While at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, he studied with various teachers at both the Michael Chekhov Studio and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. Rod's acting teachers included many first-generation Strasberg method acting teachers such as
Geoffrey Horne,
David Gideon and
Fred Sadoff who together have trained many successful actors. Rod also studied with first-generation Chekhov acting technique teachers, including briefly with Oscar winner
Beatrice Straight.