Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel delivered one of the most emotional monologues of his career on Tuesday night, as he paid tribute to his longtime friend and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” bandleader, Cleto Escobedo III, who passed away earlier that day at the age of 59.
Fighting back tears, Kimmel described Escobedo as a “great friend, father, son, musician, and man,” telling viewers, “We’ve been on the air for almost 23 years, and I’ve had to do some hard monologues along the way — but this one is the hardest.”
Kimmel and Escobedo’s friendship stretched back decades — all the way to their childhood in Las Vegas. They grew up together, played music side by side, and eventually worked together every night on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where Escobedo led the house band, Cleto and the Cletones.
In an emotional post shared on Instagram earlier that day, Kimmel wrote, “We lost a great friend, father, son, musician, and man — my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III. To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement.”
He went on to reflect on their lifelong bond, adding, “Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine years old. The fact that we got to work together every day was a dream we never imagined would come true.”
Kimmel ended his message by asking fans to “cherish your friends” and to keep Escobedo’s wife, children, and parents in their prayers.
Following the heartbreaking news, tributes poured in from across Hollywood. Stars like Eric Stonestreet, Wanda Sykes, Johnny Knoxville, Howie Mandel, and Paula Abdul all expressed their sorrow and shared kind words about Escobedo’s warmth and talent.
Abdul posted on Instagram, “His talent and energy were undeniable, and he went on to have an amazing career, reuniting with his best friend Jimmy Kimmel as the bandleader on Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Escobedo’s passing leaves a deep void in the late-night world — not only as a gifted musician but as the heart of Kimmel’s show and one of the host’s closest friends.
Kimmel summed it up best during his tearful monologue: “It’s just not fair.”