Rico Rodriguez (actor)
The American actor who grew up on screen as the scene-stealing, wise-beyond-his-years Manny Delgado on a defining television sitcom.
Born 1998 (age 28)·American actor·Birthday: July 31·Generation Z
Biography
Rico Rodriguez didn't just join a TV family; he became part of America's living room for over a decade. Cast as Manny Delgado on 'Modern Family' at age ten, Rodriguez brought a unique, old-soul charm to the role of a precocious boy obsessed with art, culture, and dramatic declarations. He provided a perfect, deadpan counterpoint to the chaos of the Pritchett-Dunphy clan. While the show made him famous, his challenge was to perform the rare feat of aging believably within a single, beloved character, from a quirky child to a thoughtful young man. The role earned him multiple Screen Actors Guild Awards as part of the ensemble, a testament to his seamless integration into one of television's most celebrated casts. His career, which began with small film roles before his big break, represents a generation of young actors who came of age inside a pop culture phenomenon.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Rico was born in 1998, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rico Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Rico's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1998Born
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2003Started school
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2011Became a teenager
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Could drive
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2016Could vote
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Turned 21
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 28 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Manny Delgado for all 11 seasons of the acclaimed ABC sitcom 'Modern Family' (2009-2020).
- Won four Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series as part of the 'Modern Family' cast.
- Hosted and appeared as a judge on the Nickelodeon competition show 'The Substitute.'
Did You Know?
His older sister, Raini Rodriguez, is also an actress.
He is of Mexican and Colombian descent.
He voiced the lead character in the animated film 'El Americano: The Movie' (2016).
“I'm not just a kid actor; I'm an actor who happens to be a kid.”
