With grit and versatility, Rodney Gardiner has led a career where he began performing in jails, rehabs, and shelters to playing major recurring roles on television, in David Makes Man (OWN) and From Scratch (Netflix). In the theatre, Gardiner has consistently delivered formidable perfmances on America’s most prestigious regional theatre stages, like Cassius in JULIUS CAESAR (OSF) and Nathan Detroit in GUYS & DOLLS (Guthrie Theater). He is also a company member of Waterwell in NYC, where he co devised and performed in lauded Off-Broadway productions.

Gardiner is a graduate of the acting conservatory at SUNY Purchase, where he studied with greats like Andrei Belgrader, Frank Deal, and A. Dean Irby. Gardiner has also workshopped with Marci Phillips and taken class with Lesly Kahn. In the theatre, Gardiner has worked closely with great directors such as Joeseph Haj, Mary Zimmerman and Bill Rauch.

When not performing, Gardiner can be found honing his craft, playing guitar, singing the blues, or writing you next favorite series.