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Of course I'm here. We're family, and nothing is more important
— Rogelio to Xo

Rogelio De La Vega is a principal character on Jane the Virgin. He is portrayed by Jaime Camil.

Character[]

Rogelio is a bit narcissistic, however, he does anything he can for the people he loves. He became a telenovela star in 2013, playing the lead in The Passions of Santos. After Xiomara told him that he has a daughter, he met Jane and slowly became a part of the Villanueva family.

While Rogelio sometimes finds it difficult to find his place with the tight-knit Villanuevas, he has changed their dynamic for the better, inspiring Xo to move forward with her life and dreams[1][2] and supporting his daughter's dreams of becoming a writer[3][4].

Story[]

Past[]

1990

Rogelio and Xo are dating in high school. When Xo finds out she's pregnant, she tells Rogelio, who asks her to give it up for adoption. Unbeknownst to Rogelio, Xiomara doesn't but decides that she does not want Rogelio in her daughter's life.

2001

Rogelio is having Scientology audits done.[5]

2009

Rogelio is a struggling actor, trying to make it in soap operas.

2013

Rogelio receives a letter from Xiomara, telling him that he has a daughter- Jane.

Season 1[]

Rogelio is first introduced through his character Santos, whom he portrayed for 2 years.[6][7] After Xiomara sent him a letter in 2013, telling him about his daughter, Jane, Rogelio decided to relocate his show to Miami to get to know Jane.[8] After Xiomara's hesitance to introduce them, Rogelio is unable to wait any longer and goes to introduce himself to Jane at her bridal gown fitting.[9]

Amidst the chaos following their first meeting, Rogelio tries to make his and Jane's time together both memorable and impressive[10], though he later realizes that he cannot encapsulate all of their lost time in a few meets and Rogelio tries to accept that he and Jane will get to know each other at a natural pace, whilst still feeling the pain of losing all of those years with her.[11]

Rogelio also starts a relationship with Xiomara Villanueva, at first almost taking the form of a rekindling of their teen relationship, filled with insecurities and hesitance to be direct and honest about their feelings[12][9][13][14]. After being tricked by his assistant Nicholas on The Passions of Santos, Rogelio is fired and decides to stay in Miami and work on his rival Esteban Santiago's sci-fi telenovela, Pasión Intergalactica, as Detective Juan Rodrigo Castillo, to invest himself in his relationship with Xiomara[13].

After agreeing to move in with Xiomara, Rogelio finds difficulty in opening his heart to her, wanting Xo and his mother to rectify their relationship[15], the result of which is Liliana blasting any future for the couple and Xiomara kissing her ex in despair. When Xiomara breaks the news to Rogelio, he promptly breaks up with Xo and although he feels betrayed, Rogelio maintains a friendship with Xiomara.

Rogelio

Rogelio gets re-hired as Santos

Following a rating drop, The Passions of Santos re-hired Rogelio. Rogelio still loves Xo but is afraid to be mistaken in trusting her, as he did his first wife, who had an affair. The season ends with the two on friendly terms, suddenly discovering they got drunk married in Las Vegas.

Season 2[]

After leaving Rogelio's Vegas residency to attend the birth of 'Matelio', he is livid that Xo forces him to perform on a cruise ship to avoid lawsuit[16]. The isolated circumstances force the now technically married couple to face their relationship and what they really want. Xiomara calls out Rogelio's fear of opening his heart and, though scared, Rogelio agrees to face the wound from his first wife, Luciana Leon.

Rogelio is promoted to Executive Producer on The Passions of Santos as well, which means he is faced with hiring Luciana as a ratings boost is needed[17]. While terrified of facing his heartbreak, Xo stands by him and together they form a team that finally puts Rogelio's fear of getting hurt to rest – though not without revealing that he was briefly a member of Scientology. After Michael Cordero and Jane stop speaking, Rogelio confesses to Xo that he used to confide in Michael feelings of anger towards her, for keeping him and Jane apart for several years. Jane and Rogelio talk about both experiencing this feeling, but cementing how happy they are to have one another now and how much they care about each other[11].

