DAILYN RODRIGUEZ TO RECEIVE THE IMAGEN AWARDS NORMAN LEAR WRITER’S AWARD
LOS ANGELES (July 24, 2025) — The Imagen Foundation has named Dailyn Rodriguez as the 2025 recipient of the Norman Lear Writer’s Award.
The award, named after the legendary television producer and Imagen co-founder, honors outstanding Latino creative talent in television or film who advance authentic cultural representation.
Rodriguez is an award-winning writer, producer and showrunner, known for her work on “Ugly Betty,” “The Glades,” “The Night Shift,” “Queen of the South,” and most recently as executive producer and co-showrunner of Netflix’s “The Lincoln Lawyer.” The series, created by David E. Kelley and based on Michael Connelly’s bestselling novels, recently wrapped production on its fourth season. Rodriguez also directed an episode of the show.
“Thank you to the Imagen Foundation for this incredible honor,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “I’m proud to receive an award that bears the name of Norman Lear, a writer whose work has shaped so much of what I believe storytelling can do. Throughout my career, I’ve worked to uplift Latino voices and create space for underrepresented communities, both on screen and behind the scenes.”
Rodriguez, a first-generation Cuban American raised in Washington Heights, New York, was selected for the Walt Disney Studios Writing Fellowship early in her career. She went on to write for series including ABC’s “George Lopez” and “Ugly Betty,” FOX’s “Lie to Me” and A&E’s “The Glades.” Her work on “Ugly Betty” earned her a Writers Guild Award for outstanding new series.
“From breaking barriers in Hollywood to crafting unforgettable stories, Dailyn Rodriguez embodies the spirit and excellence of the Norman Lear Writer’s Award,” said Helen Hernandez, president and founder of the Imagen Foundation. “Her creative vision and leadership continue to inspire the next generation of Latino storytellers.”
Rodriguez’s work is often rooted in her lived experience, exploring themes of family, loyalty, identity and cultural resilience. As co-showrunner, executive producer and writer for USA Network’s “Queen of the South,” she helped reshape the crime drama genre by centering a Latina protagonist and bringing depth to the adaptation of the Spanish-language series “La Reina del Sur.”
In addition to her creative work, Rodriguez is a board member of the Writers Guild of America West and played a prominent role during the 2023 WGA strike. She continues to mentor emerging writers and advocates for greater inclusion and access in the television industry.
Past recipients of the Norman Lear Writer’s Award include Peter Murrieta, Gloria Calderón Kellett, John Leguizamo, Lisa Loomer, Fred Armisen, Ligiah Villalobos and Luisa Leschin.