The Moment
Jimmy Kimmel’s friend and former bandleader, Cleto Escobedo III, has died at 59. This week, details of his reported cause of death surfaced: cardiogenic shock, with multiple underlying and contributing conditions noted on a death certificate obtained by the entertainment press.
Kimmel paid tribute to Escobedo on his Nov. 11 broadcast, breaking down while remembering decades of friendship and music. The late-night host also canceled a taping earlier this month to be at Escobedo’s side and paused shows midweek following his passing.
For those of us who’ve watched Jimmy Kimmel Live! since its early days, Cleto wasn’t just the guy with the sax—he was the show’s heartbeat. Hearing the medical language is sobering; seeing Kimmel grieve on-air is what made it real.
The Take
Let’s be honest: when the words start piling up—cardiogenic shock, sepsis, graft-versus-host disease—it can feel like reading a car manual during a thunderstorm. Necessary, but it doesn’t hold you the way music does.
The reality is simpler and sadder. A beloved musician and day-one friend died too young. The late-night band isn’t just a band; it’s family woven into a show’s DNA. If Johnny had Doc and Paul has the World’s Most Dangerous Band, Jimmy had Cleto and the Cletones. That chemistry is why viewers felt like they knew him—even if they never Googled his last name.
I’m glad the medical context is out there—it helps people understand that serious, overlapping health conditions can snowball. But I don’t need every line of a certificate to know the headline: a show lost its sound, and a friend lost his brother-in-arms.
One more thing: we should remember that “reported cause” is still that—reported. Until a family statement lands, the compassionate move is to take in the facts without turning grief into a scavenger hunt.
Receipts
Confirmed
- Kimmel honored Escobedo on the Nov. 11 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, speaking emotionally about their lifelong friendship (on-air remarks).
- Kimmel canceled a taping earlier in the month and paused midweek shows following Escobedo’s death (official show scheduling/announcements).
- Escobedo led Cleto and the Cletones on the show for nearly 23 years; his father performed alongside him on sax (show history and on-air acknowledgments).
- Age at death: 59 (on-air tribute and public remembrances).
Unverified/Reported
- A death certificate cited cardiogenic shock as the immediate cause, with additional underlying and contributing conditions including vasodilatory shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, alcoholic cirrhosis, sepsis, graft-versus-host disease, immunosuppression, chronic kidney disease, and pneumonia (document details reported by entertainment press).
- His passing followed complications related to a liver transplant (reported by entertainment press earlier this week).
Cleto Escobedo III, Jimmy The cause of death for Cleto Escobedo III, Jimmy Kimmel Live! bandleader, was revealed as cardiogenic shock with underlying health issues. A huge loss. #CletoEscobedo #JimmyKimmelLive #RIP https://t.co/iEaqUCkR3F pic.twitter.com/J84SoQfS4w
— Nova State (@state65129) November 15, 2025
Medical note: The Mayo Clinic describes cardiogenic shock as a life-threatening condition in which the heart can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.
Backstory (For Casual Readers)
Cleto Escobedo III wasn’t just a bandleader—he was Kimmel’s childhood friend who helped set the show’s tone from day one. With Cleto and the Cletones anchoring nearly every episode for more than two decades, he brought a playful, soulful sax sound that became part of late-night’s modern fabric. His father, Cleto Escobedo Jr., often played beside him, a rare and charming two-generation presence on network TV.
What’s Next
No public memorial details have been announced at press time. Expect the show to continue honoring Escobedo in ways that feel organic—stories, song choices, maybe a fuller musical salute when the time is right. Watch for any family statement or formal obituary, which could clarify the medical timeline and memorial plans.
For fans, the most meaningful tribute may be simple: revisit a favorite performance, or that easy back-and-forth he had with Kimmel. The laughter is still there.
Sources
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC) — on-air tribute, Nov. 11, 2025.
- Official show scheduling/announcements regarding canceled tapings, Nov. 6 and Nov. 12–13, 2025.
- Publicly filed death certificate details as reported by entertainment press, Nov. 14, 2025.
- Mayo Clinic — Cardiogenic shock overview, accessed Nov. 15, 2025.
Your turn: How would you like to see late-night honor Cleto—quiet nods across episodes, or one big musical celebration that lets the band lead the way?
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