Getting a character just right for a talk show can be even harder than one thinks, given they often need to entertain audiences for long stretches. While the host is usually interesting enough to carry the show, the side characters are just as crucial, if not more so. A perfect example of this is Guillermo Rodriguez, who rose to popularity as Jimmy Kimmel’s loyal sidekick on the late-night staple, Jimmy Kimmel Live! He eventually became the cherished character of Kimmel’s security guard, before becoming an on-air talent.

Rodriguez, however, also holds court at the Oscars, regaling guests with his dad jokes and tequila treats. With the 2024 Oscars drawing closer, getting a thorough rundown on this comedian might be a must-do before the big night!

Who is Guillermo Rodriguez?

Guillermo Rodriguez is best known as Jimmy Kimmel’s right-hand man on his talk show. However, he is also a familiar face at major sporting events, such as the NBA Finals and Super Bowl. And not to forget his star-studded interviews at the annual Academy Awards, where he is known to serve up tequila to the A-listers. Nowadays, Rodriguez does a variety of skits, but back when he first joined the late-night show, he made a name for himself with his Hollywood Roundup segment.

While people thought that Rodriguez was a trained actor, what made him really funny was the fact that he was actually just the show’s parking lot security guard. However, juggling all these sketches, field bits, and segments made it tough for him to keep up with his security duties in the parking lot. The comedian has a net worth of over $2 million. Although he still plays the role of the parking lot security guard, he is not doing much security work these days.

As per a 2022 report, the 53-year-old comedian earned  $500,000 a year from his gig in Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Guillermo Rodriguez’s early life and family

Born in Zacatecas, Mexico, on January 27, 1971, Guillermo Rodriguez became a naturalized American citizen in 2005. Like countless immigrants, he worked in minimum-wage jobs before rising to fame. The comedian has a wife and a 12-year-old son named Benjamin Rodriguez. Despite his public persona, Guillermo values his privacy and has kept details about his wife out of the limelight. Although he typically keeps his family life private, Guillermo has made a few public appearances with his wife.

This includes the premiere of the movie Coco in LA and the Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Latino Cinema and Television at Fairmount Century Plaza Hotel. There are only a handful of photos of Guillermo with his wife, one of which shows them attending a wedding on September 1, 2014. Despite his reserved nature and evident efforts to keep his personal life private, Guillermo is an affectionate father who regularly shares posts about his son on social media and proudly praises him at every opportunity.

Guillermo Rodriguez partnering with Jimmy Kimmel

While working as a part-time security guard for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Guillermo Rodriguez found himself in a sticky situation when he was caught napping in Dicky Barrett’s car by Barrett himself, who wasted no time in informing Kimmel about the incident. Upon learning about Rodriguez, the talk show host was sure that he needed to get this guy on the show. And so, Rodriguez’s career as a talk show performer kicked off during the first season in 2003. Initially, he teamed up with Francis Potenza for Security Night Live.

Rodriguez stepped into Potenza’s shoes on the show following the latter’s passing in 2011. From there, he ventured into skits for the main show, such as Michael Jackson’s Spanish cook. After more than 20 years of working side by side, Jimmy Kimmel and Guillermo Rodriguez have become more than just colleagues on the Live show. Rodriguez has often spoken about how they have become integral to each other’s lives, with Kimmel being like family to him. However, it is at the Academy Awards where Guillermo truly shines!

Guillermo Rodriguez’s Oscar fame and all Academy highlights

Guillermo Rodriguez is popular for finding some genius ways to sneak his favorite drink onto the Oscars, tequila. Jimmy Kimmel brings his long-time partner Guillermo Rodriguez to continue the show’s tradition of interviewing and supplying tequila to the various stars on the red carpet. 2023 was no different than other years, with Rodriguez’s tequila shots fitting right in with the starry event.

The fact that even after all this time, there are still celebrities who cannot believe Guillermo’s actually serving alcohol is hilarious in itself. And with Jimmy Kimmel lined up to host the Oscars again on March 10th, the odds of catching Guillermo Rodriguez at the event are looking pretty darn good. Who knows, perhaps he will make a comeback and pour out more tequilas than ever before!

What do you think about the Oscar delight aka Guillermo Rodriguez? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!