Jimmy Kimmel Gets Emotional Remembering His Lifelong Friend and Band Leader Cleto Escobedo: 'We Are Devastated'
- - Jimmy Kimmel Gets Emotional Remembering His Lifelong Friend and Band Leader Cleto Escobedo: 'We Are Devastated'
Grace GalanteNovember 12, 2025 at 12:49 AM
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Photo by Randy Holmes on Getty Images
Jimmy Kimmel is mourning the loss of his lifelong friend Cleto Escobedo III.
On Tuesday, Nov. 11, the Jimmy Kimmel Live! host announced the death of his childhood friend and leader of his show's band Cleto and the Cletones via Instagram.
“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," Kimmel wrote. "Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine years old. The fact that we got to work together every day is a dream neither of us could ever have imagined would come true. Cherish your friends and please keep Cleto’s wife, children and parents in your prayers.”
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The comedian also addressed Escobedo's passing during the opening monologue of his show that night.
"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," Kimmel said through tears before sharing a story from the pair's childhood.
"Everyone loves Cleto... everyone here at the show," he continued. "We are devastated by this. It's not... It's just not fair."
Kimmel then announced that the Wednesday, Nov. 12, and Thursday, Nov. 13 episodes of Jimmy Kimmel Live! were canceled, and that he only went through with the Nov. 11 episode because Escobedo wouldn't want him to miss interviewing guest Eddie Murphy.
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The Nov. 11 episode also made sure to include both of Escobedo's parents. His father, Cleto Escobado Sr., is a member of Cleto and the Cletones and performed with them as usual, while Escobedo's mother sat in the audience.
Kimmel and Escobedo first met while living across the street from one another in Las Vegas, Nevada as children. The two became friends at age of nine and were inseparable ever since.
News of Escobedo's passing comes days after the Nov. 6 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! was postponed due to a "personal matter" with no further details given.
Escobedo's cause of death is currently unknown.
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This story was originally reported by Parade on Nov 12, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
