THEATRE + COMEDY

The Improv Comedy Showcase and Restaurant presents Paul Rodriguez. 

Paul is considered to be the most influential Hispanic comedian of the last 25 years. His activities in film making as an actor, director and a writer are prodigious but his ability as a stand up comic is still his number one love and provides his fan's with the most laughs.

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. His 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."

Paul holds the honor and is enshrined at the Smithsonian as the first television show about a Mexican American Family on mainstream American television. He went on to do two other series, "Trial and Error," and "Grand Slam" for CBS. For four years (1990/94) 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. Paul's directorial debut came in 1994 with the film "A Million to Juan," a family comedy in which he also wrote and starred in.

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- four specials for the Fox Broadcasting Company ("Back to School," "Behind Bars")

Paul segued nicely from television to motion pictures, making his feature film debut in the Universal Pictures comedy "D.C. Cab." Paul also had co-starring 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,” and “Chasing Papi” directed by Linda Mendoza

Recently he had the opportunity to work with the legendary Clint Eastwood in the Warner Brothers film “Bloodwork”. Paul was the executive producer and star of the comedy concert film, “The Original Latin Kings of Comedy,” distributed by Paramount Pictures. His latest film projects include, “A Cinderella Story” starring Hilary Duff, “Badassss” directed by Mario Van Peebles, “Cloud Nine” starring Burt Reynolds and still in theaters, “The World’s Fastest Indian” starring Sir Anthony Hopkins and directed by Roger Donaldson.

Paul currently is in pre-production on two series which were picked-up by VH1 and UPN/ Revolution Studios and just finished starring in a comedy showcase series entitled, “ The Laugh Factory: Very Funny,” set to air on TBS.

Paul Rodriguez is an in demand performer with a busy schedule of concerts and personal appearances. As a well-rounded stand-up comedian, having honed his craft over the past twenty-five years, it is estimated that Paul has performed live to well over one million concert goers from coast to coast building a solid fan base. Within Hispanic communities, Rodriguez is considered to be the Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce, and George Carlin when it comes to original comedy. Hands down, he has become the Original Latin King of Comedy.

Paul remains strongly rooted in the Latino community, working with civic and educational groups and his main contributions go to the National Hispanic Scholarship Fund (NHSF). Paul also contributes to such charitable efforts as Comic Relief appearing on the HBO's program every year since its inception and hosts the annual Elizabeth Glazer Pediatrics Aids Foundation celebrity Golf Tournament.

Facts about Paul

Paul was stationed in Iceland, Duluth, Minnesota in the Air Force working in Communications.

He is the only stand-up comedian who can perform in two languages (Spanish/English)

Paul performs stand-up comedy all around the world.

His son is a professional skateboarder who won the Gold Medal at the 2004 X-games in the Street competition and is the first Hispanic to sign with NIKE and will have a P-Rod shoe coming out in March 2005.

Paul is a writer, director and producer for television, motion pictures and feature shows.
Paul has performed with the USO in the Middle East three years in a row (including three visits to Iraq).

He was voted one of the most influential Hispanics in America and was awarded the Ruben Salazar Award by the NCLR.
And his mother thinks he is cute!