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Born in The Bronx, New York, Bernie Rodriguez carries his Puerto Rican and Panamanian roots with pride, grounding his work in authenticity, resilience, and heart. Now based in Los Angeles, Bernie approaches every role with the same guiding philosophy: challenge yourself, tell the truth, and most importantly, have fun. For Bernie, artistry isn't just a profession, it's a blessing.
Before acting, Bernie spent a decade as a professional wrestler trained under WWE Hall Of Famer Afa "The Wild Samoan" Anoa’i. The transition came after an unexpected audition sparked excitement and despite not booking the role, he felt the magic of storytelling in a new way. After a ring injury forced him to slow down, he took it as a sign to explore and in 2018, he committed fully to acting. Classes, auditions, and on-set experiences quickly turned into a calling. Four years later, he retired from professional wrestling and since then, Bernie has starred in several independent features, shorts, and commercials. Bernie won Best Actor for his lead role in I Need; I Want (2021) at the Tokyo Film Awards and the Sunshine City Film Festival. Bernie also won The Grindhouse Award for Best Actor in a Short Film for his lead role in God Help Us (2022) at the Tampa Bay Screams Film Festival.
For Bernie, success is simple: loving the work, staying healthy, continuing to grow, and inspiring others along the way. He believes the small wins matter just as much as the big ones. Momentum, he says, is built in everyday moments. "Whether someone laughs, cries, or sees themselves in a character I play, if I can give them hope or make them feel less alone, then I've done my job."
Audiences can catch his recent work on AMC+ and ALLBLK in The Influencer (2024), and on Apple TV+ and Prime Video in The Love Zone (2025). Skimmer, directed by Mariah Morgenstern, begins its festival run in 2026.
