![\"Jimmy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/GF2KJXOPIVAGLH7ZY22PY64RFE.png\")
<\/p>\nThe loss comes less than a year after the death of Kimmel\u2019s longtime bandleader and childhood friend.<\/p>\n
Late-night host and Donald Trump nemesis Jimmy Kimmel paid a tender tribute to a \u201ccaring friend\u201d who worked with him for nearly 30 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo man saw me in my underpants more,\u201d Kimmel quipped about Rodney Mu\u00f1oz, the Emmy-winning costume designer for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, who died last week at 60.<\/p>\n
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\u201cHe was a devoted son, brother and uncle; a great baker, and a caring friend,\u201d Kimmel wrote Friday in an emotional Instagram<\/a> post. <\/p>\n Kimmel described Mu\u00f1oz as \u201cone of the most talented people I\u2019ve had the pleasure of knowing. He was a funny, surly, hard-working man whose tough exterior hid a huge and generous heart.\u201d <\/p>\n Kimmel did not reveal a cause of death.<\/p>\n Jimmy Kimmel poses as Mr. Potato Head with the help of costume designer Rodney Munoz.<\/p>\n Mu\u00f1oz\u2019s friend Joe Dietl announced in a Facebook<\/a> post that the costume designer died on Oct. 2. Dietl, who also did not reveal a cause of death, said that Mu\u00f1oz had contracted an extremely serious case of COVID-19 during the pandemic. He was placed in a coma and put on a ventilator to save his life and had been dealing with health issues ever since, according to Dietl.<\/p>\n Rodney Mu\u00f1oz celebrates after winning a Creative Arts Emmy for his work on \u201cJimmy Kimmel Live!\u201d<\/p>\n Frazer Harrison\/Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cRodney helped many of us through difficult times,\u201d Kimmel noted in his post. \u201cWe will miss Rodney as he joins his beloved parents in whatever comes next.\u201d<\/p>\n Rodney Mu\u00f1oz suits up Jimmy Kimmel for an episode.<\/p>\n In addition to creating an array of often outrageous costumes for Kimmel\u2019s sketches, Mu\u00f1oz also styled Kimmel for his hosting stint at the Oscars in 2018. <\/p>\n He earned a Creative Arts Emmy for Outstanding Costumes for a Variety\/Music Program in 2010 for his work on Kimmel\u2019s show. Before his time with Kimmel, Mu\u00f1oz worked as a costume designer for Late Show with David Letterman.<\/p>\n It was the second death in Kimmel\u2019s inner circle in less than a year. Cleto Escobedo III<\/a>, bandleader of the show\u2019s house band Cleto and the Cletones and a close friend of Kimmel\u2019s since childhood, died on Nov. 11, 2025, at 59.<\/p>\n Sign up for the obsessed newsletter<\/p>\n Get the best of Obsessed delivered right to your inbox<\/p>\n \u201cEarly this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III,\u201d Kimmel wrote on his social media<\/a> at the time. \u201cTo say that we are heartbroken is an understatement. Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine years old.\u201d<\/p>\n Obsessed with pop culture and entertainment? Follow us on Substack<\/a> and YouTube<\/a> for even more coverage.<\/p>\n Unlock a year of full access to The Daily Beast for $35.<\/p>\n What’s IncludedUnlimited access (web + app)Exclusive ad-free newslettersCommenting accessDaily crosswordSneak peek of launches & events<\/p>\n Auto-renews at $5.99 monthly. Cancel anytime<\/p>\n What’s IncludedDiscounted annual rate – Save 47%Unlimited access (web + app)Exclusive ad-free newslettersCommenting accessDaily crosswordSneak peek of launches & events<\/p>\n Auto-renews at $59.99 yearly. Cancel anytime<\/p>\n Best Value<\/p>\n What’s IncludedDiscounted annual rateFull access to the Daily Beast Substack ($60 value)*Premium ad-free readingUnlimited access (web + app)Exclusive ad-free newslettersCommenting accessDaily crosswordSneak peek of launches & events<\/p>\n Auto-renews at $119.99 yearly. Cancel anytime<\/p>\n *Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack\u2019s Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n Looks like you already have a subscription!<\/p>\n You’re all set!<\/p>\n Thanks for subscribing.<\/p>\n Back to plans<\/p>\n Subscription$0.00<\/p>\n Total$0.00<\/p>\n Continue with GoogleContinue with FacebookLoading subscription options Register below to read this article for free\u00a0 or subscribe SubscribeRegister<\/p>\n What’s IncludedUnlimited access (web + app)Exclusive ad-free newslettersCommenting accessDaily crosswordSneak peek of launches & events<\/p>\n Auto-renews at $5.99 monthly. Cancel anytime<\/p>\n What’s IncludedDiscounted annual rate – Save 47%Unlimited access (web + app)Exclusive ad-free newslettersCommenting accessDaily crosswordSneak peek of launches & events<\/p>\n Auto-renews at $59.99 yearly. Cancel anytime<\/p>\n Best Value<\/p>\n What’s IncludedDiscounted annual rateFull access to the Daily Beast Substack ($60 value)*Premium ad-free readingUnlimited access (web + app)Exclusive ad-free newslettersCommenting accessDaily crosswordSneak peek of launches & events<\/p>\n Auto-renews at $119.99 yearly. Cancel anytime<\/p>\n *Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack\u2019s Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Jimmy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/E46IB6OKKFDKXCLDFEOX5BQTLY.png\")
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<\/p>\n![\"Rodney](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/KX3YDPTOVNGWZGF3IKYN4NKJQQ.png\")
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