Following the conclusion of Santos, Rogelio wished to create a telenovela version of Mad Men, which was unfortunately rejected. He has recently found and is starring on his passion project – his new intern J.D.'s Tiago a Través del Tiempo[18]. Rogelio finds out that his father is gay and that his mother has known for 40 years, and that his parents have had an 'arrangement' in their marriage. Rogelio is happy for his father, but shocked that his parents have kept this secret from him all these years. However, the De La Vegas manage to find a way to start repairing the damage and move on as a family. Liliana encourages Rogelio to propose to Xiomara and he does, but Xiomara ultimately turns down the proposal, as she does not want more children – and Rogelio does.

They both struggle with the break-up, but when Jane doesn't show up for the premiere of Tiago, Rogelio feels like Jane is choosing her mother over him and asks for some space. Coincidentally, his new assistant, Paola, is his old prison pen pal, Lola. She is a crazy stalker and takes Rogelio hostage, unbeknownst to his family. They get mad at him for not keeping in touch with the family, as Lola has taken his phone and is tweeting random things out and giving evasive text responses. Eventually, Jane asks Michael to check on Rogelio and Michael saves him from Lola. At first, Rogelio milks the situation for publicity, but in reality he is keeping busy so as to not face how scarred he is from the experience. He eventually breaks down with Jane, who comforts him and stays with him on the night of her engagement party, showing that she chooses him too. Rogelio continues his work and eventually develops feelings for his old Santos colleague, the writer Dina Milagro. Jane helps him try to impress Dina, who only wants casual sex with him at first, but eventually agrees to start dating. Rogelio throws Michael his bachelor party and gets to attend his daughter's wedding, a huge day in his life. At the wedding party, he and Jane do a father/daughter dance routine that they rehearsed and they're very happy to have each other.

Season 3[]

After Michael is shot, Rogelio is there for his daughter as they all struggle. Luckily, Michael survives and the family slowly starts to move on from the tragedy. Rogelio decides that he needs to find someone to be the mother of his children and takes up with a matchmaker named Darci Factor. When Darci realises that Rogelio is looking for someone to be the mother to his kids rather than a relationship, she offers to be that woman and they enter into a contract. Xo and the family have trouble accepting this, and Darci, but eventually do. Rogelio develops feelings for Darci, who isn't interested at first, but they do eventually start a relationship. When Rogelio stars in an indie film and his scene gets cut, he makes a scene at the premiere and his career takes a blow. As a result, he agrees to do Darci's reality show, The De La Vega-Factor Factor.

Relationships[]

Jane Villanueva

Main article: Rogelio and Jane
Jogelio

Jane and Rogelio didn't meet until Jane was in her early 20s and had to work hard to make up for the time they lost. Slowly, but surely, they become an integrated part of each other's lives and Jane begins to see Rogelio as her father. Despite some conflict arising from Rogelio's break-up with Xiomara, they overcome them together. Rogelio proudly gets to walk Jane down the aisle on her wedding day.

Liliana De La Vega

31hug

Rogelio's mother is somewhat overbearing with him[19], while also being high maintenance, demanding and controlling at time with regard to the choices Rogelio makes in his career. Rogelio loves his mother, but eventually puts his foot down when she insults his relationship with Xiomara[15]. They start to build a more balanced relationship when Rogelio's parents are divorcing and Liliana fears to be alone. Liliana is also the creator of Rogelio's personalized wake-up song.

Manuel De La Vega

32ranuel

While beforehand Manuel is scarcely mentioned on the show, prior to his introduction he and Rogelio seem to have a good relationship. When he arrives at the Villanueva house and meets his granddaughter, Jane, for the first time, it is the beginning of a new era for father and son as Manuel reveals the kind of marriage he and Liliana had for more than 40 years[19] and why Manuel was never able to show up for Rogelio's early work and actively support his career[18].

Mateo Solano Villanueva

89matelio

Rogelio's grandson Mateo is named after him, with his full name being "Mateo Rogelio Gloriano Solano Villanueva". They have a good relationship and Rogelio often refers to Mateo by the affectionate nickname of 'Matelio'.

