Education and Early Aspirations

Rodriguez attended Clarkstown High School North, located in New City, New York, graduating in 1993. During high school, he aspired to become a professional baseball player but suffered an injury that ended his athletic ambitions. This setback led him to develop an interest in acting. By the age of ten, he had already started auditioning, including an attempt to land a role on The Cosby Show.

After high school, he decided to pursue acting full-time and left formal education. While working toward a career in entertainment, he held jobs outside the industry, including roles as a real estate agent and at a brokerage firm.

Breakthrough Opportunity in NYPD Blue

Rodriguez’s entry into television acting received a boost from a personal connection. His father recognized Bill Clark, executive producer of the hit police procedural series NYPD Blue, as an old friend from his time in the military. After reconnecting, Clark offered Rodriguez a small role on the critically acclaimed ABC series. This marked his first notable television appearance.

Television Career: From Guest Roles to CSI: Miami

Following his debut in NYPD Blue, Rodriguez worked steadily in television. He landed guest or recurring roles in numerous series throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, including Brooklyn South (CBS), Felicity (WB), and Resurrection Blvd. (Showtime). In 1999, he also had a brief appearance on NBC’s long-running legal drama Law & Order and was part of the pilot for Ryan Caulfield: Year One for Fox.

His major breakthrough came in 2002 when he was cast as Eric Delko in CSI: Miami, a CBS procedural crime drama and a spin-off of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Rodriguez became one of the core cast members, and the role significantly raised his profile in Hollywood. His involvement in the show spanned its entire run and formed the cornerstone of his television acting career.