Rico Rodriguez: I'm Nothing Like Manny on 'Modern Family'
Rico Rodriguez, the hilarious 12-year old actor who plays Manny Delgado on 'Modern Family,' says he's really nothing like the precocious character he plays on TV.
"The one thing that's similar about us is that we're both uncles," he says. "I have five nieces and one nephew on the way. People always say I'm too young to be an uncle, and I'm like wait? There's an age-limit to be an uncle?"
Rico's real-life, "big, happy family" does include an uncle who's "pretty much Phil Dunfy," and an aunt who's just like Clair. "She's the boss," he laughs. "And he's the one goofing around and cracking us up."
Rico says he wasn't always the confident, outgoing young man he is today. "I was probably the shyest boy known to man," he says. "I would never think about doing anything like acting, until three or four years ago, my sister was doing it. And I was like, hmmm, I might could try that."
He dreamed of becoming everything from a cook to an astronaut to a racecar driver. "I thought I'd be a Nascar chef going to the moon," he says.
Until, of course, about a year and a half ago, when he auditioned for the role of Manny. He knew right away he was meant to play the part.
"I went in with different mindsets," he says. "I never thought Manny would be how he is today. Then the producers told me, 'Think Antonio Banderes in a 12-year-old kid's body,' and I said, 'Oh, okay!' I went back, and I rocked it!"
Rico loves every minute of working on 'Modern Family.' "The crew, the cast, the producers, the writers, the director-they're really, truly awesome. I couldn't ask for a better group of people to be on set with," he says.
He describes Nolan Gould, the actor who plays Luke Dunfy, as his partner in crime. "We're best friends. We do everything together. We do all kinds of amateur stunts. We almost got into trouble with the security guards a couple of times... They're wagging their fingers and telling us to be careful," he says. "My mom says, 'Go run off!' It's a safe, kid-friendly environment, and our teacher, Ariel, comes with us most of the time."
Rico also says that
Sofia Vergara, who plays Manny's mom, Gloria, on the show, is like another mother to him. "She's a really amazing lady. Sometimes I tend to teach her! She can't pronounce things. Her accent on the show is real," he laughs. "I mean it's a little over the top for the camera, but she'll say, 'Mee-chell' and I'll say, 'Mitchell!' and correct her. There are lots of words like that... And, her son just went off to college, so I think she still gets to feel motherly with me."
Rico might not be as serious and un-childlike as Manny, but we think he's every bit as charming and hilarious!
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He seems very smart like his character Manny too! I love Modern Family!
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'Think Antonio Banderes in a 12-year-old kid's body,' LMAO. That fat little toad?
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Barry..you are an a.s.s.how cool that a 12 year old is making more money than you ever will!!!!! LMAO
looks like that porkers favorite eating spots are mcdonalds...kfc...and dairy queen
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If you can't say anything nice, just shut up. He is a 12 year old kid and doesn't deserve to be verbally attacked by an obviously jealous jerk.
I hope this young man does not fall into the same trap and pitfals that other child actors before him have. He seems to be a funny, bright, and grounded young man. I hope he continues to enjoy the work - love watching him on Modern Family! Keep up the good work Rico
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If Sofia Vergara's accent makes her say "Mee-chill" instead of "Mitchell" then it shouldn't need "correcting". That's what an accent is. He's only 12-year-old but I'm surprised that he said that considering what his heritage is.
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He is great on the show! Love his character
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