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Ramón Rodríguez is done playing games.
He never planned to lead a network procedural, let alone become a creative force behind one, but as star and executive producer of ABC’s “Will Trent,” the New York-born actor is redefining what it means to be a Latino leading man in Hollywood on his own terms.
“There’s just not many Latino leading men,” he says. “I would love that to be an abundance — whatever that might look like.”
Rodríguez plays Special Agent Will Trent, a dyslexic, dog-loving orphan solving crimes for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Based on the novels by Karin Slaughter, the character was originally written as white and blond. Rodríguez brought a new identity to the role and made it his own.
“I love that I wasn’t just getting ‘a Latino role,’” he says. “It was a colorless role that I could step into, and then we explored his identity.”
The show’s creative team supported his vision, even as some longtime fans of the source material pushed back. But Rodríguez was prepared to challenge expectations — and help reshape the procedural format.
“What’s cool is you build trust,” he says. “I’m not looking at it just to make myself look good. I say, ‘How do we make this show better?’”
That collaboration paid off. “Will Trent” has grown in viewership each season since its 2023 debut. The third season, which just came to a close, introduced critically praised storylines, including a two-episode arc that revealed Will’s estranged father, played by Yul Vazquez, a casting decision Rodríguez championed.
With the show’s success, it’s positioned Rodríguez as a dark horse contender for his first lead actor in a drama Emmy nomination, a category that’s only seen two Latinos nominated ever. Though he sees the deep well of talent out there, Hollywood isn’t tapping into it, saying, “I still feel like we’re only getting the tip of the iceberg.”
Rodríguez’s breakthrough didn’t come overnight. His path into acting was unconventional, starting with Nike commercials in the early 2000s thanks to his basketball skills. But after discovering an acting studio in New York, he committed to the craft and endured years of playing stereotypical roles.
“I used to have long cornrows down to my chest,” he recalls. “That’s who I was growing up in the Lower East Side. But I realized the roles I was getting were always some sort of a negative stereotype.”
Now, as an executive producer, Rodríguez helps shape casting decisions and scripts. He’s also using his platform to open doors for other Latino creatives. An episode from the latest season was written by Puerto Rican writer Rebecca Murga, a hire Rodríguez proudly advocated for. The process brought him back to watching “I Love Lucy” as a kid.
“When I saw Desilu Productions growing up, I thought, ‘That’s cool. Desi Arnaz didn’t just act; he helped make the thing,’” he says. “That left a mark on me.”
And he’s already looking beyond “Will Trent.” He appeared in Prime Video’s political action thriller “G20,” where he flexes his action chops, and reminds audiences he can handle more than just network drama.
“I got to do weapons training, martial arts. That gave me the itch again,” he says, referring to balancing TV and film work. “I want juicy, meaty parts, whether they’re dramatic or action driven.”
Still, he’s committed to seeing “Will Trent” through, as long as the storytelling remains inspired. “If we don’t feel inspired anymore, we shouldn’t be doing it,” he declares. “Luckily, so far, everyone’s feeling really inspired creatively.”
That creative fire, paired with cultural pride and a focus on legacy, has made Rodríguez one of television’s most compelling multihyphenates.
“I’m trying to do my part — to take the baton, run as far as I can with it, and hand it off to the next.”
English (US) ·