James Roday

James David Rodríguez (born April 4, 1976) is an American actor better known by his stage name James Roday. He is currently starring in the USA Network television series Psych as faux psychic Shawn Spencer. Roday was born in San Antonio, Texas. He attended Taft High School in San Antonio. He studied theatre at New York University's Experimental Theatre Wing, where he earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts. He is also co-artistic director of RED ... more

James David Rodríguez (born April 4, 1976) is an American actor better known by his stage name James Roday. He is currently starring in the USA Network television series Psych as faux psychic Shawn Spencer. Roday was born in San Antonio, Texas. He attended Taft High School in San Antonio. He studied theatre at New York University's Experimental Theatre Wing, where he earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts. He is also co-artistic director of RED DOG SQUADRON, a Los Angeles theatre company he co-founded with Brad Raider. Although of half Mexican descent, Roday, son of namesake Jim Rodriguez, uses a more Anglo-Saxon stage name because, as he has explained in several interviews, he did not want to be cast in only one type of role or character. When asked if he would do it again, he says "I probably would have kept my name." He has been dating his Psych co-star Maggie Lawson since 2006. Some fans of Psych know about the "Shules" relationship. Shules is the combination of Shawn and Jules ... less