The music and entertainment world is in mourning following the death of Cleto Escobedo III, the revered bandleader of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and a childhood friend of the host himself. The specific medical reasons for his passing have now been made public.
A Lifelong Friendship and Musical Partnership
Cleto Escobedo III passed away on November 11, 2025, at the age of 59. He was the charismatic leader of Cleto and the Cletones, the house band for Jimmy Kimmel Live! since its very first episode aired in 2003. His connection with Jimmy Kimmel, 58, ran far deeper than their professional relationship, having been inseparable friends since they were children growing up in Las Vegas.
According to official documents obtained by TMZ, the primary cause of death was cardiogenic shock, a life-threatening condition where the heart suddenly fails to pump enough blood to sustain the body. The report detailed several underlying conditions that contributed to his death, including vasodilatory shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver.
Understanding the Medical Circumstances
The death certificate reportedly listed other significant health factors, such as sepsis, graft versus host disease, an immunosuppressed state, chronic kidney disease, and pneumonia. These complex medical issues paint a picture of a prolonged and serious health battle.
As explained by the Mayo Clinic, cardiogenic shock is a critical emergency most often caused by a severe heart attack. The document confirmed that Cleto, who had been an entertainer for four decades, was cremated following his death. He had been absent from the late-night show for several months prior to his passing after falling ill.
Heartfelt Tributes from a Devastated Friend
Jimmy Kimmel confirmed the devastating news in an emotional tribute posted on Instagram. He wrote, "Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III. To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement."
He reflected on their profound bond, stating, "Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine years old." Kimmel described the opportunity to work alongside his friend every day as a dream come true for both of them and asked the public to keep Cleto's wife, children, and parents in their prayers.
The comedian then faced one of the most difficult moments of his career, opening his Tuesday night show with a sombre monologue. He told viewers, "We've been on the air for almost 23 years, and I've had to do some hard monologues along the way, but this one's the hardest because late last night, early this morning, we lost someone very special who was much too young."
In a moving segment, Kimmel shared the origin story of their friendship, which began in 1977 when his family moved to the Spring Valley area of Las Vegas. Cleto lived just a few doors down. "He was a year older than me. His name was Cleto, but we called him Junior," Jimmy recalled, noting they were so close that he once slept over at Cleto's house for 33 consecutive nights.
He praised Cleto as a "phenomenal sax player from a very young age" and a "child prodigy" who earned standing ovations while still in junior high school. This musical talent was a family legacy, inherited from his father, Cleto Escobedo II, a saxophonist who later joined his son's band on the show.
In the wake of this loss, Jimmy Kimmel Live! cancelled its scheduled shows for Wednesday and Thursday. Kimmel has also launched two fundraising initiatives: one for the UCLA Medical Centre, where Cleto received care, and another for The Animal Foundation, honouring his friend's love of animals.
