Jimmy Kimmel’s longtime bandleader and childhood friend, Cleto Escobedo III, died at age 59. Kimmel announced the death in a heartfelt post, noting they had been inseparable since childhood and asking fans to keep Cleto’s family in their prayers. The exact cause of death has not been officially released, though multiple reports cited complications related to a liver transplant or other health issues in the weeks prior. Key details

• Who: Cleto Escobedo III, bandleader of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and a lifelong friend of Jimmy Kimmel.
• When: Announced November 2025 (specific date reported varies across outlets).
• Age: 59.
• What happened: Death announced by Jimmy Kimmel; the family’s privacy is requested.
• Official cause: Not publicly confirmed by family or show at the time of reporting; rumors mention transplant-related complications in some outlets.

Notes on context

• Cleto and the Cletones served as the show’s house band since 2003, and Cleto had a close, decades-long friendship with Kimmel that began in childhood.

• Many outlets reported that Kimmel described the loss as heartbreak and asked fans to pray for Cleto’s wife, children, and parents, and to cherish their own friends.

If you’d like, I can pull the most recent official statements or reliable tributes and summarize them with citations.