TMZ reported on November 14, 2025 that longtime Jimmy Kimmel Live! bandleader Cleto Escobedo III died at age 59 and that his death certificate lists cardiogenic shock as the immediate cause. The certificate, obtained by TMZ, cites vasodilatory shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation and alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver as underlying causes, with several additional conditions noted as contributors. Escobedo had been absent from the late-night program for months after falling ill; Jimmy Kimmel later confirmed the musician’s passing in an emotional Instagram post. The document also records that Escobedo, a professional entertainer for about 40 years, was cremated.
Key Takeaways
- Immediate cause: The death certificate names cardiogenic shock as the immediate cause of death, per TMZ (reported Nov 14, 2025).
- Underlying causes: The certificate lists vasodilatory shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and alcoholic cirrhosis as underlying conditions.
- Contributing conditions: Sepsis, graft-versus-host disease, immunosuppression, chronic kidney disease and pneumonia are noted as additional contributing factors.
- Age and career: Escobedo was 59 and documented as an entertainer with roughly 40 years of experience; the certificate records that he was cremated.
- Public timeline: He had been noticeably absent from Jimmy Kimmel Live! for several months before Kimmel confirmed his death on social media.
- Source document: TMZ reported it had obtained a copy of the death certificate; medical context for cardiogenic shock is referenced to the Mayo Clinic.
Background
Cleto Escobedo III led the house band for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a role he assumed after Kimmel launched his late-night show in 2003. Escobedo and Kimmel shared a long personal and professional history dating back to childhood in Las Vegas; Kimmel has described their chemistry on stage as a key part of the program’s sound. Over a roughly 40-year career, Escobedo performed widely as a saxophonist and bandleader, helping define the musical identity of the show.
The death certificate details released by TMZ place Escobedo’s passing in the context of multiple, interacting medical conditions. Alcoholic cirrhosis is listed among the underlying causes, a chronic liver condition that can destabilize other organ systems. Several acute conditions—sepsis, pneumonia and cardiogenic shock—appear as proximate contributors, reflecting a severe cascade of organ dysfunction.
Main Event
According to the document obtained by TMZ and reported on November 14, 2025, the immediate cause of death was cardiogenic shock, a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. The certificate further identifies vasodilatory shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) alongside alcoholic cirrhosis as underlying factors that set the stage for the final decline. Additional listed contributors include sepsis, graft-versus-host disease, immunosuppressed status, chronic kidney disease and pneumonia.
Escobedo had been absent from television appearances for several months prior to his death after becoming ill, and Kimmel publicly acknowledged the loss in an Instagram tribute. The death certificate notes that Escobedo was cremated and records his occupation as an entertainer spanning four decades. TMZ’s report is the first widely circulated account to publish specific language from the certificate.
Medical sources cited in reporting—principally the Mayo Clinic for clinical definitions—describe cardiogenic shock as life-threatening and typically requiring intensive care, which aligns with the pattern of multiple organ systems failing as listed on the document. While the certificate lists a constellation of diagnoses, it does not, in the TMZ summary, provide a precise chronological timeline of events leading to hospital admission and death.
Analysis & Implications
Medically, the stack of diagnoses on the certificate points to a multi-system process in which chronic liver disease and immune-system compromise likely increased vulnerability to severe infections and organ failure. Alcoholic cirrhosis can impair coagulation and immune responses, which may help explain the presence of DIC and sepsis among the contributing conditions. Graft-versus-host disease and an immunosuppressed status suggest prior cellular therapy or transplant history; if confirmed, that history would have raised infection risk and complicated recovery.
Cardiogenic shock as the immediate cause indicates that, at the terminal phase, the heart could not maintain adequate circulation—this can follow severe infection, profound blood loss, or progressive organ dysfunction. Vasodilatory shock, often seen in septic states, implies a component of peripheral circulatory collapse alongside primary cardiac failure. Together these findings describe a clinical picture in which multiple catastrophic processes converged.
For the late-night program, Escobedo’s death removes a long-standing musical leader whose presence was integral to the show’s rhythm and identity. Beyond the show, the case may prompt renewed public attention to chronic liver disease, the health risks associated with prolonged alcohol-related injury, and the vulnerabilities of immunosuppressed patients. Institutions that support performing artists may also revisit health outreach and benefits for long-tenured musicians whose work involves irregular hours and stressors.
Comparison & Data
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | 59 |
| Professional experience | ~40 years (entertainer) |
| Immediate cause | Cardiogenic shock |
| Underlying causes | Vasodilatory shock, DIC, alcoholic cirrhosis |
| Contributors | Sepsis, graft-versus-host disease, immunosuppressed, CKD, pneumonia |
The table above summarizes the certificate details reported by TMZ on November 14, 2025. While the list of conditions is extensive, the public reporting does not provide timestamps for diagnosis, hospitalization, or the date of death; those specifics remain with official records beyond what TMZ released. Comparing these entries to typical fatal cascades, clinicians note that chronic liver disease plus immunosuppression markedly increases the risk of sepsis and coagulation abnormalities.
Reactions & Quotes
Jimmy Kimmel acknowledged Escobedo’s passing on social media, describing the personal loss and the years they worked together; Kimmel’s post was widely shared and cited in initial coverage. Fans and colleagues posted remembrances emphasizing Escobedo’s musicianship and their long friendship dating to Las Vegas youth.
“Cardiogenic shock is a life-threatening condition that happens when the heart suddenly can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.”
Mayo Clinic (medical reference)
TMZ, which published the death-certificate details, reported that the certificate lists multiple underlying and contributing causes and that Escobedo was cremated. That document provides the factual basis for the cause-of-death language now circulating in wider press coverage.
“Cardiogenic shock”
Death certificate details as reported by TMZ (news outlet)
Unconfirmed
- The precise date of death and full clinical timeline (admission dates, progression) were not included in TMZ’s summary and remain unverified in public reporting.
- The report lists graft-versus-host disease but does not specify the transplant type, timing or medical center; the connection between that diagnosis and the other conditions is not publicly documented.
- The extent to which alcohol use versus other factors directly drove the liver cirrhosis entry on the certificate has not been independently confirmed beyond the certificate language reported by TMZ.
Bottom Line
TMZ’s November 14, 2025 report, based on a death certificate it said it obtained, lists cardiogenic shock as the immediate cause of Cleto Escobedo III’s death, with vasodilatory shock, DIC and alcoholic cirrhosis as underlying contributors and multiple other conditions noted as factors. The certificate also records that Escobedo, 59, was cremated and had a roughly 40-year career as an entertainer. These documentary details offer a medical framework for understanding the end of his life but stop short of a full clinical narrative.
For colleagues, fans and the late-night community, the finding closes a public chapter while raising questions about the interplay of chronic disease, immune compromise and acute infection in high-profile premature mortality. Further clarity would come only from fuller release of medical timelines or statements from treating institutions or family representatives; until then, reporting should distinguish what the certificate states from what remains unreported or speculative.