17 Latine Celebs Who Changed Their Names For Hollywood (And Why)

During his first year at NYU, his successful audition for the lead role in Primal Fear was soured by a casting director who told him, "You're so great, but I don't think I can call you back because your last name is Rodriguez. But I can call you back for this four-line role of a gang member."

In 2020, he told TV Line, "I didn't look Latino enough. They basically didn't know what to do with me."

A month before his graduation three years later, he auditioned for a series regular role in a TV series. 

He said, "I auditioned for the pilot, they [signed me to a] test deal, and next thing I know, I'm on a plane to Los Angeles and told in no uncertain terms, 'You are our guy.' Their only concern was that the role wasn't written for a Hispanic or Mexican person. They were worried that casting a white guy with a Mexican name could be construed as their version of 'diverse casting,' and there could be a backlash. They said, 'You might want to give some real consideration to changing your name.' Now imagine someone giving that advice to an actor out loud today, with the climate and cancel culture. That's it; they're done. But this is the late '90s. It was a different time and, frankly, my first two experiences kind of proved the point that they were making."

So, he adopted the stage name James Roday, which he "pulled right out of a Chekhov play that [he] was doing at the time."

However, in 2020, he decided to reclaim his real name.

He said, "And 20 years later, I realize I essentially perpetuated an institutionalized element of what's broken about this industry, which is, of course, a microcosm of the world we are living in. I can't excuse the decision because of youth or naiveté or ambition. The bottom line is, I sold out my heritage in about 15 seconds to have a shot at being an actor...[Now] I want to be the best, most honest ally and amplifier that I can be for my own community and for my friends of color. I don't think any of us could do that if we're not even putting the truest versions of ourselves out there."