Jimmy Kimmel gives a tearful tribute to his late band member Cleto Escobedo III after his death, honoring his memory during his monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live! On November 11, 2025, Escobedo died at the age of 59. He had been the band leader on Jimmy Kimmel Live! since the show began in 2003, and had been Kimmel's lifelong friend.

Reported by E! News , Kimmel paid tribute to Escobedo just hours after his death on his latest episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! The host discussed how the pair met growing up in the same area of Las Vegas. He also explained how Escobedo was the only choice he felt was perfect to lead his band when his show began, working together every day since:

We had so many adventures. We would laugh so hard. We had our own language that almost no one else un

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