4t In a moment that left millions of viewers reaching for tissues, Jimmy Kimmel completely broke down in uncontrollable tears on the Jimmy Kimmel Live! stage last night, his voice cracking as he paid an achingly personal tribute to his childhood soulmate and longtime bandleader, Cleto Escobedo III—revealing that the show will take “the next couple of nights off” to mourn the devastating and untimely death of a man who was far more than just a colleague, but family to everyone in the room.
Jimmy Kimmel opened Tuesday’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” with a heartfelt tribute to his childhood friend and late-night bandleader Cleto Escobedo III, who died Tuesday at 59.
“We’ve been on the air for almost 23 years, and I’ve had to do some hard monologues along the way,” Kimmel said, crying. “But this one’s the hardest because late last night, early this morning, we lost someone very special who was much too young to go, and I’d like to tell you about him, if you don’t mind.”
As Kimmel recalled his lifelong friendship with Escobedo, photos from their childhood together in Las Vegas appeared on screen. Escobedo’s father, who is in Kimmel’s band, and mother were in attendance Tuesday night. They were visibly moved by the tribute.
“There was a boy who lived on my block. He lived across the street and two houses over. He was a little over a year older than me. His name was Cleto, but we all called him junior,” Kimmel explained. “Eventually, we met and became friends. And not just regular friends. We became 24/7, ‘Mom, please let me sleep over, please,’ kind of friends. One summer, I slept over at the Escobedo house 33 nights in a row. My mother used to make me get down on my knees and beg to sleep at his house in front of him. And I would gladly do it, because we were never bored. We were always up to something.”
Kimmel remembered his lifelong companion through stories of childhood mischief before explaining how he brought Escobedo on to “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Kimmel said Escobedo was his first choice to lead his band after landing the show in 2003, although he admitted his pitch of, “‘My best friend from growing up plays the saxophone, he could lead the band,’ didn’t sound good.” Despite his reservations, Escobedo and his dad nailed the audition.
“They played ‘Pick Up the Pieces’ by the Average White Band,” Kimmel remembered. “Lloyd saw it. He saw the father and son. He said, ‘I love it!’ And he got up and left. And we’ve been working together every day for almost 23 years.”
Kimmel later added, “Everyone here at the show we are devastated by this. It’s just not fair. He was the nicest, most humble, kind and always funny person.”
Kimmel concluded his monologue by thanking the audience. He also noted that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will take “the next couple of nights off” in the wake of Escobedo’s death.
Kimmel had to abruptly cancel Thursday’s episode in order to tend to Escobedo as the musician’s condition took a turn for the worst. The host shared the news of Escobedo’s death on Instagram, writing, “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.”
This week’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” episodes have been touted as ’80s-themed; Tuesday’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” included Eddie Murphy, Morgan Fairchild and musical guest Men at Work.
That isn’t the first time Kimmel has taken a personal day; perhaps most notably, he took time off as his young son Billy underwent treatment for a heart defect, which required multiple surgeries. (Billy is now said to be doing well and fully recovered.)
Kimmel is known for his close loyalty to friends and family — many of whom he employs on the show — and given that the situation involved one of his best friends, it’s no surprise that he put them first and opted to pause the Thursday show.
Watch Kimmel’s entire tribute below.
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