James Roday

James Roday (/roʊˈdeɪ/; born James David Rodriguez; April 4, 1976) is an American actor, director and screenwriter. He starred on the USA Network series Psych as hyper-observant consultant detective and fake psychic Shawn Spencer.

Personal life

Roday was born in San Antonio, Texas, as James David Rodriguez. He attended Taft High School in San Antonio. His father, Jaime "Jim" Rodriguez, is of Mexican descent, and his mother, Irene Rodriguez, is of English, Irish, and Scottish ancestry. Roday's father is now the regional catering manager of Taco Cabana.

At New York University's Experimental Theatre Wing, Roday studied theatre and earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts. At the age of 22 he selected the professional name James Roday as there was already another "James Rodriguez" registered in the Screen Actors Guild.

Roday is the co-artistic director of Red Dog Squadron, a Los Angeles theater company he co-founded with Brad Raider. In 2012, Roday, on behalf of Red Dog Squadron, and Black Dahlia Theatre artistic director Matt Shakman purchased the El Centro Theatre in Los Angeles, which will reopen in Spring 2015 under its original name "Circle Theatre."