In Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, we learn that Bill S. Preston, Esq and Ted "Theodore" Logan are destined to be the Two Great Ones who will usher in a golden age of humanity based on their music and philosophy. One of those citizens named Rufus, portrayed by the late actor and comedian George Carlin, is tasked with going back in time and ensuring Bill and Ted pass their history class, thus keeping the timeline intact. Rufus would return to assist Bill and Ted more than once and his faith and intervention, according to one Bill & Ted comic series, would suggest that Rufus is the true Great One instead of the iconic laidback duo.
In the Excellent Adventure, Rufus arrives at San Dimas in 1988 in the Circle K parking lot where he introduces himself to the freaked out Bill and Ted whose doubts are put to rest when they meet themselves from a few hours in the future who vouch for Rufus' authenticity. Rufus explains to them how the time machine, in the shape of a telephone booth, works and any important instructions they should keep in mind but will most likely forget. Rufus doesn't show up again until the end when he brings along Bill and Ted's medieval love interests, removed from their arranged marriage and reunited with Bill and Ted so they can fulfill their destiny in Wyld Stallyns according to Rufus. In Bogus Journey, Rufus opposes Chuck De Nomolos' plan to rewrite history by sending murderous robot duplicates of the historical duo back in time. Hitching a ride, Rufus arrives in San Dimas earlier than expected and disguises himself as Ms. Wardroe who is in charge of the San Dimas Battle of the Bands. Making sure Wyld Stallyns is in the competition, Rufus reveals himself and his role in the drama after Bill and Ted defeat their heinous doppelgangers and their master De Nomolos. Never wavering in his faith, Rufus' patience and hard work pays off when Bill and Ted accomplish their destiny with music that seemingly unites the world.
In Bill and Ted's Triumphant Return, a comic series by Brian Lynch, Jerry and Penelope Gaylord, intended to be the long-awaited third sequel- Bill and Ted have traveled to the future in hopes of curing their writer's block by "borrowing" their then-historical music and bringing it back to their present. Sidetracked in San Dimas 2645 with a mission to "Rufus" an ostracized and ridiculed young Chuck De Nomolos, the future Great Ones vow to teach Chuck how to play guitar in hopes of changing his nefarious ways. It is here, in the historic San Dimas High School, that a school report by De Nomolos' crush Claudia suggests that Rufus is actually the true Great One due to all of his assistance with Bill and Ted and that it was Rufus' idea to customize all the abandoned phone booths into time machines, which certain extraterrestrials got the idea to do with British police booths.
Although Bill and Ted get immortalized as the Two Great Ones, hopefully, Rufus gets his fair share of immortality for his role in that masterpiece for his faith in those two remained unbreakable. In the series when De Nomolos is given the opportunity to twist and rewrite history so he inherits all of Bill and Ted's power which leaves Rufus unemployed and a failure, he still manages to appear and inspire Bill and Ted to set things right despite the twisted and depressing future they find themselves in. Although Rufus won't reappear in the upcoming Bill and Ted: Face the Music, we're glad to hear that the late George Carlin will somehow make a cameo in the film. Although this comic series has been deemed non-canonical along with the other comic and television-related series, it's just good to see someone give credit where credit is due. One can only imagine what Bill and Ted, and essentially human history, would have been like if Rufus didn't appear in that Circle K parking lot all those years ago. It would have been most heinous, indeed. Last but not least to Rufus and George Carlin, you are missed and you truly were one of the greatest...