Michael Cordero

30mogelio

After getting to go on a ridealong with Michael, Rogelio almost instantly thinks he's awesome and wants to be friends with him. Michael moreso seems to find Rogelio funny and theatrical but also cares about him. Throughout all the craziness the Villanuevas experience, Rogelio seeks out Michael for support and advice, eventually considering him a great friend and is ecstatic when Jane and Michael get married. Rogelio is devastated following Michael's death and confides in Xo that he lost his best friend and thinks of him every single day.

Romances[]

Xiomara Villanueva
Main article: Rogelio and Xiomara
14xogelio

Rogelio and Xiomara met in biology class in high school. They dated for a while before Xiomara got pregnant and told Rogelio, who wanted her to get an abortion. At the time Xo was 16, Ro 17. After reconnecting as adults as Rogelio was told he has a daughter, they rekindled a romance and have tried to update their teen romance to a steady, committed adult relationship. Xiomara and Rogelio got 'drunk married' in Vegas in the Season 1 finale, and decided to start dating, taking one step at the time and not forge headfirst into a fully fledged marriage (they have not divorced, however). Rogelio recently divulged to Xiomara that he is still incredibly angry with her for keeping Jane from him. However, their relationship has reached a point where it is capable to work through big issues and weather storms in companionship. When Liliana and Xo find common ground and affection for one another, Liliana encourages Rogelio to propose to Xiomara. As of Chapter Sixty-Four, the couple is married despite the fact that Rogelio impregnated his ex-girlfriend Darci Factor and she is seven months pregnant with his daughter.

Luciana Leon
28santos

Rogelio despising working with Luciana in 2015

It is unspecified when Luciana and Rogelio meet, but they likely meet on their shared quest for stardom and, according to Liliana, marry very quickly. They are together in 2001 when they are both Scientology members and record themselves revealing secrets. In 2007, Luciana cheats on Rogelio with his rival, Esteban, to humiliate him, and Rogelio is heartbroken. After this experience, Rogelio is hesitant to open his heart and he marries his manager, whom he also ends up divorcing. Luciana and Rogelio meet again when the producers for The Passions of Santos need a replacement for Blanca and Luciana's fame makes her the ideal candidate. Xo helps Rogelio face his former paramour, and the experience allows him to let Xiomara in.

Melissa
6melissaex

Rogelio's second wife also serves as his business manager following their divorce. It could also be possible that her having that job is how they met. They seem to have divorced amicably, however they might still be sleeping together at the time where Rogelio reconnects with Xiomara and finally gets to know his long lost daughter. Through their relationship, Rogelio has become the stepfather to twins Valeria and Victoria, Melissa's daughters from a previous marriage, whom Rogelio lovingly, albeit a bit misguidedly, refers to as his 'former stepdaughters'. Melissa is possessive of Rogelio and openly feuds with Xo, perhaps indicating that she isn't completely over him. They are not seen to reconnect, though, and once Rogelio tells her off for mistreating Xo, there are no more issues with Melissa. Rogelio does keep in contact with his 'former stepdaughters', and they get to know Jane, even attending Jane's first wedding in 2016.

Dina Milagro
41

Dina and Rogelio have a strictly professional relationship at first, with Dina actually plotting to rid The Passions of Santos... of Rogelio, due to her fling with his assistant and secret rival, Nicholas. However, Dina is forced to ask Rogelio back as ratings plummet following his departure from Santos and, in spite of her betrayal, they work together again. Dina comes back in Rogelio's life working as a producer on his next telenovela, Tiago a Través del Tiempo, and surprisingly they start having sex, no strings. Rogelio finds himself developing feelings for Dina and pursues her, trying to convince her to date him. They date for a while, but eventually split amicably, Dina continuing to work on Tiago until it ends in 2016.

Darci Factor
Main article: Darci and Rogelio
52dargelio

In spite of his feelings for Xiomara, her new relationship with Bruce sets Rogelio moving on his wish to have children and he seeks out a professional matchmaker for the task. After unsuccessful dates with extremely famous single women, Rogelio professes to Darcy that what he really wants is to meet someone he can have a child with. Darcy proposes that they have a child together, without a romantic relationship, and Rogelio accepts. Rogelio develops feelings for her and they soon start dating. As a gift to Darcy, Rogelio agrees to star as "himself" on a reality show about their romance, following the conclusion of Tiago a Través del Tiempo in 2016. Rogelio realizes that he doesn't want to have a baby with Darcy after all and they split up, Darcy hurt and furious at Rogelio for ending their agreement and relationship. In 2020, Rogelio decides to pay off his entire first year's salary from Los Viajes de Guillermo to pay off Darcy's lawsuit as he leaves her and the reality show behind. Just before Ro & Xo's wedding, Darcy reappears – 7 months pregnant with Rogelio's daughter!

