Meet Johnny Ray Rodriguez: Entertainer and Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Johnny Ray Rodriguez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Johnny Ray, what role has risk played in your life or career?
It depends on the kind of risk you’re taking. There is the kind you take that propels you to move forward and then there is the other where there’s the possibility of loss or injury. Life is all about taking risks. Some push you to greatness while others can just cut your life short. If it weren’t for the ones I’ve taken throughout my life I wouldn’t have the career I have today. In my case, I’m in the business of entertaining because I do not accept the words, “NO, YOU CAN’T, IMPOSSIBLE, IT’S NOT DONE THAT WAY, YOU”LL NEVER MAKE IT, etc. People use those words to stop you or others in their tracks. For example, when I was a kid of 15 yrs. one of my best friends, (I had two) said to me I would never make it as an actor because I was poor. In his mind you had to be rich to be on TV. I still remember that I cried. It’s true, my family at the time was money deficient, so I cleaned the small acting academy, where I took up acting, in exchange for my classes. I was bullied for being different. I never quite fit in with what I now call “the regular folk.” I took the risk of taking ballet and jazz to the disappointment of my stepfather. I left my parents at the age of 18 to pursue my dream of being in the business. Did I make it? Hell yea, TV, theater and movies and I’m still making waves. I am a beloved and respected icon on the island of Puerto Rico. I perform to packed houses and continue to take risks. Here in Hollywood, I just produced and filmed my new music video for a new song I wrote. I’ve produced and written horror shorts and comedies. Oh yeah, if you don’t take the risk, how will you ever know if you are to make it?

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m what you call a triple threat. I act, sing and dance. But wait there’s more. I produce, DP, direct, edit, write, choreograph, design, style, You might think me pretentious and full of it because of what people believe themselves to be on the internet, I get it. Not everybody is an expert but I’m really good at what I do. How did I get to where I am today. I took the risk of producing my own stage show for a theater venue. You see, I had worked for years as a dancer on TV and as a performer in Gay clubs. I wrote sketches, did drag and put together fun shows and performed week after week in front of a live and wonderfully rowdy audience.. At the same time I was performing in plays and musicals with a prominent theater troupe in PR. After some time, I decided to do my own thing, my way. I put together a show, went to a theater owner of a different venue to book some dates. He thought I was crazy cause no one knew who I was but at the same time, he was amused and intrigued cause I had the balls or naiveté to want to go through with it. He rented me the theater at a reduced price and took a liking to me cause I reminded him of when he was starting out. He put his daughter in charge to oversee the production. Now I had to promote the show. It was towards the end of the year and people were preparing for the holidays, Thankgiving, etc. I contacted a lady friend whom I had met through another friend a few years earlier while performing at the clubs. She was now one of the producers on an up and coming, very exciting new TV show. The show was done live in front of an audience. I got booked on it. Talk about “opportunity meets preparation,” That night, I performed a musical number with one of my zany characters I had been doing for years in clubs. It was my breakthrough performance that made me a TV star. I did two more weeks of promoting my show on that TV show. By the third week, the producers and the star of the show asked me if I wanted to be a regular. Of course I said yes. I packed the theater after that. A few months later, the same producer offered me my own half hour TV show for Telemundo and at the same time another half hour for a spin-off from one of the sketches I performed in the first show. What do I want people to know? Your big break comes when you least expect it and not necessarily the way you dreamed it would happen. Not in a thousand years would I have thought that would launch my career as a performer and celebrity. I was just there to promote my little show hoping I would make enough money to pay everybody back.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My outings consist of dining in restaurants and enjoying very good theater. Events, museums and shopping. I love Italian food and I cook it too. For Italian, go to “Marias” on Ventura Blvd., “Amante” on 9th st. in Downtown Los Ángeles, “La Scala” in Beverly Hills, “Vitello’s” on Tujunga Ave., or “Angelino’s” on Lankershim Blvd. For steaks I go to “Malbec” on Riverside Dr., “Lala’s” on Ventura Blvd. For old Hollywood ambiance, check out “The Smoke House” in Burbank or “Taylor’s Steakhouse” in Downtown, LA. Wanna burger? Go to “Bob’s Big Boy” on Riverside Dr. in Burbank. “In & Out” burgers are delicious too. They’re everywhere. For Japanese cuisine, I go to “Benihana” in Encino. My favorite place to shop is Downtown LA. Santee Alley, Los Angeles St. Olympic. Shop at the “3rd St. Promenade”, “The Beverly Center Mall”, “The Grove,” Shop up and down Melrose for all the trendy stuff. If you like nature, check out the “Griffith Observatory”, “The Hollywood Bowl” for outdoor concerts. Visit the Santa Monica Pier. Drive the Pacific Coast Highway. People flock to Hollywood Blvd. for the thrill to see The Hollywood and Highland Complex, The Hollywood walk of Fame, The Chinese Theater, The Dolby Theater. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people that have been part of my journey through the different episodes of my life and career. I can’t just pick one because I am grateful to them all. Yes, there are the ones who stand out because they become your friend and confidant, They have the same likes and aspirations and the same frustrations. Those that you produce and create with, and those you just hang out with. I want to thank my partner in crime, Maylen Calienes who has inspired me to keep on pushing. I thank my partner, (who is not in the business) and my family and friends who have always been there for me and are always ready to catch me if I fall.. Thank you, thank you, I love you. Thank you.

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