Jimmy Kimmel’s Friend and Bandleader Cleto Escobedo III’s Cause of Death Revealed
The entertainment world continues to mourn the loss of Cleto Escobedo III — longtime bandleader of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and one of Jimmy Kimmel’s closest childhood friends — as newly released documents confirm the official cause of his death. Escobedo, who died on November 11, 2025, at age 59, passed away from a complex series of medical complications, according to his death certificate.
The immediate cause of death was identified as cardiogenic shock, a severe condition in which the heart is unable to pump sufficient blood throughout the body. The certificate also listed vasodilatory shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), a dangerous clotting disorder, as underlying causes. Additional contributing factors included pneumonia, chronic kidney disease, sepsis, immunosuppression, graft-versus-host disease, and alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver.
Reports note that Escobedo had undergone a liver transplant in September, only two months before his death, and had been placed on life support in the days leading up to his passing. Medical records show he was receiving ECMO — extracorporeal membrane oxygenation — a last-resort life-support treatment used when the heart and lungs can no longer function properly.
Escobedo’s death sent shockwaves through the late-night television community, where he was known not only as a talented saxophonist and musical director but also as a warm, grounding presence within the Jimmy Kimmel Live! family. For Kimmel, the loss was deeply personal. The host shared an emotional tribute, calling Escobedo his “lifelong friend” and recalling that the two had been “inseparable” since childhood, growing up together in Las Vegas long before television entered their lives.
Escobedo became an integral part of Kimmel’s ABC talk show when it launched in 2003. Known for his easygoing humor, musical versatility, and rapport with both the host and celebrity guests, he helped shape the show’s signature tone. Over the years, fans came to know him not just as a musician but as an essential on-screen personality — affectionately addressed simply as “Cleto.”
Kimmel also paid tribute to Escobedo’s father, Cleto Escobedo Jr., who worked alongside his son as part of the show’s band for many years. Their relationship symbolized what made the Jimmy Kimmel Live! band so unique: a blend of musicianship and family that resonated with audiences.
Following the release of Escobedo’s cause of death, tributes have continued to pour in from colleagues, friends, and viewers who admired his talent and warmth. Many expressed shock at the complexity of his health issues, noting that Escobedo had continued performing publicly even as he faced serious medical challenges.
Escobedo’s legacy extends far beyond late-night television. He was celebrated for his contributions to music, his mentorship of younger musicians, and the joy he brought to audiences for more than two decades. While the official details of his passing provide clarity, they also underscore the immense health battle he quietly endured.
As Kimmel and the show’s team continue to grieve, fans remain united in honoring the life, humor, and music of a man whose presence defined an era of late-night entertainment.