Quotes[]

Emma Stone! I heard she can play any race!
Rogelio casting a new Blanca[src]
I'm not afraid of anything. Except acne and leprechauns
Rogelio[src]
And I don't wanna get a reputation for being difficult... again
Rogelio[src]
Turns out I am equally talented in outer space as I am here, on earth
Ro to Xo[src]
A hug from Rogelio is like a rabbit's foot: lucky, rare and soft to the touch
Rogelio to Xo[src]
When I was 17 I was an idiot. Kicked out of school, smoking weed. She wanted to protect you
Rogelio defending Xo[src]
Inhala. Exhala
Rogelio, when people meet him and are struck by his celebrity

Telenovelas[]

The Passions of Santos

Rogelio De La Vega's first claim to fame catapulted him to international stardom and Paloma recognition for his work as El Presidente Santos. The show depicts the struggles of El Presidente (which are not always made clear) and his relationship, engagement and, in the finale, marriage to Blanca (later portrayed by his first wife, Luciana Leon).

Pasión Intergalactica

Briefly, Rogelio starred as Juan Rodrigo Castillo, a sidekick to the lead character portrayed by his fiercest rival (both professionally and privately as, is indicated, Esteban was the man with whom Luciana had the very public affair which broke Rogelio's heart), Esteban Santiago. Rogelio portrays a space captain whose commander often is very disappointed in him and Rogelio's final performance (after he is asked back on Santos) is as a disembodied head floating in outer space.

Tiago a Través del Tiempo

Rogelio stars as Tiago, as time-traveler who finds himself transported to different historical events and participating in helping eg. protesters at Stonewall in 1969, or the Suffragette movement in early 1900s England. He also has a love interest he leaves behind but returns to once in a while to make love to. Tiago ends its run in 2016.

Los Viajes de Guillermo

Based on Gulliver's Travels, Rogelio stars as Guillermo who is shrunk and falls in love with a scientist, but fights with Hector over her affections, although neither of them is the proper size to actually interact with human beings.

Filmography[]

YEAR TITLE ROLE NOTES
2021— The Passions of Steve and Brenda Steve Title role
2019 Los Viajes de Guillermo Guillermo Title role
2016-2019 The De La Vega-Factor Factor "Himself" (reality series) Title role
2016 Tiago a Través del Tiempo Tiago Title role
2015 Fernando e Isabel Bogelio Performed a bit so Xo's song would still be used on the show
2015 Pasión Intergalactica Det. Castillo Sidekick to Esteban Santiago
2015
2013-2015
The Passions of Santos Santos Title role
2006 La Miseria Cesar Title role

Photos[]

Rogelio De La Vega/Gallery

Trivia[]

  • Rogelio's signature colour is lavender
  • Rogelio does not pop in peach.[13]
  • But he looks quite good in coral.[18]
  • Rogelio's done an editorial spread in Out Magazine with NPH.
  • Rogelio is first cousins with Eva Longoria.

PRODUCTION NOTES

  • The character was originally named Rubio[20]

Media[]

Notes and references[]


CHARACTERS
main Jane VillanuevaXiomara VillanuevaAlba VillanuevaMateo Solano Villanueva
Rafael SolanoRogelio De La VegaPetra SolanoMichael Cordero
recurring Rose SolanoJane RamosLina SantillanJorge GarciaDarci FactorBruceEsteban Santiago
Adam AlvaroMarlene DonaldsonNadine HansonChuck ChesserRoman Zazo
family Luisa AlverAnna & Ellie SolanoMateo VillanuevaBaby De La Vega FactorManuel De La VegaLiliana De La Vega
Mia AlverElena Di NolaEmilio SolanoMagdaAnežka ArchulettaCatalina MoraDerek Ruvelle
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