I can share what’s publicly known, but note that as of now the exact cause of Cleto Escobedo III’s death has not been officially disclosed by his family or representatives.
- Cleto Escobedo III was the long-time bandleader for Jimmy Kimmel Live! and led the group Cleto and the Cletones. He passed away on November 11, 2025, at age 59, with Jimmy Kimmel publicly expressing deep sorrow on social media. [source reports consistent with this timeline and tribute statements]
- Media coverage around his death has cited a reported cause related to complications from a liver transplant, but none of these reports have been officially confirmed by family or the show. In short, the precise medical cause has not been publicly verified.
How the information is presented in the sources:
- Primary announcements: Jimmy Kimmel’s public statement announcing Escobedo’s death and highlighting the close friendship and professional collaboration between them.
- Secondary reporting: Outlets citing Page Six about potential transplant-related complications, with multiple outlets noting that no official cause had been released.
If you’d like, I can look up the latest official statements or provide a timeline of public statements and tributes from Kimmel and colleagues. I can also summarize what is known about Cleto’s career and impact on the show.
