A familiar face from “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is the latest celebrity to join the cast of “Dancing with the Stars” Season 35.
Jimmy Kimmel‘s beloved sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez, 55, will make his way from the late-night stage to the dance floor in the upcoming fall season, ABC revealed on June 17.
Rodriguez, better known by his first name, joined Kimmel’s talk show in 2003 and has remained a staple since. He initially worked as a security guard in the show’s parking lot and is now featured every night alongside Kimmel, serving as a correspondent on the Oscars red carpet and regularly participating in other comedy bits.
The Mexican native, who became a United States citizen in 2005, launched his own hot sauce brand Guillermo’s Salsa in January.
The dancing competition series concluded Season 34 in November, with wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin and pro partner Witney Carson taking home the Mirrorball trophy. Irwin is now set to host the franchise’s new spinoff, “Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro,” premiering July 13.
Jimmy Kimmel and Guillermo Rodriguez attend the 86th Annual Peabody Awards at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on May 31, 2026, in Beverly Hills, California.
Guillermo joins three other confirmed celebrities for new season
The talk show personality and comedian is the latest addition to the upcoming season, joining “Summer House” star Ciara Miller and “Love Island” favorite Maura Higgins – both of whom also appeared on “The Traitors” – as well as Savannah Bananas‘ Jackson Olson.
The full cast, including the pros, will be announced Sept. 2 on “Good Morning America.”
Olson’s casting was recently confirmed at the May 12 Disney Upfronts, sparking excitement among fans. Following the news, his girlfriend Maggie Sajak, the daughter of former “Wheel of Fortune” host Pat Sajak, wrote on her Instagram Story that she is “beyond proud” of the exhibition baseball team’s second baseman.
“The dance floor better get ready,” she added.
Higgins and Miller also received positive reactions when they became the first two cast members announced for Hulu’s “Get Real House” on April 12. Higgins, who attended the event in person, revealed that she had “DWTS” on her vision board, noting, “I manifested it real hard.”
“It’s the one show I really want to do. This is the last show I want to do as a contestant,” she explained, adding that she “turned down anything that would jeopardize ‘Dancing with the Stars’ in America,” including the Irish version of “DWTS” and the UK’s “Strictly Come Dancing.”
Higgins also said she hoped to be paired with pro Mark Ballas, who she starred alongside with on “The Traitors” Season 4, and explained her game plan until rehearsals start at the end of the summer.
“I’m not going to start working my ass off now, because by the time August comes, I’ll be absolutely shattered,” she said. “I’m going to take some daytime naps because I’m going to need it.”
Miller was unable to attend the event in Los Angeles because she was filming the “Summer House” reunion in New York City, but she still shared her reaction in a video message.
“I wanted to be there, I wish I could be there, but I had some unfinished business in New York that I need to wrap up,” the Bravolebrity said. “But I am so excited to join Season 35. I feel like this is the perfect moment; I’m opening a new chapter. I can’t wait to put my energy on the dance floor.”
Contributing: KiMi Robinson and Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Guillermo Rodriguez from ‘Jimmy Kimmel’ joins ‘Dancing with the Stars’
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