In this profile series, Revry is highlighting authentic contributors to the LGBTQ media and entertainment community. We ask questions to find out who they are and where they are going in the future. The questions remain the same but the answers tell their unique story. It’s time to explore and celebrate true representation beyond the limits of Hollywood. 

Dr. Teddy Alexis Rodriguez was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He is the grandson of sugar cane sharecroppers and grandparents who lived in the projects. He is the son of first-generation college students who are currently retired public school inner-city teachers. Also, he is the twin of a sassy Puerto Rican sister. Teddy attended the Bellas Artes (Fine Arts) High School of Ponce, Puerto Rico, where he studied Theatre Arts. Eventually, Rodriguez attended the University of Puerto Rico to study Theatre Arts and Theoretical Physics while focusing his artistic energies on acting. In his freshman year, he booked his first collegiate role. A week before opening, the director took Teddy away from the cast and informed him that he had to let him go because his character was Gay and the director did not want that. This firing crystalized in the seventeen-year-old’s mind, awakening a curiosity to direct and create his own projects. He later obtained a full scholarship to obtain his master’s in Physical Sciences while juggling a teacher certification program for theatre education. During his theatre teaching practicum, Rodriguez was awarded the Outstanding Practicing Teacher Award. Additionally, he directed and adapted Steve Galluccio’s MAMBO ITALIANO, a play with a Gay protagonist. The play enjoyed an extended week’s run and the attendance of the President and Dean of Arts and Sciences of the University of Puerto Rico. 

Next, Rodriguez obtained his doctorate in Fine Arts in Theatre with an emphasis in Directing/Acting. During his doctoral studies, Rodriguez researched methods of multiculturalism in theatre and theatre education. That work was nominated for Texas Tech University’s Presidential Diversity and Equity Award. More importantly, this work is currently used in several Theatre Departments across the U.S.A. as required reading for multicultural competency. Following that accomplishment, Rodriguez moved to Los Angeles to pursue professional theatre and filmmaking. He currently has 100+ credits in acting/directing in theatre, film, TV, and new media. Most recently, he directed and wrote the piece HOW DID EDWARD LOSE HIS ACCENT?—a work that advanced to semi-finals in the Short+Sweet Hollywood LGBT Festival and was awarded the Crew Award. 

Currently, Rodriguez’s film HELL NO is in its festival run. The film has been nominated for several awards including Best Directing (Best Of Awards, Hollywood), Best Directorial Debut (Canadian Cinematography Awards), Best Latin Short (Cuzco Underground Film Festival), and Best Director of Indie Short (London Directors Awards). It also has won several awards including the IndieFest Award and Gold Star Movie Award for Best Short Film. Most recently, Rodriguez also directed  the original one-act TEXAS TRANSIT at the Off Off Broadway Festival Triangle Gay Festival 2021, EDMUND FITZWATER DOES NOT HAVE ANY ANSWERS FOR YOU, and P.A.B. for Affirmation Theatre’s Pro-Black Theatre Festival in New York. Additionally, his film JULIO ROBERTS was presented in the Los Angeles OutFest Fusion 1-Minute Film Competition and ranked as a finalist. Currently, Dr. Teddy Alexis Rodriguez is developing his feature film ópera prima HOW DID EDWARD LOSE HIS ACCENT?

What are you best known for?

I am best known for my co-star role of Joe Cortes in NCIS. Sadly, Joe died in the episode he was introduced to in season 17. I am still hoping to be brought back to life and hopefully, fall in love with Wilmer Valderrama’s character. A man can dream. 

What is the first thing you directed?

The first piece I directed was a one act I co-wrote called EN UN MOMENTITO in 2001. I wrote for an in-class project at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus.  Therefore, I am celebrating my 20th year as a director. That piece was also a queer piece. The funny thing I remember about that piece is that the main actress decided to change her dress in the middle of the show without my consent and held her entrance for 4 minutes in which the co-writer and I had to improvise dialogue. The improvised part was the one that got the most laughs, so we did not tell anyone. My short film currently playing at QueerX,HELL NO, is actually my directing debut in film. It is thrilling to me to be celebrating both step stones at the same time. HELL NO is my presentation card as a Television/Film director. 

What are you working on that no one knows about yet?

I am currently developing my feature film directing debut. It is called HOW DID EDWARD LOSE HIS ACCENT? and it is currently being pitched to some studios. This feature is based on my award-winning one act of the same name. EDWARD played in the Short+Sweet Hollywood Festival where it advanced to Semi-Finals and garnered a Crew Award. In this film, I want to show that as Edward grieves the death of his parents, traumatic graduate school experiences, a painful job hunt, and a bad breakup, he realizes that by embracing his identity and his chosen family, he can heal and find a version of happiness.