Jimmy Kimmel Cancels Shows After Cleto Escobedo III’s Passing

Jimmy Kimmel stepped out with his wife, Molly McNearney, in Los Angeles on Friday following the death of his childhood friend and bandleader, Cleto Escobedo III.

Just days after abruptly canceling a week of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the late-night host, 57, kept a low profile in a slate button-down, jeans, dark sunglasses and a baseball cap as he walked beside McNearney after making a quick stop at Bank of America. 

The pair appeared subdued but close, staying side-by-side as they braved the rain and continued down the sidewalk. 

At one point, Kimmel briefly stepped away toward a nearby planter before rejoining his wife, maintained a quiet, supportive presence.

The outing comes shortly after Kimmel delivered a deeply emotional on-air tribute to Escobedo, 54, who had been a fixture on the show for more than two decades and one of his closest friends. 

His death prompted an outpouring of grief from fans, musicians, and Hollywood colleagues, all mourning the warmth, humor and generosity he brought to the program.

‘We’ve been on the air for almost 23 years, and I’ve had to do some hard monologues along the way – but this one’s the hardest,’ Kimmel said during Tuesday’s broadcast, visibly choking up as he honored the man who served as godfather to his son Kevin.

‘Late last night, early this morning, we lost someone very special who was much too young to go,’ he continued. ‘Everyone loves Cleto… it’s just not fair. He was the nicest, most humble, kind and always funny person.’

Kimmel went on to reflect on their decades-long friendship, recalling how they met after his family moved to Las Vegas and quickly became inseparable.

One summer, he said, he stayed at Escobedo’s house ’33 nights in a row,’ filling their days with wiffle ball, Nerf football, pranks and even the occasional childhood mischief, involving Hot Wheels and matches.

He also shared stories of Escobedo teaching him about the birds and the bees, ‘half of which was wrong,’ he joked and revealed that when ABC hired him in 2002, Escobedo was the only person he envisioned leading the show’s band. 

‘We grew up watching Dave and Paul, it had to be him,’ he said.

Kimmel invited Escobedo’s parents, Cleto Sr., 82, and Sylvia, 80, to the emotional taping, calling them ‘second parents’ and praising the tight-knit family for their unconditional love. He thanked the medical team at UCLA Medical Center for caring for his friend in his final days.

‘There is no one in my life I felt more comfortable with,’ Kimmel said. ‘We were the best men at each other’s weddings. Cherish your friends. We’re not here forever.’

After delivering the tribute, Kimmel announced he would be taking the rest of the week off to grieve.

Fans flooded the show’s YouTube page with praise for the heartfelt memorial.

‘No one has ever delivered a better tribute to a lifelong friend,’ one commenter wrote. 

Another added, ‘I’m 79 and was sobbing listening to Jimmy share his story.’

Another praised Kimmel for his being ‘manly enough to cry and share his feelings.’

In a similar vein, another said, ‘Jimmy is the only talk show that wears his heart on his sleeve. What a beautiful dedication to his friend.’

One commenter said of the friendship between Jimmy and Cleto: ‘That’s not a friend. That was a brother like no other. RIP.’

Cleto is survived by wife Lori and two children. 

Paula Abdul, who toured with Escobedo in the 1990s, also shared a moving tribute, calling him ‘pure light and soul’ whose talent was ‘undeniable.’

Kimmel honored his best friend one more time in an Instagram post, writing: ‘To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement… Cherish your friends and please keep Cleto’s wife, children and parents in your prayers.’