Background and career
José Luis Rodríguez González (Latin American Spanish pronunciation: [xoseˈlwis roˈðɾiɣes]; 14 January 1943), nicknamed El Puma ("The Puma"), is a Venezuelan singer and actor who is known for having recorded many international super hits and participated in a handful of telenovelas. He has also served as a coach and mentor on the Argentine, the Peruvian, and the Chilean versions of The Voice, as well as a judge on The X Factor Chile.
José Luis Rodríguez was born in Caracas, Venezuela to José Antonio Rodríguez from the Canary Islands, Spain and Ana González a Venezuelan housewife. He lost his father at the age of six, and was raised by his mother (an illiterate then, learned to read as an adult to read the Bible) along with 11 brothers and sisters. He grew up in very modest conditions, having to shine shoes, and pack bags in a supermarket for a living at an early age. Without an academic formation, he shaped himself as a singer and actor by empirical means. As his mother participated in the revolt against Marcos Pérez Jiménez (holding weapons and hiding politicians in her home), Rodríguez lived in exile in Ecuador with her and his brother, for a couple of years. In 1974, Rodriguez was selected by Venevision to represent Venezuela in the third edition of the prestigious OTI Festival which was held in the Mexican city of Acapulco. There, his entry, the song "Vuélvete" (Return) found a warm reception, therefore gaining recognition for his country by winning the third-place prize with 11 points. Rodríguez surfaced in his homeland in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and was able to build a fan base there. He also participated in a famous commercial, along with his family during that time, for Ace detergents. Rodríguez went to Puerto Rico, where he participated in the Telenovela Cristina Bazán, alongside Johanna Rosaly and young Adamari López. It was there that he received his nickname, El Puma. Later, he also made the telenovela, El ídolo, with Cuban actress Marilyn Pupo, playing Omar Contreras (a.k.a. El Puma). Rodríguez's main money revenue, however, was his singing career. His hits included Dueño de nada, Pavo real and Agárrense de las manos. With the second, he caused controversy at the 1982 contest of Miss Universe, which was being held in Lima, Peru; the song's main issue was interracial marriage. Later, Rodríguez participated in the Latin American Spanish version of Meet the Robinsons, La Familia del Futuro, as Wilbur Robinson's father. El Puma also starred in an advertising campaign for Wrigley's Eclipse gum, with the spot drawing on his persona, using humor and kitsch to highlight the tagline, "Libera el Puma que hay en tí" (Free the puma within). Another commercial that drew on his puma persona during that era was one for Snickers chocolate bars. In May 2009, Rodriguez joined the cast of the miniseries, Gabriel, produced for the Hispanic audience in the United States by Megafilms and transmitted by Mega TV. The miniseries, released in November of the same year is based on the themes of vampirism and occultism. In July 2012, he was a judge and voice trainer on La Voz... Argentina (Argentine version of The Voice) that was broadcast on Telefe. Along with co-presenters Fernán Martínez and Carolina Ramírez, he served as a judge on a dance program called La Pista which was aired on Caracol TV in Colombia. In the same year he also made a cameo appearance in the film, Casa de mi Padre, starring Will Ferrell. In August 2013, Rodríguez was part of the first season of La Voz Perú, where he was coach for one of the four teams. On 20 December, one of his pupils, young Daniel Lazo, placed first in the competition, making Rodríguez the first winning coach in the history of La Voz Perú. In September 2013 in an interview with the Peruvian newspaper, La República, Rodríguez expressed that he would continue to perform music but cease to produce records because of piracy.
Rodríguez was married to Lila Morillo from 1966 to 1986. They are the parents of actresses Lilibeth Rodríguez and Liliana Rodríguez. Rodríguez fathered Génesis Rodríguez with Cuban-born model Carolina Pérez, whom he ultimately married in 1997.
He underwent a double lung transplant due to pulmonary fibrosis in December 2017.
1963: 2 Sets Con Billo 1964: Billo En Colombia 1964: Billo En Santo Domingo 1964: Cantares De Navidad 1964: Billo En Puerto Rico 1965: El Yo-Yo 1965: Billo Y Su Música 1965: Fin de Año 1965: Mosaico 17 1966: La Renga 1966: Anoche no dormí 1966: De 1937 a 1966 Bailando con Billo 1966: Felices Fiestas 1967: Se necesitan dos 1974: Mi Fe 1975: Los Temas De Mis Telenovelas 1976: Una Nueva Canción 1977: Una Canción De España (TH/Top Hits) 1977: Jose Luis De América 1979: Voy A Perder La Cabeza 1980: Atrévete 1980: Cantando Éxitos De Siempre (Discos CBS International) 1982: La Historia Del Idolo 1982: Dueño De Nada 1983: Ven CBS Columbia 1984: Voy A Conquistarte (Discos CBS International) 1984: Due Come Noi (Discos CBS International) 1985: El Último Beso (Discos CBS International) 1987: Señor Corazón 1988: Con El Mariachi Vargas 1989: Tengo Derecho A Ser Feliz 1989: Las 15 Grandes De El Puma 1990: Serie De Colección 1990: 12 Grandes Éxitos 1990: Esta Vez 1990: Senora Bonita 1991: El Puma En Ritmo 1992: Piel de Hombre 1993: Querido Puma 1994: Razones Para Una Sonrisa 1995: Boleros De Siempre Con José Luis Rodríguez 1996: Llamada Del Amor 1996: Joyas Musicales 1996: Lo Mejor De José Luis Rodríguez 1997: Que Quiere Esa Musica Esta Noche 1997: Inólvidable 1999: En Ritmo 2: Fiesta 2000: Serie Millennium 21 2000: Mis 30 Mejores 2001: Inolvidable, Vol. 3 2002: Mis 30 Mejores Canciones Con Los Panchos 2002: Champagne 2002: Serie De Autores, Vol. 1: Manuel Alejandro 2002: Serie De Autores, Vol. 3: P. Herrero y J.L. Armenteros 2002: Serie De Autores, Vol. 4: Chema Purón 2002: Serie De Autores, Vol. 5: Chema Purón 2002: Mujer 2004: Mi Historia 2005: Distancia 2005: Sabor A México 2005: Mis 30 Mejores Canciones 2006: Canciones De Amor 2006: Ayer Y Hoy 2006: 15 Éxitos 2007: Trópico 2007: Homenaje a José Alfredo Jiménez 2008: Interpreta A Manuel Alejandro 2009: Los Grandes Del Amor 2009: Mi Amigo El Puma 2017: Inmenso
Y Tú También Llorarás (#1) Baila Mi Rumba (Ritmo de San Martín) (#1) Torero (con Julio Iglesias) (#1) Boca, Dulce Boca (#2) Sueño Contigo (#3) La Fiesta (#3) Esa Chica Me Vacila (#5) Rodando Caminos (#8) Señora Bonita (#10) No Me Quieras Tanto (con Los Panchos) (#12) Por Esa Mujer (#13) Esta Vez (#14) Se Me Hace Agüita la Boca (#18) Vale la Pena Volver (#18) Rayito de Luna (con Los Panchos) (#22) Si Pudiera (#29) Tengo Derecho a Ser Feliz (#29) De Punta a Punta (#34) Yo Quiero Ser Tu Amor (#35) Alguien Tiene Que Ceder (#40) Dame, Dame (#48)
Sources
Net-worth figure: Celebrity Net Worth (October 2026), in USD. Biography and career facts: the person's Wikipedia article and linked reporting. Snapshot date for all StarWorth figures: 28 October 2026.
