Jimmy Kimmel Heartbroken After Losing His Best Friend and Band Leader Cleto Escobedo III

Jimmy Kimmel is grieving the loss of his lifelong friend and longtime band leader, Cleto Escobedo III, who passed away at the age of 59 due to complications following a liver transplant. The news has left the late-night host and his team heartbroken, and led to the postponement of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” last week.

A Friendship That Spanned Decades

Kimmel first met Cleto in January 1977, when his family moved from Brooklyn to Las Vegas. Cleto lived across the street, and the two quickly became inseparable. Their bond was forged in childhood, filled with pranks, laughter, and the kind of mischief only best friends can share.
“I would sleep over his house almost every night. One summer, 33 nights in a row,” Kimmel recalled. “We’d make prank calls all night long… We just would laugh and laugh and laugh and we loved doing funny things.”

The friendship extended to their families, with Cleto’s father also joining in the fun. “His dad is very funny. We would call cabs and pizzas and Chinese food to our neighbors’ house. We were just tormenting our neighborhood,” Kimmel shared.

From Childhood Friends to Creative Partners

As adults, Kimmel and Cleto continued their partnership, bringing their shared sense of humor and camaraderie to television. Cleto and the Cletones have been the house band for “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” since its premiere in 2003, with Cleto’s father also performing in the band.

Reflecting on their journey, Kimmel wrote on Instagram,
“To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement. Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was 9 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.”

Cherished Memories

Kimmel shared fond memories and old photographs of their time together, including childhood moments with musical instruments and humorous anecdotes. “Here’s me and Cleto. Cleto has a saxophone and my clarinet. This is part of the reason I kept my virginity for so long,” Kimmel joked, displaying the warmth and humor that defined their friendship.

He reminisced about “the great cake compromise of 1978” and their many adventures together, underscoring how much Cleto meant to him both personally and professionally.

A Lasting Legacy

Cleto Escobedo III’s passing is not just a loss for Jimmy Kimmel, but for the entire “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” family and viewers who enjoyed the music and spirit he brought to the show. His legacy lives on in the laughter, music, and memories shared with his best friend.

As Kimmel poignantly stated,
“My best friend since I was nine. Cleto.”

The entertainment world joins Jimmy Kimmel in mourning the loss of a talented musician and cherished friend, whose impact will be felt for years to come.