Freddy Rodríguez is the rarest of actors: He’s been constantly employed and never had to wait tables.
“My journey was a very, very different one, and an anomaly,” he says from the set of CBS’ Tuesday drama Bull, where he plays incisive lawyer Benny Colón. “I was right out of high school, and I auditioned for A Walk in the Clouds. It was a gigantic studio movie, and I booked the job out of Chicago, and right after I booked Dead Presidents in the same year. So I came to L.A. with two very big studio movies under my belt. I was very, very blessed that I did not have to go to L.A. and work as a waiter like most actors do.”
He’s summoned back into a scene but, when he returns, answers our “5 Questions.”
- If your TV only had three networks or shows, what would you be watching?
Mindhunter. That was terrific. I blew right through that show in three days. Curb Your Enthusiasm. I was so happy when that show came back. And I have been DVR-ing 60 Minutes, and I watch it religiously. This show is so well done.
- What are three things that have to be in your fridge or pantry at all times?
I have to always have Honeycrisp apples, but I am very specific. They have to be crunchy. If there is any sense of softness, I can’t eat it. Coconut water and oatmeal.
- What’s a movie you can watch over and over again?
Goodfellas.
- Tell us about a time you were completely starstruck.
I was starstruck every time I have met Al Pacino, and he is always so incredibly nice to me. I auditioned for him and did a reading for him for Orphans, and I tried not to dork out. A buddy of mine, David Ortiz, a producer, says to me, “Hey, we are going to go play softball, and Al Pacino is going to be there.” We are all there and are in sweatpants and softball gear, and we are all waiting on Al. We look way off in the distance, and there is this guy meandering around this other part of the baseball field. And he is in a black leather jacket, and I don’t even remember if he had sneakers on. He looked like he stepped off a Carlito’s Way set, and he is older. I am not exaggerating by one stretch of the imagination — he gets to the plate and walks home runs like he is 20 years old. He is rocking these home runs. Home run after home run! We were all so shocked as to how agile this man was. And the way he was catching the ball was incredible.
- If you weren’t an actor, what do you think you would be doing for a living?
I’d probably be teaching it, or I would be involved in the arts in some fashion.
