Percy Rodriguez

Percy Rodriguez (born Percy Rodrigues; June 13, 1918 – September 6, 2007) was a Canadian actor who appeared in many television shows and films from the 1950s to the 1980s. He was of Afro-Portuguese heritage and was born in the Saint-Henri neighbourhood of Montreal. Born with the surname "Rodrigues," he adopted the spelling "Rodriguez" after it was misspelled in a Broadway program early in his career. Rodriguez was also known for his extensive voiceover work as the narrator of film trailers, television spots and documentaries.

Early life Rodriguez was the oldest of three siblings and was of African and Portuguese descent. After his father left home while Percy was in his early teens, Percy began working to help provide for his family. He developed an interest in boxing and acting, becoming a professional boxer while simultaneously exploring acting jobs. He ended up joining Montreal’s Negro Theatre Guild and ultimately won the Canadian Drama Festival acting award in 1939. Despite the award, finding a legitimate acting job was difficult, which led to him working as a toolmaker and machinist for 10 years at Pratt & Whitney in Longueuil, Quebec in order to survive.

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.

Known for his rich and distinctive voice, Rodriguez became one of the few black actors in the 1960s who were able to circumvent restrictive and negative stereotypes. He managed to avoid the stereotypical roles given to black actors at the time and was known for applying and projecting quiet authority and inner calm during his roles, as well as for the touch of grey in his hair. He went on to star on American television in programs such as The Nurses, Naked City, The Wild Wild West, Route 66 and Star Trek but first gained widespread notoriety in 1968 for his role as neurosurgeon Dr. Harry Miles in the prime time soap opera Peyton Place, seen as a breakthrough white-collar role for a black actor. He also appeared in the made-for-television films The Old Man Who Cried Wolf (1970), Ring of Passion (1978), Angel Dusted (1981), and the miniseries Roots: The Next Generations (1979). Through his depictions on television, Percy was seen as an excellent supporting character actor.

Rodriguez also narrated the very first teaser trailer for Alien (1979) and the trailer for the "Special Edition" release of the Star Wars Trilogy in 1997. Of the many film trailers and TV spots Rodriguez narrated over several decades, notable titles include The Other (1972), The Exorcist (1973), Shivers (1975), Taxi Driver (1976), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), The China Syndrome (1979), Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979), The Amityville Horror (1979), The Blues Brothers (1980), For Your Eyes Only (1981), Videodrome (1983), Children of the Corn (1984), Brazil (1985), Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986), Spaceballs (1987), Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987), Coming to America (1988), A Fish Called Wanda (1988), Poltergeist III (1988), Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988), Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989), Pet Sematary (1989), Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989), National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989), Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990), Jetsons: The Movie (1990), Misery (1990), Look Who's Talking Too (1990), The Addams Family (1991), Wayne's World (1992), Clerks (1994), The Nutty Professor (1996), and What Planet Are You From? (2000).

Legacy Rodriguez played numerous roles, including detectives, lawyers, politicians, ambassadors, and doctors. According to Robert J. Thompson, "Television didn't have its equivalent of Jackie Robinson – there wasn't that one moment when the race barrier was broken. But Rodriguez was one of a very small group of actors who were in a relatively quiet way beginning to get these roles that television was very reluctant in the 1960s to give to black actors."

Rodriguez appeared in several Broadway productions in the 1960s and 1970s and helped to break racial barriers on television. Genesis II (1973) as Primus Kimbridge The Rookies (1973) in Season 1, Episode 16 - "Crossfire" as R C Taylor 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 Sanford and Son episode " The Olympics" (1975) as Lou Turner Arthur Hailey's the Moneychangers (1976) as Nolan Wainwright The Jeffersons episode "Louise's New Interest" (1977) as Dr. Bob Jessup What's Happening!! episode "Mama, The School Girl" (1977) as Tod Miller Roots: The Next Generations (1979) as Boyd Moffatt Sanford (1980) as Winston Benson (1982–1985) as Judge Harper T. J. Hooker episode "Lady In Blue" (1983) as Jason The Atlanta Child Murders (1985) as Maynard Jackson The Incredible Crash Dummies PSAS (1985-1999) as announcer Perry Mason: The Case of the Sinister Spirit (1987)

Filmography Trouble-Maker (Trouble fête) (1964) as Le policier noir 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 The Legend of Hillbilly John (1972) as Capt. Lojoie H. Desplain IV Rhinoceros (1974) as Mr. Nicholson Hugo the Hippo (1975) as Jorma's father (voice) The Astral Factor (1978) as Captain Wells Galaxina (1980) as Ordric (voice) Heavy Metal (1981) as Loc-Nar (voice, uncredited) Deadly Blessing (1981) as Narrator (voice) BrainWaves (1982) as Dr. Robinson Captain EO (1986) as Narrator The Shark Is Still Working (2006) (documentary)