General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJimmy Kimmel gave a beautifully funny and tearful
eulogy for his friend and bandleader, Cleto Escobedo III. Cleto's family were in the audience and Cleto's father in the band.
He's taking the next few days off. The monolog is 22 minutes and it's a wonderful tribute. Jimmy's a good guy.
malaise
(290,995 posts)Rec
2naSalit
(98,839 posts)Has a tender heart and is full of compassion for others, he's truly one of the good ones. I didn't like him in his early days of "jackass" and whatnot but he has become a standup guy in every way, which is laudable.
Very sad about his friend who seems to ( from listening to this monologue) died from some sort of illness as it sounds as though he has been in the hospital for weeks at least.
Tanuki
(16,172 posts)..."While there has yet to be an official statement from Cletos family or the shows team, multiple reports, including OnlyMyHealth, suggest that Escobedos death was linked to complications following a liver transplant. Sources close to the musician described his health as fragile in recent months, though specifics are still unclear. The absence of confirmation leaves room for speculation, but the prevailing theory among media outlets remains focused on post-transplant medical challenges.
Liver transplantation is often hailed as a life-saving procedure, but it is not without risk. Experts note that recovery is a delicate process, fraught with potential complications such as infection, organ rejection, or even liver failure. According to a study published in Liver Transplantation, nearly 38% of deceased-donor and 47% of living-donor recipients experience major complications within 90 days of the surgery. These can include bile-duct leaks, bleeding that requires further surgery, or blood-vessel issues. Whether Cleto experienced any of these is not publicly known, yet the statistics underscore how unpredictable and precarious post-transplant recovery can be.".... (more)
2naSalit
(98,839 posts)I had no idea of any of this. Honestly, the man was hardly on my radar since I never get to see videos of the band on the show. Caught a glimpse of him occasionally when he and Jimmy would interact and that's about it. All the same, he sounds like a great person and talented musician, sorry I missed that part while he was here.
Emile
(39,083 posts)Silver Gaia
(5,177 posts)We were just channel surfing and landed there. I knew about Cleto's passing, but had no idea how close they were. It was a wonderful eulogy. He touched my heart.
pfitz59
(12,063 posts)a huge backstory about best friends forever. Makes me admire Jimmy even more.
bucolic_frolic
(53,228 posts)More Americans should listen closely.
TommieMommy
(2,492 posts)🙏 RIP Cleto 🙏
dem4decades
(13,390 posts)progressoid
(52,296 posts)ms liberty
(10,789 posts)11 Bravo
(24,244 posts)Mblaze
(877 posts)How difficult it must be to show your emotions so deeply in front of a camera and America. I thought it was beautiful. RIP Cleto Escobedo III.
Picaro
(2,294 posts)Very touching.
Cried a bit watching this.
Wild blueberry
(8,003 posts)Brought me to tears. Thank you.
Emile
(39,083 posts)hard for Jimmy, but what an amazing eulogy. Here I am, and old retired truck driver and he had me crying. Jimmy is hands down, a real class act!
Tree Lady
(12,899 posts)And so many good memories, they all helped form the good person Jimmy is today.
a kennedy
(34,842 posts)I bawled through the whole thing.
And damn I absolutely love Jimmy. ♥️ ♥️ ♥️ ♥️ ♥️
Skittles
(168,602 posts)Last edited Wed Nov 12, 2025, 08:44 PM - Edit history (1)
so striking the way Jimmy went from overwhelming sadness to absolute joy while reminiscing about Cleto......we should all be so lucky to have friends like Cleto and his family in our lives
Cha
(315,769 posts)Dear Friend, Cleto, was Phenomenal💔
Absolutely Amazing Life long Friendship.
Mahalo IcyPas ~