Valente Rodriguez

Last updated
Valente Rodriguez
Valente Rodriguez South Texas Comic Con 2025.jpg
Rodriguez in 2025
Born (1964-02-14) February 14, 1964 (age 61)
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian
Years active1988–present
Known forRole as Ernie Cardenas on the ABC series George Lopez

Valente Rodriguez (born February 14, 1964 [1] ) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Ernie Cardenas on the sitcom George Lopez . [2] He also starred as Cesar in the TV Land sitcom Happily Divorced , as well as guest starring on Yes, Dear , Mad About You , and ER , and had film roles as Chuey in Salsa , Frankie in 1993's Blood In Blood Out and as Marco in Suckers (2001).

Contents

Life and career

Rodriguez was born and raised in Hidalgo County, Texas, of Mexican descent. He attended the University of Texas-Pan American.

In 1988, Rodriguez moved to Los Angeles. He later landed his first leading role in the film Salsa . Other film credits include Impulse , Twenty Bucks , Ed , Volcano , Blood In Blood Out (Bound by Honor), Suckers, Erin Brockovich , Roosters , The Ugly Truth , The New Guy and the critically acclaimed Mi Familia or My Family .

He has also made television appearances as a regular on the Fox's comedy show Culture Clash, as well as Mad About You , The Golden Girls , Growing Pains , Falcon Crest , Beverly Hills, 90210 , Dharma and Greg , Yes, Dear , Gotta Kick It Up! , Sabrina the Teenage Witch , and he also makes quick appearances in the films The House Bunny and (500) Days of Summer .

Rodriguez is most known for his role as Ernesto "Ernie" Cardenas on George Lopez as George's best friend and his co-worker throughout the series for 6 years and appeared in 120 episodes.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1988 Salsa Chuey
1990 Impulse Doorman
1993 Twenty Bucks Liquor Store Clerk
Blood In Blood Out Frankie
Roosters Adan
Mr. Jones Orderly
1994Huck and the King of HeartsJulio
1995 My Family Chucho's Friend
1996 Ed Jesus Rodriquez
Guy Low Rider
The Big SqueezeFather Arias
The Rich Man's Wife Freeway Driver
1997 Volcano Train Driver
1998No SalidaCasper
1999 Suckers Marco
Deep Blue Sea Helicopter Co-Pilot
2000 Erin Brockovich Donald
Picking Up the Pieces Cuetero
2001The GristleSimone
2002 The New Guy Ramone
Never Trust a Serial KillerPinky
Gotta Kick It Up! Mr. ReynaTV movie
2008 The House Bunny Valet
2009 (500) Days of Summer Employee #1
The Ugly Truth Javier
It's Complicated Reynaldo
The Red QueenJose Salinas
2010Lean Like a CholoJunior
Las AngelesPeter
2011The Little Match MakersRoberto
Gone HollywoodLouie
2015 McFarland, USA Principal Camillo
Endgame Coach Stevens
2018A Dog & Pony ShowTug
Instant Family Judge Rivas
2019 Countdown Father David
2020The Big ShotRoger Billings
2021Welcome to Our WorldSwapmeet
2022 Father Stu Bill's Foreman
A Latino Hollywood Nightmare-Short
2023Proof SheetGuillermo Benavides

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1988 The Golden Girls FredEpisode: "Yokel Hero"
Falcon Crest RaoulEpisode: "Tuscany Venus"
1990 Max Monroe: Loose Cannon MechanicEpisode: "Freaks"
Babes -Episode: "Temper, Temper"
1991 Ferris Bueller RaoulEpisode: "A Night in the Life"
1993 Mad About You Harold the OrderlyEpisode: "Bedfellows"
1994 Beverly Hills, 90210 Mr. PedrozaEpisode: "Injustice for All"
1997 ER Mr. TrajilloEpisode: "Something New"
Total Security Parking ValetEpisode: "Dental Men Prefer Blondes"
Dharma & Greg RomanEpisode: "The Ex-Files"
1999 The X Files Walter SuarezEpisode: "Agua Mala"
2001 Sabrina, the Teenage Witch GustavoEpisode: "Sabrina, the Activist"
2001–02 Yes, Dear OscarEpisode: "Guarding Greg" & "Walk Like a Man"
2002–07 George Lopez Ernesto "Ernie" Cardenas Main Cast
2006 Freddie ErnieEpisode: "Freddie Gets Cross Over George"
2009 The Bill Engvall Show JackEpisode: "Trash Talk"
2010 Miami Medical FortunatoEpisode: "What Lies Beneath"
2011 Shameless OSHA OfficerEpisode: "Daddyz Girl"
Wizards of Waverly Place Muy MachoEpisode: "Magic Unmasked"
The Mentalist Frank LopezEpisode: "Bloodsport" & "Scarlet Ribbons"
2011–13 Happily Divorced CesarMain Cast
2013The House on South BronsonValenteEpisode: "Lost Member"
2014 See Dad Run BobEpisode: "See Dad Lose the Forest for the Treehouse"
Cristela EddieEpisode: "It's Not About the Tamales"
2018 Murphy Brown Carlos GonzalesEpisode: "Thanksgiving and Taking"
2019 Adam Ruins Everything TimEpisode: "Adam Ruins Games"
2019–23 High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Principal GutierrezRecurring Cast: Seasons 1 & 4
2021 Dad Stop Embarrassing Me! MannyRecurring Cast
2022 The Garcias Ghost of Hollywood's PastEpisode: "Never A Dull Moment"
Lopez vs. Lopez ValEpisode: "Lopez vs. Christmas"

References

  1. Rose, Mike (2020-02-14). "Today's famous birthdays list for February 14, 2020 includes celebrity Simon Pegg". cleveland.com. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  2. Davies, David Martin. "Valente Rodriguez, From Farm Worker To Hollywood Actor". tpr.org. Retrieved 2020-04-07.