Venezuelan icon José Luis Rodríguez, better known as El Puma, has a lot to be proud of when it comes to his career, but nothing gets him emotional like his daughter, Génesis Rodríguez.
© GettyThe actor and singer was a guest on Despierta America when they showed him old photos of him and a tiny Génesis. When they asked him what it feels like to be her father, the emotions came fast. "You see… you’re going to make me cry here,” he responded. “I try to act tough, but sometimes they hit you right here."
Then, he spoke about his daughter with pride. “She’s a person that I love so much. I admire her so much, and everything she’s achieved has been through sheer will, through her own effort.”
© GettyHe went on to call her “an incredible fighter,” someone who keeps pushing forward, “putting in effort, putting in heart.” "I’m proud of her," he said with tears in his eyes, adding, “Forgive me, okay?”
Her tough essence is something she's inherited from her father. In 2017, she told Pop Sugar, "My dad taught me that I have to have piel de elefante — that's what he calls thick skin. Having been in the spotlight for years, he always told me not to worry about what others are saying or thinking about me. You won't ever please everybody."
© GettyIn the same interview, she praised him, saying, "My dad is a strong man, an important figure in my life. He is a feminist who has empowered me ever since I was a baby. He has never pushed me to be anything, and for that I appreciate that man more than anything in the world."
Génesis Rodríguez’s career
© GettyGénesis has carved out a career defined by range, patience, and persistence. She first rose to prominence in Spanish-language television, starring in popular telenovelas before making the deliberate leap to Hollywood.
Rather than chasing one defining breakout, she steadily built momentum across film and television, being intentional with the projects she said yes to. Her early Hollywood work included action and genre films like Man on a Ledge and The Last Stand, where she held her own alongside established stars.
She later expanded her résumé with more character-driven roles, including appearances in Identity Thief and Run All Night, showing a comfort level moving between big studio projects and ensemble casts.
On television, Rodríguez found space to deepen her range. She starred in Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy, played a key role in Time After Time, and led series like Lioness, proving her ability to anchor a show.
According to IMDb, she has two upcoming projects: season 3 of The Night Agent, which premieres on Netflix on February 19, and El Tigre, which is currently in post-production.
