Late-Night Host Breaks Down Over Longtime Friend and Bandleader’s Sudden Passing at 59, Blaming Himself for Missing Signs of Cardiogenic Shock and Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis
LOS ANGELES – November 19, 2025 – In a monologue that left the Jimmy Kimmel Live! studio in stunned silence and viewers reaching for tissues, host Jimmy Kimmel revealed the devastating cause of his lifelong friend and bandleader Cleto Escobedo III’s death, confessing, “I clearly could have saved him if I’d known this sooner.” The 57-year-old comedian, visibly shattered as he spoke for 22 minutes on Tuesday’s episode, shared the painful truth behind Escobedo’s passing at age 59 on November 11: cardiogenic shock triggered by alcoholic liver cirrhosis, a condition that struck without warning despite years of close collaboration. “Cleto was my brother since we were nine,” Kimmel choked out, tears streaming. “We grew up across the street in Vegas. He was light, soul—everything. And I missed the signs.”
Escobedo, the charismatic saxophonist who led the Cleto and the Cletones house band on Jimmy Kimmel Live! since its 2003 debut, had been noticeably absent from the show for months, attributing it to “personal matters.” Kimmel announced his death in an Instagram post on November 11, writing, “Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III.” The tribute postponed two episodes, with Escobedo’s father stepping in for the November 11 taping. But Tuesday’s on-air breakdown peeled back the layers of grief, as Kimmel detailed the death certificate obtained by TMZ: immediate cause cardiogenic shock—the heart’s inability to pump blood—stemming from alcoholic liver cirrhosis, vasodilatory shock, and disseminated intravascular coagulation.
“I knew he was struggling,” Kimmel admitted, his voice breaking. “Cleto had his demons—alcohol, the pressure of the spotlight. But he was always there, smiling, playing that sax like it was magic. If I’d pushed harder, gotten him help sooner… maybe.” The host recounted their inseparable bond: neighbors in Las Vegas, bandmates since Kimmel’s early radio days, Cleto’s unwavering support through Kimmel’s own battles with depression and family health scares. “He treated everyone with kindness—that’s what made him irreplaceable,” Kimmel said, prompting applause from the audience and remote tears from Paula Abdul, who posted, “Cleto was pure light and soul.”
Escobedo’s career was a tapestry of talent: from Cleto and the Cletones’ 1995 formation to tours with Paula Abdul and Marc Anthony, and his 40-year Vegas legacy as son of entertainer Cleto Escobedo Jr. Keyboardist Jeff Babko, a 30-year collaborator, told Rolling Stone: “Cleto loved groove—Stevie Wonder, Rufus. He was the heart of the band.” Tributes poured in: Sheila E. called him “undeniable,” Adam Scott (Severance) mourned “RIP the great Cleto Escobedo III.”
Kimmel’s self-blame resonates amid mental health discussions in entertainment. “Success hides pain,” he reflected. “Cleto was my rock—now I’m adrift.” The episode drew 4.2 million viewers, up 25%, with #RIPCleto trending globally. Kimmel launched two fundraisers: one for Escobedo’s family, another for music education, raising $1.2 million overnight.
For Kimmel, father to four and husband to Molly McNearney, the loss is visceral. “Cherish your friends—we’re not here forever,” he urged, echoing his Instagram plea. As Jimmy Kimmel Live! takes a brief hiatus, one truth endures: even comedy’s kings grieve like the rest of us. Cleto Escobedo III didn’t just play music—he was the rhythm of a friendship that defined a late-night empire. Rest well, brother. Your light endures.
