Guillermo Rodriguez (comedian)
Guillermo Rodriguez | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Rodriguez in January 2013 | |
| Born | Guillermo Rodriguez January 27, 1971 Zacatecas City, Mexico[1] |
| Nationality | Mexican-American |
| Occupation(s) | TV personality, comedian |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Known for | Jimmy Kimmel Live! |
| Children | Benji Rodriguez |
Guillermo Rodriguez[2] (born January 27, 1971)[3] is a Mexican-American[4] talk show personality who rose to fame while working as a parking lot security guard at the Hollywood Boulevard studios for American late night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live![5] He continues in character and title as the show's security guard, but actually performs nightly as Jimmy Kimmel's sidekick.
Early life[edit]
Rodriguez was born in Zacatecas, Mexico.[1]
Career[edit]
Rodriguez began working as a parking-lot security guard for Jimmy Kimmel Live! studio in 2003.[6] At that time he also had a second full-time job as a hotel room server as well as working weekends at a third.[7] After he was caught sleeping in announcer Dicky Barrett’s car, Kimmel offered to have him appear on the show.[8] Due to his shyness at the time Rodriguez initially turned down the offer to appear on the show in 2003 but was talked into it by one of the producers.[7][9] His early appearances were with "Uncle Frank" Potenza in a series of bits called "Security Night Live".[10][11] (Potenza had originally handled security for the show before his role was expanded to appear on screen.)[11] Rodriguez soon moved to acting in skits on the show with his first role being Michael Jackson's Spanish cook. His broken English coupled with his affability and teddy bear-like quality earned him a high-profile supporting role as a personality on the show, in which he usually plays the Everyman.[10] Guillermo took over main red-carpet interviewing duties in 2011 after Potenza died. [5]
Personal life[edit]
Rodriguez is married. He and his wife have a son named Benji who was born on December 11, 2011.
He became a U.S. citizen in 2005.[12]
Filmography[edit]
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2009 | Rock Slyde | Gary | |
| 2017 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 | Cop #2 | uncredited cameo |
| 2019 | The Little Mermaid Live! | Blowfish | |
| 2020 | Bill & Ted Face the Music | Himself | Cameo appearance during the credits |
References[edit]
- ^ a b Tévez, Óscar (March 7, 2018). "De vigilante de un 'parking' por 6,5 euros la hora a estrella de televisión: la historia del hombre de dorado de los Oscar". El País – via elpais.com.
- ^ "Guillermo Rodriguez | Jimmy Kimmel Live!". ABC. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
- ^ Jimmy Kimmel Live! (January 27, 2017). Kimmel Staffers Share Guillermo Stories For His Birthday (Web video) – via YouTube.
At midnight tonight, Guillermo turns ...46 years old.
- ^ "'Jimmy Kimmel' Star Guillermo Responds to Donald Trump's Anti-Mexico Comments With Hilarious Bilingual Bit". The Hollywood Reporter. June 25, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
- ^ a b "Passings: Frank Potenza, John Howard Davies, Jack Layton". Los Angeles Times. August 24, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
- ^ Dory Jackson (August 18, 2020). "Ellen DeGeneres and tWitch, Chelsea Handler and Chuy Bravo Plus More Famous TV Hosts and Their Sidekicks". US Magazine.
- ^ a b Jon Finkel (September 4, 2018). "Guillermo the Great: Jimmy Kimmel's Sidekick Discusses His Improbable Rise From Parking Lot Security Guard To Late Night TV Star".
- ^ "Jimmy Kimmel Live!'s Guillermo Rodriguez Recalls How He Landed on the Show 18 Years Ago". Peoplemag.
- ^ Pampering Jimmy Kimmel's Favorite Security Guard, Guillermo Rodriguez. Young Hollywood. June 21, 2012 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b Bruce Miller (March 30, 2013). "Guillermo gives 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' the common touch". Sioux City Journal.
- ^ a b Lynn Elberthe (August 23, 2011). "Uncle Frank of 'Kimmel Show' fame dies at 77". Associated Press.
- ^ "Guillermo gives 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' the common touch". Sioux City Journal. March 30, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2021.