Jimmy Kimmel Breaks Down in Tears Honoring Late Friend and Band Leader Cleto Escobedo III

Jimmy Kimmel paid an emotional tribute to his longtime friend and bandleader, Cleto Escobedo III, during Tuesday’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Escobedo passed away earlier that day at the age of 59.

The host struggled to hold back tears as he shared memories of their friendship, which began when they were children in Las Vegas.

“We’ve been on the air for almost 23 years, and I’ve had to do some hard monologues along the way,” Kimmel said, visibly emotional. “But this one’s the hardest because late last night, early this morning, we lost someone very special who was much too young to go, and I’d like to tell you about him, if you don’t mind.”

Photos of Kimmel and Escobedo from their youth appeared on screen as the host spoke. Escobedo’s parents were in the audience and clearly moved by the tribute. Kimmel recalled how close he and Escobedo were growing up. “There was a boy who lived on my block. He lived across the street and two houses over. He was a little over a year older than me. His name was Cleto, but we all called him junior,” Kimmel said.

“Eventually, we met and became friends. And not just regular friends. We became 24/7, ‘Mom, please let me sleep over, please,’ kind of friends. One summer, I slept over at the Escobedo house 33 nights in a row. My mother used to make me get down on my knees and beg to sleep at his house in front of him. And I would gladly do it, because we were never bored. We were always up to something.”

Kimmel also shared how Escobedo became the bandleader when the show started in 2003. Despite Kimmel’s unusual pitch, “My best friend from growing up plays the saxophone, he could lead the band” Escobedo and his father auditioned successfully, performing “Pick Up the Pieces” by Average White Band.

“Lloyd saw it. He saw the father and son. He said, ‘I love it!’ And he got up and left. And we’ve been working together every day for almost 23 years,” Kimmel said.

He described Escobedo as a kind, humble, and funny person. “Everyone here at the show we are devastated by this. It’s just not fair,” he said. Kimmel also announced that the show would take a couple of nights off in honor of his friend.

Earlier in the week, Kimmel canceled another episode when Escobedo’s health took a sudden turn for the worse.

The host shared the news of his friend’s passing on Instagram, writing, “To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement. 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.”

Tuesday’s show had an ’80s theme and featured guests including Eddie Murphy, Morgan Fairchild, and the band Men at Work. But the main focus of the episode was Kimmel’s tribute to Escobedo, highlighting a friendship that lasted a lifetime.

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