David Rodriguez, director and producer of episodic series like Hometown, Animal Kingdom and Chicago PD, has passed away at age 50. He died from stroke complications on Oct. 29, according to media reports.
Monica Raymund and James Badge Dale. Photo: Instagram.
Rodriguez’s career in show business began with the 2006 feature film Push, a dramatic thriller about South Florida’s world of fast money and drug dealing that he penned, produced and helmed. The film earned him two awards, for best director at the Long Island International Film Expo and audience prize for best feature at Method Fest, according to the industry website IMDb.
FROM MOVIES TO EPISODICS
He went on to to write, produce and direct two other features, American Bully and Once Upon a Time in Brooklyn, before turning his attention to directing and producing t.v. dramatic series in 2014.
Rodriguez directed several episodes of The Chi, Chicago PD, Animal Kingdom and Queen of the South.
Other directing credits include NCIS Los Angeles, Scandal, Outsiders, S.W.A.T. and Stumptown. His most recent work was Hightown, earlier this year.
NEW YORK NATIVE, LOS ANGELES/AUSTIN RESIDENT
Variety reports that Rodriguez was born on Aug. 18, 1970, the youngest of four children. He was raised in the South Bronx and Long Island areas of New York City. Rodriguez attended the New York Military Academy and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, according to the publication. Rodriguez spent a short time as a corrections and law enforcement officer in South Florida before entering the entertainment business in 2003.
Rodriguez had residences in Los Angeles and Austin.
