A tearful Jimmy Kimmel delivered an emotional monologue for his late friend and Jimmy Kimmel Live! bandleader, Cleto Escobedo II, who died at 59 from complications related to a liver transplant, calling him a “great friend” and the loss “devastating.”
November 12, 2025: Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel opened his show on Monday night with one of the most difficult monologues of his career, delivering a tearful tribute to his lifelong friend and the bandleader of his show’s house band, Cleto Escobedo II.
Cleto Escobedo II, who led Cleto and the Cletones for the duration of Jimmy Kimmel Live! since 2003, passed away in the early morning hours of November 11 at the age of 59 due to complications following a liver transplant, according to reports.
Kimmel’s Emotional Monologue
The usually witty host struggled to maintain his composure as he addressed the devastating loss, referring to the difficulty of his address.
Jimmy Kimmel: “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’s the hardest. It’s just not fair.”
Kimmel described the team at Jimmy Kimmel Live! as “devastated” by the sudden passing of the musician, who was a cornerstone of the show’s identity.
A Lifelong Bond
The relationship between Kimmel and Escobedo II extended far beyond their professional partnership. The two grew up together, and Kimmel shared the profound nature of their lifelong bond, which began when he was just nine years old.
Kimmel had earlier broken the news of his friend’s death on Instagram, where he wrote:
Jimmy Kimmel (Instagram Post): “To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement… The fact that we got to work together every day is a dream neither of us could ever have imagined would come true. Cleto was a great friend, father, son, musician and man.”
Cleto Escobedo II was an integral part of the show’s success, providing the musical energy and comedic foil that helped launch Jimmy Kimmel Live! into a late-night fixture. His son, Cleto Escobedo III, is also a band member and has served as a fill-in bandleader in the past.