Actor Noel G to host comedy show Saturday at Joliet theater

Actor Noel Guglielmi (aka Noel G), most popularly known as “Hector” from “The Fast and The Furious,” is hosting an event Saturday in Joliet.

The “Laugh Out Loud Comedy Tour” features a popular national comedy road show and largely Hispanic talent. This includes comedians Ana Buenrostro and Jessi Saldana, along with Guglielmi, according to a news release promoting the show.

“We just want to make people laugh,” Guglielmi said. “Comedy is cool. Making people laugh is cool. It’s entertainment. It lets people forget about their problems. It brings a smile to someone’s face. I don’t see anything wrong with that.”

In fact, comedy was one of three possible tracks on Guglielmi’s former entertainment bucket list. The other was acting (Guglielmi often is cast as a “gangster cholo,” according to the release), and the third was rapping.

“When I first started in the entertainment business, I would do anything to get in, whatever took off first,”  Guglielmi said. “Those were the three main ways to get in at the time.”

Discovery

But working in the entertainment industry was far from Guglielmi’s mind when he, at age 15, first started taking acting classes. He did so because his girlfriend had high Hollywood aspirations and she wanted him to take classes with her.

“A producer spotted me, thought I was funny, and said, ‘Hey, do you want to be in a commercial?’ ” Guglielmi said. “It took off from there. I never made so much money so fast. I was just in the right place at the right time.”

The commercial was for Taco Bell, a huge opportunity for the Los Angeles teen. Unfortunately, he got a little sidetracked along the way to fame.

“I did four years in prison. That messed me up a little bit,” Guglielmi said. “When I came out, I realized enough was enough. I was facing 15 years in prison for attempted murder that happened with some gang activities. That was my wake-up call. That’s when I started taking acting more seriously.”

Rebuilding

Between Guglielmi’s belief in God and people who believed in him (including his agent, who kept finding work for him, he said), Guglielmi began rebuilding his life and his career.

In addition the first and seventh “The Fast and the Furious” films, Guglielmi also has appeared in “Training Day” with Denzel Washington and “Bruce Almighty” with Jim Carrey.

Guglielmi also was cast in the Clint Eastwood film “The Mule,” George Lopez’ “El Chicano” and “Dragged Across Concrete” with Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn.

Comedy-wise, Guglielmi’s had roles in the TV series “Fresh Off the Boat” and web series “Food Stamps,” according to the release.

According to his website at actornoelg.com, Guglielmi is the founder of the independent film company Entangled Entertainment, has more than 150 large- and small-screen credits to his name during a 25-year career and was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2017.

Now and tomorrow

Today, in addition to acting and producing, Guglielmi also writes, creates digital content, performs stand-up comedy, recruits talent, coaches and mentors and is a motivational speaker, the website also said.

Making money no longer is his prime motivator. He simply loves the business.

“It’s a fun business,” he said. “I’m not a 9 to 5 person, not that there’s anything wrong with being a 9 to 5 person. But I like being in different places. Every time I work, it’s a new adventure, and I meet new people.”

Which does Guglielmi prefer: acting or comedy? No preference, he said.

“Both are cool,” Guglielmi said. “There’s advantages with both.”

But don’t except to hear him rapping hit songs anytime soon.

“I didn’t really care about rapping. I was just toying with a different avenue,” Guglielmi said. “I’ll just stick with comedy and acting and go forward with that.”