Raini-Alena Rodriguez[1] (born July 1, 1993)[2] is an American actress and singer. She is known for her roles as Trish in the Disney Channel original series Austin & Ally, Maya Blart in Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009) and Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015), and Tess in Prom (2011). She won Best Young Television Actress at the 2013 Imagen Awards.[3]

Raini Rodriguez
Rodriguez in 2010
Born
Raini-Alena Rodriguez

(1993-07-01) July 1, 1993 (age 31)
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active2006–present
RelativesRico Rodriguez (brother)

Early and personal life

Rodriguez was born in Bryan, Texas.[4] She is the older sister of actor Rico Rodriguez.[2] She has two other brothers, Ray and Roy Jr.[5] Her parents, Diane and Roy Rodriguez, own a business called Rodriguez Tire Service.[6] She is of Mexican descent.[7]

Raini was discovered at an IMTA showcase, by Susan Osser,[8] a California talent agent. After viewing Raini's performance, Osser suggested to Raini's mother that Osser should become Raini's manager and come to California to give Raini a year for career opportunities. At the time, Raini was 11 years old. Her mother agreed. Raini and her brother Rico moved to Los Angeles with their mother, while their father stayed in Texas to run the tire shop.[5] Their mother home-schooled them to support their careers.[8]

On March 12, 2017, Rodriguez's father, Roy, died at age 52.[9]

In March 2018, several memes involving Rodriguez went viral on multiple social media platforms where trolls would sarcastically label her as a "skinny legend" and compare her music discography, most notably her 2012 song "Living Your Dreams", to several uplifted and acclaimed acts in the industry, such as Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston.[10] Rodriguez was subsequently asked about her opinions on the memes on her Twitter account 3 months later; in which she condemned the memes and labeled it as online bullying, and then proceeded to say she chooses to brace positive attention instead. [11] Despite Rodriguez's comments; the same people have continued to sarcastically praise her and continue to call her a "skinny legend". This has resulted in Rodriguez having to block multiple users on her social media platforms.[12]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2007 Parker Kid on Playground #2
2008 Babysitters Beware Marco's Sister #1
2009 Paul Blart: Mall Cop Maya Blart
Slice of Water Maggie Blumsfeld
Gordita Teenage Tatiana
2011 Prom Tess Torres
Last Chance Lloyd Tess Torres Short film
2012 Girl in Progress Tavita[13]
2014 When Marnie Was There Nobuko Kadoya (English voice)
2015 Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 Maya Blart[14]
Bob's Broken Sleigh Wupsy Voice

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Huff Denise Episode: "Black Shadows"
2007 Handy Manny Isabel Montoya (voice) Episode:"Lost and Found"
Family of the Year Maria Episode: "Pilot"
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody Betsy Episode: "Sleepover Suite"
2010 I'm in the Band Arlene Roca 2 episodes
2011–2016 Austin & Ally Trish De la Rosa Main Role (87 episodes)
2011 True Jackson, VP Nina Episode: "True Mall"
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Herself (Season 20, episode 46)
2015 Growing Up and Down Jackie Unaired TV pilot
I Didn't Do It Trish De la Rosa Episode: "Bite Club"
2016 Mutt & Stuff Gabby Groomer Episode: "Skate Doggin'"
2017 Vampirina Creepy Caroline (voice) Episode: "The Ghoul Girls"[15]
2018–2019 The Lion Guard Starehe (voice) 2 episodes[16]
2018 Double Dare Herself Contestant; episode: "Team Rico vs. Team Raini"[17]
2019 Knight Squad The Witch Doctor Episode: "The Knight Stuff"
2019–2023 Bunk'd Barb recurring role, 8 episodes
2019 Where's Waldo Maria (voice) Episode: "A New York Minute"
2020 The Substitute Herself Episode: "Rico & Raini Rodriguez"
2020–2022 Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous Sammy Gutierrez (voice) Main role
2021 A Tale Dark & Grimm Gretel (voice)
2021–2023 Rugrats Gabi (voice)[18] 5 episodes
2024 Jurassic World: Chaos Theory Sammy Gutierrez (voice) Main role

Discography

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year Album
"Living Your Dreams"[19] 2012 Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva La Fiesta!
Title Year Album
"Austin & Ally Glee Club Mash Up"
(with Austin & Ally cast)[20]
2013 Disney Channel Play It Loud

Promotional singles

Title Year Album
"Vive Tus Sueños" ("Living Your Dreams") 2012 Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva La Fiesta!
"Double Take" 2013 Austin & Ally
"You Wish You Were Me" Non-album single
"Row, Row, Row Your Boat" 2014 Austin & Ally

Videography

Year Title Director
2012 "Living Your Dreams" Unknown

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Work Result
2010 Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actress Paul Blart: Mall Cop Nominated
2013 Imagen Awards Best Young Actress/Television Austin & Ally Won
2015 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Actress: Comedy Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 Nominated
Imagen Awards Best Supporting Actress – Television Austin & Ally Nominated

References

  1. ^ "The subject's old Facebook account". Facebook.com. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Austin & Ally – Cast – Raini Rodriguez "Trish"". Disney Channel Medianet. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013.
  3. ^ "'Bless Me, Ultima,' 'Castle' Honored At Imagen Awards « CBS Los Angeles". 2013-08-17. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  4. ^ Hernandez, Selena (February 18, 2009). "Young Bryan siblings are finding success in Hollywood". The Eagle – Bryan-College Station, Texas. Archived from the original on January 10, 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Rico Rodriguez Biography". TVguide.
  6. ^ Raini Rodriguez [@Raini_Rodriguez] (21 June 2011). "Please vote for my dad's tire shop, Rodriguez Tire Service as Best Tire Retailer in the Brazos County. Thanks!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ "Rico Rodriguez". The Hollywood Reporter. 2012-09-20. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  8. ^ a b ""what Our Mom Means To Us": Actors Raini And Rico Rodriguez Share Some Thoughts". May 8, 2011.
  9. ^ "'Modern Family' actor Rico Rodriguez mourns father's death". Fox News. March 20, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  10. ^ "Raini Rodriguez". Know Your Meme. March 27, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  11. ^ "Oh, you mean the constant harassment from people online? The vulgar language? The inappropriate memes? The bullying comments everyone is constantly posting on my IG pics of friends/family? Naw man, I'll choose to embrace the POSITIVE attention, not this stuff y'all think is funny". @Raini_Rodriguez on X. June 25, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  12. ^ "When Memes Go Wrong: The Raini Rodriguez Story". Joe Regrets on YouTube. September 15, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  13. ^ Scott, A. o. (10 May 2012). "Daughter and Mother, Chasing Adulthood". The New York Times.
  14. ^ "Actress Raini Rodriguez returns for comedy sequel, 'Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2'". abc7.com.
  15. ^ "VAMPIRINA – "Home Scream Home"". bsckids.com. 31 July 2018.
  16. ^ "YAS Girl'Austin & Ally' Star Raini Rodriguez Is Officially Returning to Disney Channel". j-14.com. 9 January 2018.
  17. ^ "Double Dare".
  18. ^ "Henry Winkler, Ben Schwartz to Guest Star on Paramount Plus' 'Rugrats': First Look (Exclusive) | Entertainment Tonight". www.etonline.com. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  19. ^ "Living Your Dreams (from "Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva La Fiesta!")". spotify.com.
  20. ^ "Disney Channel Play It Loud". music.apple.com.