Celebrity3 min(s) read
Jimmy Kimmel bursts into tears during monologue about childhood friend and show bandleader Cleto Escobedo after his sudden death aged 59
Jimmy Kimmel broke down in tears during his opening monologue on Tuesday night after the death of his longtime friend and house band leader Cleto Escobedo III. The 59-year-old musician passed away earlier that day. Kimmel, 57, was visibly emotional as he called the loss “just not fair” in front of a live studio audience.
The two shared a lifelong bond, having grown up on the same street in Las Vegas. That childhood friendship carried into adulthood when Escobedo became the leader of the late-night show’s house band, Cleto and the Cletones, from the beginning of Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2003.
He spoke from the heart about their lifelong bond
Kimmel began the show by saying, “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 because late last night, early this morning, we lost someone very special who was much too young.”
He continued, “Everyone loves Cleto... everyone here at the show. We are devastated by this. It's not… It's just not fair. He was the nicest, most humble, kind and always funny person. There is no one in my life I felt more comfortable with.”
Cleto Escobedo III has died. Credit: Ethan Miller / Getty
Cleto's father, Cleto Escobedo Sr., performed with the band that night, and Cleto’s mother was in the audience. But Kimmel confirmed the show would not air on Wednesday or Thursday following the loss. “We're going to take the next couple of nights off,” he said.
A personal tribute on social media and a heartfelt ask
Kimmel also honored his friend on Instagram, posting: “Early this morning, 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.
"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.”
Jimmy Kimmel broke down in tears during his opening monologue on Tuesday night after the death of his longtime friend and house band leader Cleto Escobedo III. Credit: ABC
The show continued Tuesday night in part because Escobedo would’ve wanted it to - Eddie Murphy was a scheduled guest, and the team felt it was right to carry on that one night in his honor.