𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐊𝐈𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐋, 𝐁𝐔𝐓 𝐖𝐄 𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐄𝐄 𝐙𝐀𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐀𝐒' 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐎 𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐔𝐄𝐙 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐎𝐍 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐓𝐕

       by Jim Barton with information from the New York Times                                   

For more than two decades, Guillermo Rodriguez has been one of late-night television’s most beloved figures, offering a warm, self-effacing presence as Jimmy Kimmel’s loyal sidekick on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Probably few fans know the full arc of Guillermo’s journey, born in Zacatecas, Mexico, 481 miles south of Brownsville, now a U.S. citizen, husband and father.

Guillermo was born on January 27, 1971, in that historic historic city that my late wife Nena and I visited in the mid-90's, staying at what was then known as the Radisson Paraiso.  I have vivid memories of a very clean city, with wrought iron trash receptacles evenly spaced downtown, twin basilicas, a labyrinth of cobblestone streets and the teleferico we rode over the town, seeing flower gardens on the roofs of buildings.

When Guillermo first emigrated to the United States, he worked as a hotel room server by day and a parking lot security guard at night outside the studios of Jimmy Kimmel Live! in Hollywood. 

Rodriguez was caught sleeping in announcer Dicky Barrett's car between shifts and Kimmel decided to bring him on the show.  Guillermo initially resisted, too shy and uncertain to appear on camera, but eventually agreed, quickly capturing the hearts of viewers with his unmistakable charm and ability to embrace any sketch or segment with good-natured enthusiasm.

Originally, Guillermo portrayed Michael Jackson’s Spanish-speaking cook, but then became Kimmel's red carpet Hollywood correspondent, interviewing movie stars at the Oscars with tequila shots. 

This week, with Jimmy Kimmel Live! set to return to the air after a brief suspension stemming from Trump-fueled censorship, viewers will once again see Guillermo standing beside Kimmel, steady, smiling, and unflappable, just as he’s always been.