Jimmy Kimmel is honoring his late friend and longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo with two charitable fundraisers created by Kimmel and Escobedo’s loved ones, just days after Escobedo’s death on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at age 59.
Kimmel, 58, shared the initiative in a Nov. 14 Instagram post, reflecting on Escobedo’s kindness and generosity. He explained that the first fundraiser benefits UCLA Medical Center, where Escobedo received care, helping financially vulnerable patients and families navigate difficult times.
The second fundraiser supports The Animal Foundation in their hometown of Las Vegas, designed to celebrate Escobedo’s love for animals.
A statement on the UCLA fundraiser reads, “In memory of our friend Cleto, we’d like to thank all the hardworking specialists, doctors, and nurses at UCLA. They worked tirelessly and generously to give him the best care.” The message continues with a request that donors support others in need “in Cleto’s name.”
The Animal Foundation’s fundraising page, titled “In Loving Memory of Cleto,” features a note from Escobedo’s family describing him as “a beloved friend, father, and animal lover whose heart was always open to pets in need.” They encouraged donations to support sheltering, healing, and finding homes for animals in need — a cause they say Escobedo would have deeply appreciated.
According to The Animal Foundation’s website, the organization manages one of the highest-volume single-site shelters in the nation, caring for more than 20,000 animals annually through adoption, veterinary care, and community programs.
Kimmel previously confirmed Escobedo’s passing on Instagram, describing him as a “great friend, father, son, musician and man,” and noting that their decades-long bond began in childhood. Escobedo and his group, Cleto and the Cletones, had been the house band for Jimmy Kimmel Live! since the show premiered in 2003.
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“To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement,” Kimmel wrote. “Cherish your friends and please keep Cleto’s wife, children and parents in your prayers.”
Speaking with ABC 7, Kimmel remembered his friend as a “child prodigy.” Escobedo’s father, Cleto Escobedo Sr., also performed saxophone on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
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On the Nov. 11 episode of the show, Kimmel delivered an emotional tribute to Escobedo, calling it the “hardest” monologue he has ever given. Escobedo Sr. joined the band during that taping, and the following two shows were canceled.
Escobedo once shared that performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! was the “best gig ever.” In a 2021 ABC Hispanic Latinx Heritage Month featurette, he spoke about his father’s sacrifices that allowed him to pursue music — including leaving his own performing career to work as a busboy at Caesar’s Palace to provide stability for his family.
