is paying tribute to his lifelong friend and Bandleader, Cleto Escobedo III, after the musician died at 59.
“Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III,” Kimmel, 57, captioned an on Tuesday, November 11. “To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement.”
Kimmel noted that he and Escobedo III “have been inseparable” since he was 9 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,” Kimmel concluded. “Cherish your friends and please keep Cleto’s wife, children and parents in your prayers.”
Several of Kimmel’s famous friends were quick to flood the comments section with tributes of their own.
“So sorry man,” actor Ike Barinholtz wrote. “Love you Cleto.”
Comedian Jeff Ross added, “Love you Love to his incredible family.”
News of Escobedo III’s death comes days after an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! set to air on Thursday, November 6, . David Duchovny, Joe Keery and Madison Beer were set as the show’s guests.
Entertainment Weekly reported days later that the cancellation was due to a “personal matter,” but no further information was shared at the time. Jimmy Kimmel Live! , and details about the canceled episode were not revealed.
Jimmy Kimmel, Cleto Escobedo III. Richard Cartwright / Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
The canceled episode earlier this month comes two months after Kimmel’s show was pulled off the air for the talk show host’s about Charlie Kirk’s death.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be preempted indefinitely,” an ABC spokesperson told Us Weekly on September 17.
Conservative political commentator Kirk was shot and killed at age 31 on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University. In a subsequent episode of his show, Kimmel spoke about Tyler Robinson, who was arrested for Kirk’s murder.
“The MAGA Gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said at the time. “In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.”
He also referenced President Donald Trump’s reaction to Kirk’s death, saying: “He’s at the fourth stage of grief: construction.”
Deal of the Day
Days after his suspension,
“It’s been overwhelming. I’ve heard from a lot of people over the last six days. I’ve heard from all the people in the last six days. Everyone I have ever known has reached out 10 or 11 times,” he said, in part, during the September 22 show. “You supported our show [and] cared enough to do something about it to make your voices heard so that mine could be heard and I will never forget it.”
He added, Kimmel continued, “I posted a message on Instagram on the day [Charlie] was killed sending my love to his family asking for compassion, and I meant it and I still do. Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was a deeply disturbed individual. That was actually the opposite of the point I was trying to make, but I understand to some that felt either ill-timed or unclear or maybe both.”
