Percy Rodriguez was the oldest of three siblings and was of African and Portuguese descent. His father was out of the picture as he left his family. Percy then began working in his early teens to help provide for his family. As Percy continued to grow up he began to enjoy boxing and acting. He became a professional boxer while simultaneously exploring acting jobs. Percy ended up joining Montreal’s Negro Theater Guild and ultimately won the Canadian Drama Festival acting award in 1939. Although Percy won that award, finding a legitimate acting job was difficult, which led to him working as a toolmaker and machinist for 10 years in order to survive. Rodriguez began his acting career in the 1930s, appearing in stage plays and television series in his native country. He eventually moved to New York City, where he made his Broadway theatre debut in Lillian Hellman’s Toys in the Attic in 1960. Appearing next in The Actors Studio Theatre production of James Baldwin’s Blues for Mister Charlie  (and, shortly thereafter, in an abbreviated television adaptation on CBS), Percy Rodriguez subsequently became a life member of the Studio. Rodriguez first gained widespread notice in 1968 for his role as neurosurgeon Dr. Harry Miles in the primetime soap opera Peyton Place. Rodriguez managed to avoid the stereotypical roles typically given to black actors at the time. He also narrated numerous movie trailers and documentaries throughout his career. He retired from acting in 1987 but continued to do voiceovers. He spoke of his narration of the trailer for Jaws in the documentary The Shark is Still Working. This was his final public appearance.

Known for his flourishing and distinctive voice, Percy Rodriguez narrated a few Canadian documentary shorts and appeared on television. He played a more prominent role in theater and worked with several African-American actors, such as Al Freeman Jr., Lincoln Kilpatrick, Rosetta LeNoire, Otis Young and Tony nominee Diana Sands. In the 1960s, Percy became one of the few actors who were able to circumvent restrictive and negative stereotypes throughout his acting career. He was known for applying and projecting quiet authority and inner calm during his roles due to his touch of gray in his hair. He went on to American television in programs such as The Nurses, Naked City, Wild, Wild West, Route 66 and Star Trek. Percy’s biggest role was when he portrayed a neurosurgeon during the final season of the heavily viewed nighttime soap opera, Peyton Place(1964). His role was seen as a breakthrough white-collar role for a black actor. Percy also was involved in the drama; The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. Through his depictions on television Percy was seen as an excellent supporting character. Percy Rodriguez died of kidney problems at his Indio, California home on September 6, 2007 at age 89.