Robert Anthony Rodriguez was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, USA, to Rebecca (Villegas), a nurse, and Cecilio G. Rodríguez, a salesman. His family is of Mexican descent.

Family

Elizabeth Avellan

Trivia

Brother of Elizabeth Rodriguez, Tina Rodriguez, David Rodriguez, Rebecca Rodriguez, Patricia Vonne, and Angela Lanza. Cousin of Álvaro Rodríguez & actor Danny Trejo.
Went to St. Anthony's High School.
Studied at St. Anthony's University, The University of Texas at Austin.
He earned most of the $7000 it cost to make El Mariachi (1992) by subjecting himself to experimental drug studies. One of the experimental drugs that was tested on Rodriguez was a "speed healer." He has two divots in his arms as a result of the removed sample.
In April of 1996, headed the list of "25 Most Powerful Hispanics in Hollywood", published by Hispanic Magazine.

I didn't want Frank [Miller, creator of the comic "Sin City" and co-writer on the film] to be treated just as a writer because he is the only one who has actually been to 'Sin City'. I am making such a literal interpretation of his book that I'd have felt weird taking directing credit without him. It was easier for me to quietly resign because otherwise I'd have been force to make compromises I was unwilling to make, or set a precedent that might hurt the guild later on. -- March, 2004 in response to why he left the Directors' Guild of America just before the filming of Sin City (2005)