Quotes from Vincent Rodriguez III

Between acting jobs, I'd go visit my hometown and college town to see family and friends. But I would also teach acting, dance, singing, and audition techniques in high schools and colleges. I take great pride in all the survival jobs I worked, because I learned so much from them.

I was singing R&B songs, listening to Boyz II Men, and I wanted to take dance classes, but I waited until my senior year of high school to take my very first dance class.

My dad wanted me to be a businessman, but I felt that wasn't for me.

Both my parents were born in the Philippines. My dad is full Filipino, but my mom looks a little mixed, and her mom's name is Estelita Coquico.

It's the best gift any teacher could possibly get, to go back to where you came from and offer knowledge and camaraderie.

Where are the Asian leading men? Well, we're being kicked to the ground; we're not being supported. We're not considered sexy or masculine, this or that. When you start hearing something enough, you start to believe it. But our world is changing, and I think we're starting to see that that's not the end-all be-all.

I wanted a Broadway credit, but 'Crazy Ex' came along, and it blessed me.

Upon graduating from my acting program at The Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts in Santa Maria, CA, I went to my first tap audition. It was for the 1st national equity tour of '42nd Street.'

Many times, you have to sacrifice the paycheck for doing what you love.

We need to encourage the presence of more Asian writers and executive producers so they can fight for normalizing the casting of Asians in traditional American roles.

Each of us has our own crazy on the show. The show's called 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,' but we're going to explore the craziness of everyone on the show... That's one of the attributes of the show I love so much.

I knew in my heart I wanted to do musical theater professionally. I just didn't know how to go about it or how to communicate that to my parents.

I am ambitious, and I'm excited for my career to grow, and I do want to represent the Asian community and the Filipino community.

It's a bummer interracial love is still such a big deal. To me, it's quite normal. I grew up seeing couples that were interracial. Who cares if it's a black guy and white girl, or an Asian guy and white girl, etc.? Odds are, every combo exists out there somewhere so why not put it on the screen? Shouldn't art imitate life?

I was crazy into performing when I was younger. I was obsessed with the craft of acting, and theatre, and stage. You know the term 'theatre geek?' I am the extreme theatre geek.

I don't believe in rituals that produce luck. I believe that a good preparation can raise my chances for a callback. With that, I know what I need to do, so I go in there and do my best.

I grew up accepting that my nationality was not depicted on TV or film. To be honest, it was something I didn't acknowledge as a kid. But once I realized my love for acting and the possibility of pursuing a career in it, I quickly noticed the absence of Asians in general and thought, 'Well, I'm gonna try to change that.'

Rejection doesn't always mean I'm not good enough.

For me, acting is not a hobby. It is a career that I have chosen and was not willing to let go of so easily after seven years of hard work.

I didn't even drink until I was in college. While other people were out partying, I'd be home watching the Tony Awards and Bob Fosse movies... I so badly wanted to be part of the club.

I booked my first national tour of a Broadway show right out of college. It was the tap show, '42nd Street.' I had only been tap dancing for three years when I booked that show.

Trust your instincts, and the best way to trust them is to practice them.

The life of an actor is not filled with limousines and talk-show interviews. I've moved crates of beer; I've been a bartender, personal assistant, butler. But all those skills have helped me in the business aspect of what I do.

I count my blessings every day for getting to play Josh in 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.'