Since its debut in 2003, Jimmy Kimmel Live! has established a style that still has audiences tuning in even now amid the 2025 TV schedule. The titular host aside, there are other members of that crew who’ve proven to be as invaluable to the show. Bandleader Cleto Escobedo III is one of those people, having provided music for the series since its debut. Sadly, it’s been confirmed that Escobedo has died at the age of 59, and Kimmel broke the news with an emotional tribute to his longtime friend and collaborator.
Kimmel took to Instagram to confirm Escobedo passed away earlier today, November 11, though he did not disclose his cause of death. The late-night host – who’d known his late bandleader since they were kids – shared a photo of his friend working on set. Via his message, the “heartbroken” Kimmel opened up about how he and Escobedo had been “inseparable” since childhood and shared what it was like working with him on the talk show:
