Guillermo de la Cruz is What We Do in the Shadows' beating human heart — Nandor's long-suffering familiar, a put-upon servant who dreams of being made a vampire while doing all the cooking, cleaning, and corpse-disposal for his ungrateful masters. Sweet, competent, and secretly lethal, Guillermo is the show's audience surrogate and its most quietly compelling arc.
His story is a slow-burn of devotion, resentment, and self-discovery. Guillermo discovers he is a descendant of the legendary vampire hunter Van Helsing — making him a natural vampire-killer even as he serves vampires — and the tension between his loyalty to Nandor and his own thwarted ambition drives the series' most surprising emotional throughline. His unrequited longing to be turned, and his evolving bond with Nandor, give the comedy real stakes.
Harvey Guillén's warm, expressive performance made Guillermo a breakout and the show's soul.
Key Episodes
S1 E1
Pilot
Guillermo's servitude and dream of becoming a vampire are introduced.
Guillermo de la Cruz is one of the central figures in What We Do in the Shadows, a comedy/horror series that aired on FX from 2019–2024. Within the narrative of What We Do in the Shadows, Guillermo de la Cruz serves as a pivotal character whose decisions and relationships drive key story arcs throughout Seasons 1–6. The character's journey has been central to many of the show's most memorable and discussed moments.
Portrayed by Harvey Guillén, Guillermo de la Cruz has become one of the most recognizable characters in modern television. Harvey Guillén's performance brings nuance and depth to the role, creating a character that resonates with audiences on both intellectual and emotional levels. Harvey Guillén's work has been recognized with 1 major award, reflecting the critical acclaim their portrayal has received.
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? Frequently Asked Questions
Harvey Guillén plays Guillermo de la Cruz, Nandor's familiar and the show's heart.
Guillermo discovers he is a descendant of Van Helsing — a natural vampire hunter, even as he serves vampires.
