Role Recall: ‘Criminal Minds’ Newbie Adam Rodriguez Reminisces About ‘CSI: Miami,’ ‘Empire,’ More

Just three little words.

That’s how Adam Rodriguez’s acting career began, as he tells Yahoo Superfan in this edition of “Role Recall.” The star, who recently joined the cast of Criminal Minds, now in its 12th season, started out in a very humble way — with a one-line appearance on NYPD Blue in 1997.

“Before this, I was doing extra work,” Rodriguez remembers. Getting the small part of a police officer “was a huge deal. And it was three words.”

The actor goes on to discuss his other roles, like his 10-year stint on CSI: Miami. During that time, he wrote and directed two episodes. “I was very proud of the way it turned out. I got to tell a story that I felt had some heart.”

Related: Catch Up on Empire With Our Recaps

Since leaving that show, Rodriguez has appeared in movies including Magic Mike and guest-starred on series including Ugly Betty, Jane the Virgin, and Empire, which was a challenge. Acting opposite Golden Globe winner Taraji P. Henson was no joke.

“You don’t want to be, no pun intended, eaten alive by Cookie!” he says.

Watch to see which show Rodriguez campaigned to be on, why he got yelled at as an extra on the movie Cop Land, and his reaction to joining the long-running Criminal Minds.

Criminal Minds airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.