Biography
Hailing from a family of doctors and lawyers, Tobi (real name Tobi-Wan) was constantly surrounded by inspiring figures. He is the first in his family to venture into the arts. He has an older sister named Lourdes Cristina Rodriguez D'Acosta. During his time at Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, his high school, Rodriguez was active in sports, debate, oratory, and was elected president of the Drama Club in 2000. Originally from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, the artist relocated to Hollywood, California, shortly after earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts from LIU Post, Long Island University, in New York. He soon realized that the best way to learn acting was on stage before a live audience. He went on to perform in notable productions such as Our Country's Good (2004), directed by Drama Desk Award winner Jonathan Silverstein; Flesh and Blood (2004), which earned him an Irene Ryan Award nomination for Best Actor; and the acclaimed Roll Call (2007), a play about Vietnam War prejudice and the trauma brought home by a young abused soldier to East Los Angeles, directed by veteran Mexican-American director Ricardo López. These roles gained him recognition from Telemundo, a Spanish network affiliated with NBC, paving his way to success within the Latin community with his feature film debut, Ilusión. Tobi enjoys reading, writing, playing music, walking his dog Renzo, eating, practicing his craft at Lesly Kahn & Co. in Santa Monica, CA, collecting quotes, dancing, and hunting for the perfect hamburger. His favorite show is Mozart in the Jungle, and his favorite book is The Giver.
