Cleto Escobedo III, lifelong friend of Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Kimmel Live band leader dies at 59; cause of death revealed as his death certificate surfaces; all you need to know

Cleto Escobedo III, Jimmy Kimmel’s longtime friend and bandleader in his late-night show Jimmy Kimmel Live, passed away on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. He died at the age of 59 after his heart failed to pump enough blood to keep him alive. TMZ obtained Cleto's death certificate listing multiple reasons that led to Escobedo’s death.

According to the certificate, cardiogenic shock was the immediate cause of death. Other underlying causes included vasodilatory shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. Jimmy Kimmel had confirmed the demise of Cleto Escobedo III. He was absent from "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" for months after falling ill.

“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,” Kimmel said in an Instagram post.

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Jimmy Kimmel and Cleto Escobedo III's friendship

Escobedo and Jimmy grew up together in Las Vegas, and when Kimmel got his late-night gig in 2003, he ensured that Escobedo would be the leader of Cleto and the Cletones because he felt that he didn't have better chemistry with anyone else, TMZ reported. He was an entertainer who played music for 40 years.

In another Instagram post, Kimmel revealed that two fundraisers have been started to celebrate Escobedo’s life. “Cleto was always kind and eager to help others. As we mourn his loss, we have started two fundraisers to celebrate his life and give back,” he said in the post.

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The document also revealed several other conditions that contributed to Escobedo's death, including sepsis, graft versus host disease, immunosuppression, chronic kidney disease, and pneumonia.

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Cardiogenic shock

According to Mayo Clinic, cardiogenic shock is a life-threatening condition. It happens when the heart suddenly cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. It is most often caused by a large or severe heart attack.