Rodney Munoz Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Rodney Muñoz, the Emmy-winning costume designer for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, has died. He was 60.
Muñoz died Oct. 2, his friend Joe Dietl announced in a Facebook post. The cause of death was not immediately available, but Dietl said that Muñoz had contracted COVID-19 during the pandemic, was put into a coma and ventilated and had been dealing with health issues ever since.
On Friday, Jimmy Kimmel penned a tribute on Instagram, writing, “Our dear friend and Costume Designer for almost 30 years, Rodney Muñoz, has sadly passed away.”
Related Stories
TV Mike Ditka, No-Nonsense Chicago Bears Legend and TV Analyst, Dies at 86
General News Michael Kearns, Actor, Activist and 'Jerker' Director, Dies at 76
“Rodney was one of the most talented people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. He was a funny, surly, hard-working man whose tough exterior hid a huge and generous heart. Rodney helped many of us through difficult times. He was a devoted son, brother and Uncle; a great baker and a caring friend. No man saw me in my underpants more.”
Muñoz began working on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2002, and he earned his Primetime Emmy for outstanding costumes for a variety/music program or a special in 2010.
He attended New York University from 1988-93, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in costume design for stage and screen. After his studies, Muñoz joined Late Show With David Letterman, where he worked as a costume designer until 2000.
Before Jimmy Kimmel Live!, he worked as a costume designer on projects including Champions of Magic 2, Can’t Stop Dancing and Popstars and as a wardrobe stylist on Fear Factor. He also worked on the costuming for Dietl’s web series Where the Bears Are.
Muñoz additionally styled Kimmel when he hosted the 2018 Academy Awards.
“We will miss Rodney as he joins his beloved parents in whatever comes next,” Kimmel wrote.
THR Newsletters
Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day
Subscribe Sign Up
