Modern Family’s Rico Rodriguez on His Sneaker Obsession and Bringing Sneaks to Life – Interview

Rico Rodriguez talks sneaker culture and his role in the animated film Sneaks.

Best known for growing up on screen as Manny Delgado in Modern Family, actor Rico Rodriguez is stepping into a whole new world—one made entirely of sneakers. Rodriguez voices a character in Sneaks, an animated adventure in which sneakers come to life in a vibrant, stylized New York City.

The film features an all-star voice cast, including Anthony Mackie, Chloe Bailey, Martin Lawrence, Laurence Fishburne, and Roddy Ricch. Rodriguez brings his own flair to the project, and as a self-proclaimed sneakerhead, he was a perfect fit.

“I’m a sneakerhead at heart,” Rodriguez told me. “My closet is basically a sneaker shrine. When we remodeled it, I made sure the shoes were the main event.”

Rodriguez, a proud Houston native and unofficial city ambassador, said his favorite pair right now is the Bad Bunny x Adidas collab. “They’re comfortable, they look great, and they go with everything. I wear them almost every day,” he said.

Set in a fast-paced world where sneakers have personalities, hopes, and dreams, Sneaks follows Ty (voiced by Mackie), a high-performance shoe searching for his stolen sister Maxine (Bailey). Along the way, he meets quirky characters like JB (Lawrence) and evades villains like The Collector (Fishburne) and The Forger (Ricch). The story is one of identity, bravery, and stepping outside your comfort zone—something Rodriguez relates to in his own career.

“Every role brings new challenges,” he said. “Even on Modern Family, I had to do things I never imagined. There was one episode where I played five different characters in a one-man play. That really pushed me. But after it was done, it felt like such a big accomplishment.”

The film, produced by House of Cool Animation Studios.

It uses a bold visual style that celebrates the culture of sneakers and the energy of Harlem, paying tribute to the birthplace of sneaker culture. Before we wrapped, I took a moment to reflect on a personal connection—Rodriguez’s father, Roy, who I knew through my Houston car club.

“Your dad was always so proud of you and your sister,” I said. “He was a staple at Autorama, and we’d love to have you come out and represent at this year’s show.” Rodriguez lit up at the mention. “Yeah! My brother and I used to be out there under Shorty’s Hydraulics. Always a great time.”

With Sneaks now in theaters, Rodriguez is ready to run with a new generation of fans—and shoes.

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