"The number of Latino roles is very limited, and it's unfortunate there isn't more color-blind casting." -- Jai Rodriguez
Jai Rodriguez (born June 22, 1979) is an 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.
"All things just keep getting better.""As the universe accepted our show, more people began to accept me.""At the beginning of each year, we have conceptual meetings. How are we going to challenge ourselves this year? So we suggested a transsexual or transgender. And to be honest, I am shocked they let us do it.""I consider myself gay because at the end of the night, that's who I want to cuddle with. But when I go out, I go to straight clubs.""I had said to some pastor that I was having thoughts, and the church turned on me. They went to my mom and said, So sorry about your son.""I have no apologies.""I have to stay humble. I'm just a normal human with a job that is televised.""I know I'm on a small cable reality show. I'm realistic where I stand in the scheme of things.""I like bringing smiles to people's faces.""I was raised thinking I'd burn in hell for being gay, but I didn't have a choice. It's just who I am.""I was the star of the choir.""I'm more of a culture hummingbird.""I've been looking forward to doing an album, but it's really sad to see how many doors have been closed because of the gay thing. I thought it was about the music.""I've done the gay, over-the-top guy. I want to jump into another show where I wear pants for the majority of the time.""It's interesting to see how we are all uniquely different.""Just because you are out doesn't make you the poster boy for the gay community.""My mom doesn't get the whole gay thing, but she loves me.""My mother thought me being gay was a death sentence.""Not everyone is nice and good to work with or grateful for the experience.""Our show is about starting over.""When Queer Eye hit, the church told my mom they were praying for me. She said, God loves him too. And I support him 100 percent."
Rodriguez is of Puerto Rican and Italian descent, and was born David Jai Rodriguez in Brentwood, New York. He performed with gospel choirs from the age of eleven, and studied musical theater at the Boces Cultural Art Center. He also attended Smithtown High School (Now Smithtown West) where he performed in various plays. He currently lives in Los Angeles, where he is pursuing his music and acting career full time.
Rodriguez is a stage actor and singer best known for his roles in the Broadway stage musical Rent, as Angel, and the Off-Broadway musical Zanna, Don't!, as Zanna. He has also acted in several plays, including Spinning Into Butter at the Lincoln Center. In 2005, he created and performed his own one night stage show, "Jai Rodriguez: xPosed." 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, 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.
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.
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.
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).
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. ::SiTV: Styleyes::
Rodriguez also hosted the Animal Planet reality TV show Groomer Has It, which premiered 12 April 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. 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. 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, 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).
Other appearances
In March 2010, Rodriguez appeared as a newscaster in the music video for Telephone, with Lady Gaga and Beyoncé.
