Joe Rodriguez(XXII)
- Director
- Actor
- Writer
Joe Rodriguez is an actor, comedian, writer, and director. He was born in Middletown, NY and grew up in West Palm Beach, FL. His dad is Colombian and his mom is a Brooklyner of German descent.
He nervously started taking improv classes when he was a ripe 18. Under the direction of UCB Alumna, Kat Kenny, Joe performed with South Florida troupes "Adult Beverage" and "Friends with Benefits." He has taken classes and performed with The Groundlings, The Upright Citizen's Brigade, David Razowsky, Sick Puppies Comedy, Bob Carter's Actors Rep, Just the Funny, and more.
In 2012, Joe enrolled at NYU's Kanbar Institute of Film & Television at Tisch School of the Arts. His first student film was honored as a finalist at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival Emerging Filmmaker Showcase. His senior project, Mr. Madison (2014), was a comedic drama about impersonating his grandfather. The film won The Russell Hexter Filmmaker Grant, Malcolm Ross Memorial Production Award, and "Best Actress," for co-star, C.J. Gelfand at the 2015 First Run Festival.
At The Groundlings, Joe received the 2018 NBCUniversal Diversity Writing Lab Scholarship. He now calls LA home and can be seen performing in bars, coffee shops, and under billboards all around town.
He nervously started taking improv classes when he was a ripe 18. Under the direction of UCB Alumna, Kat Kenny, Joe performed with South Florida troupes "Adult Beverage" and "Friends with Benefits." He has taken classes and performed with The Groundlings, The Upright Citizen's Brigade, David Razowsky, Sick Puppies Comedy, Bob Carter's Actors Rep, Just the Funny, and more.
In 2012, Joe enrolled at NYU's Kanbar Institute of Film & Television at Tisch School of the Arts. His first student film was honored as a finalist at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival Emerging Filmmaker Showcase. His senior project, Mr. Madison (2014), was a comedic drama about impersonating his grandfather. The film won The Russell Hexter Filmmaker Grant, Malcolm Ross Memorial Production Award, and "Best Actress," for co-star, C.J. Gelfand at the 2015 First Run Festival.
At The Groundlings, Joe received the 2018 NBCUniversal Diversity Writing Lab Scholarship. He now calls LA home and can be seen performing in bars, coffee shops, and under billboards all around town.
