Jimmy Kimmel’s longtime sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez will join Dancing with the Stars Season 35, marking the fourth celebrity cast member announced for the fall 2026 season. Rodriguez, 55, revealed the news on Wednesday, June 17, during an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, stepping out in a flashy blue outfit as Kimmel introduced him to the audience.
Kimmel joked about Rodriguez’s unconventional path to the ballroom, saying, “This September, Guillermo will become the first ever parking lot security guard to dance with the stars.” The comment referenced Rodriguez’s origins on the show: in 2003, he began working as a parking lot security guard at the Jimmy Kimmel Live! studio while juggling two other jobs, before eventually becoming the host’s right-hand man and a fixture on the late-night program.
Rodriguez has spent over two decades building his on-air presence alongside Kimmel. Beyond his sidekick duties, he has appeared as a correspondent at major events including the Oscars and the NBA Finals, becoming known for his enthusiastic personality and memorable red-carpet segments. His casting follows that of reality TV stars Maura Higgins from The Traitors, Ciara Miller from Summer House, and Savannah Bananas player Jackson Olson, according to People.com.
Kimmel offered his signature advice as Rodriguez prepared for the competition: “Don’t lose a single adorable pound, okay? Do you promise?” Rodriguez playfully responded, “I promise. If I lose five pounds, I’m gonna gain 10 pounds right away.” The exchange captured the long-standing rapport between the two, built over more than two decades of working together at the ABC talk show.
The full cast of celebrities and professional dancers will be announced on September 2 on Good Morning America, with the season premiering later that fall on ABC and Disney+. The new season follows Season 34, which drew 72 million finale votes and nearly half a billion votes total, according to People.com.
Sources
- People.com — Rodriguez’s age (55), announcement details, Kimmel’s reaction, other cast members (Higgins, Miller, Olson), Season 34 viewership data
- Wikipedia — Rodriguez’s birth date (January 27, 1971)
- Multiple outlets (TMZ, Deadline, USA Today) — Rodriguez started as parking lot security guard in 2003, fourth cast member announcement
