcom Modern Family, a role he played from 2009 until the series concluded in 2020. Across his career, Rodriguez has appeared in film and television projects both before and after his signature show, establishing himself as one of the most familiar young performers in American family television.
Beyond acting, Rodriguez has explored writing and voice work, contributing to animated features and lending his voice to a Lion King franchise series. His family background in Texas and his early exposure to entertainment shaped a steady career that continues into his twenties.
Early Life and Background
Rico Rodriguez was born in Bryan, Texas, the son of Diane and Roy Rodriguez. His parents owned Rodriguez Tire Service, the family business that grounded the family in their Texas community. He grew up alongside three older siblings: his brothers Ray and Roy Jr., and his sister Raini Rodriguez, who is also an actress. His sister would go on to build her own career in Hollywood, making the Rodriguez household one with clear ties to entertainment.
Rodriguez is of Mexican descent, and his cultural background has been part of the stories he has chosen to tell on screen. The combination of a working family environment and the artistic influence of his sister helped introduce him to performing at an early age. By the time he was in elementary school, he had begun pursuing auditions in the wider Texas and Los Angeles markets.
Coming of age in a household where creativity was encouraged, Rodriguez found his footing quickly. He balanced typical childhood activities with early professional commitments, which gave him a focused outlook for someone so young. The support of his parents and siblings helped him navigate the demands of child acting during his formative years.
Path to Celebrity
Rodriguez began his entertainment career in 2006, initially taking on smaller television appearances. At the age of nine, he landed a character in the Disney Channel series Cory in the House, marking his first notable on-screen credit. The opportunity confirmed his interest in acting and opened the door to further guest roles in prominent television productions.
He followed that debut with guest appearances on several established series, including ER, iCarly, Nip/Tuck, and My Name Is Earl. These varied roles allowed him to work with different casts and crews, building his range and on-camera confidence. Each appearance sharpened his timing and prepared him for the larger audition that would soon change his career.
The pivotal moment came in 2009 when, after a casting process that Modern Family co-creator Steve Levitan later described as surprisingly difficult, Rodriguez was cast as Manny Delgado. The character, a wise-beyond-his-years son in a blended family, became the central role of his professional life for the next eleven years.
Rico Rodriguez Career
Early Career (2006–2009)
Rodriguez’s earliest work was concentrated in guest spots across popular television series. His role in Cory in the House introduced him to the rhythms of multi-camera sitcom production, while appearances on ER and Nip/Tuck offered glimpses into single-camera drama. He also showed early comedic instincts on My Name Is Earl and iCarly, both of which highlighted his comfort with lighter material.
These early credits allowed him to build a resume before his teens. The mix of drama, comedy, and family-oriented programming gave him a versatile foundation that prepared him for the sustained workload of a network series. By the end of this period, he had established himself as a dependable young performer ready for a leading television role.
Breakthrough (2009–2020)
In September 2009, Rodriguez began playing Manny Delgado on Modern Family, the ABC ensemble sitcom that became one of the defining comedies of its era. The character, the eldest child of Jay and Gloria, was central to many of the show’s most memorable storylines. Rodriguez’s comedic timing and surprising maturity made Manny a fan favorite from the start.
During the show’s run, Rodriguez continued to take on outside projects that complemented his Modern Family commitments. The same year Modern Family debuted, he appeared in a season six episode of NCIS as Travis, a boy who discovers a gun and a dead body, demonstrating his ability to handle dramatic material. In November 2012, he published a book titled Reel Life Lessons… So Far, in which he discussed his experiences on set, including his close relationship with co-star Sofia Vergara, who played his on-screen mother and treated him like one of her own sons.
In 2015, Rodriguez played Jose in Endgame, a coming-of-age film about a Mexican middle-schooler who joins a chess team. The role reflected his cultural background and expanded his film resume. He later voiced Raha in The Lion Guard, a Lion King franchise series that ran from 2016 to 2019, which also featured Modern Family co-star Sarah Hyland. In 2016, he voiced a parrot named Cuco in the animated film El Americano: The Movie, a casting choice praised by director Ricardo Arnaiz.
Modern Family ended after eleven seasons in April 2020, and Rodriguez marked the conclusion with an emotional Instagram post in which he described the experience as life-changing. Following the finale, he made appearances as himself on Nickelodeon programs The Substitute and Unfiltered, continuing his presence in family-oriented entertainment.
Notable Works and Milestones
Rodriguez’s signature credit remains Manny Delgado on Modern Family, a role that earned him recognition from the Screen Actors Guild and placed him at the center of an award-winning ensemble. His work spans family comedies, animated features, and a self-authored book, marking a varied career that has grown alongside the character who made him a household name.
Rico Rodriguez Award Nominations
Rodriguez has earned multiple Screen Actors Guild Award nominations as part of the Modern Family ensemble. The cast was nominated eight times for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, reflecting the consistent critical and industry recognition the show received throughout its run.
Rico Rodriguez Awards Won
Alongside his Modern Family castmates, Rodriguez won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series on four occasions. These ensemble wins highlighted the strength of the show’s collective performances and stand among the most notable honors of his career to date.
Rico Rodriguez Family
Rodriguez was raised in Bryan, Texas by his parents, Diane and Roy Rodriguez, who owned Rodriguez Tire Service. He has three older siblings: brothers Ray and Roy Jr., and his sister, Raini Rodriguez, who is herself an actress in Hollywood. His family ties to entertainment and his Texas upbringing shaped the grounded perspective he has brought to his work in the entertainment industry.
Rodriguez’s father, Roy Rodriguez, passed away on March 12, 2017, at the age of 52. The loss marked a deeply personal moment for the family, and Rodriguez has spoken about the lasting influence of his parents on his life and career.
Personal Life
Rodriguez is a devoted Houston Rockets fan and has described himself as an avid reader. Outside of acting, he has expressed a long-standing interest in storytelling, which led him to publish his own book during the run of Modern Family. He continues to pursue creative projects while maintaining close ties to his family in Texas.