Percy Rodriguez (June 13, 1918 – September 6, 2007) was a Canadian actor who appeared in many television shows and films from the 1950s to the 1980s. Born in the Saint-Henri neighborhood in Montreal, his birth surname was "Rodrigues," but after it was misspelled in a Broadway program early in his career, "Rodriguez" became his de facto stage name and most of his acting credits are under that spelling. He was of Afro-Portuguese heritage.

Life and career

Rodriguez began his acting career in the 1930s, appearing in stage plays and television series in his native country. He eventually moved to New York City, where he made his Broadway theatre debut in Lillian Hellman's Toys in the Attic in 1960. Appearing next in The Actors Studio Theatre production of James Baldwin's Blues for Mister Charlie (and, shortly thereafter, in an abbreviated television adaptation on CBS), Rodriguez subsequently became a life member of the Studio.

He first gained widespread notice in 1968 for his role as neurosurgeon Dr. Harry Miles in the primetime soap opera Peyton Place. Rodriguez managed to avoid the stereotypical roles typically given to black actors at the time. His deep, authoritative voice and articulate speaking manner helped Rodriguez to be cast usually as intelligent authority figures. He also narrated numerous movie trailers and documentaries throughout his career. He retired from acting in 1987 but continued to do voiceovers. He spoke of his narration of the trailer for Jaws in the documentary The Shark is Still Working. This was his final public appearance.

Rodriguez died of kidney failure at his Indio, California home.

Selected television work

• Carol for Another Christmas (1964)
• The Man from U.N.C.L.E. episode "The My Friend the Gorilla Affair" (1966) as President Khufu
• Mission: Impossible four episodes (1966–1970)
• Star Trek episode "Court Martial" (1967) as Commodore Stone
• The Fugitive episode "Passage To Helena" Sheriff Dalton (1967)
• Peyton Place (1968–1969) as Dr. Harry Miles
• Then Came Bronson episode "Two Percent of Nothing" (1969)
• The Silent Force as Jason Hart (series regular, 15 episodes) (1970-1971)
• Somerset as The Lieutenant (1971)
• Cannon (1972) episode "A Flight of Hawks"
• Genesis II (1973) as Primus Kimbridge
• Planet of the Apes episode "The Tyrant" (1974) as Aboro
• Good Times episode "Florida's Rich Cousin" (1975) as Cousin Edgar
• The Lives of Jenny Dolan (1975) as Dr. Mallen
• Arthur Hailey's the Moneychangers (1976) as Nolan wainwright
• Roots: The Next Generations (1979) as Boyd Moffatt
• Sanford (1980) as Winston
• Benson (1982–1985) as Judge Harper
• The Atlanta Child Murders (1985) as Maynard Jackson
• T.J. Hooker episode "Lady In Blue" (1983) as Jason
• Sanford and Son episode " The Olympics" (1975) as Lou Turner

Selected filmography

• The Plainsman (1966) as Brother John
• The Sweet Ride (1968) as Lt. Harvey Atkins
• The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968) as Dr. Benedict Copeland
• Come Back, Charleston Blue (1972) as Bryce
• Rhinoceros (1974) as Mr. Nicholson
• Hugo the Hippo (1975) as voice of Jorma's father
• The Astral Factor (1976) as Captain Wells
• Galaxina (1980) as voice of Ordric
• Heavy Metal (1981) voice of the Loc-Nar (uncredited)
• Deadly Blessing (1981) as Narrator
• Captain EO (1987) as Narrator
• The Shark is Still Working (2006) (documentary)

Selected trailers

• The Exorcist (1973)
• Jaws (1975)
• Taxi Driver (1976)
• The Black Hole (1979)
• Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982)
• Videodrome (1983)
• Monty Python's the Meaning of Life (1983)
• The Stuff (1985)
• Into the Night (1985)
• Night of the Creeps (1986)
• Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
• Coming to America (1988)
• She's Having A Baby (1988)
• The Great Outdoors (1988)
• Scrooged (1988)
• Look Who's Talking (1989)
• National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
• Look Who's Talking Too (1990)
• The Addams Family (1991)
• Curly Sue (1991)
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
• Dead Alive (1992)
• Death Becomes Her (1992)
• Kuffs (1992)
• Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)
• Greedy (1994)
• City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994)
• What Planet Are You From (2000)
• Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)