Kimmel pays tribute to a colleague of nearly 30 years
Jimmy Kimmel paid tribute to Rodney Muñoz, the Emmy-winning costume designer on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' who collaborated with the host for close to 30 years and passed away last week at age 60. Writing in a heartfelt Instagram message on Friday, Kimmel recalled Muñoz as a loving son, brother and uncle, an accomplished baker and a kind friend. He called him among the most gifted individuals he had ever been fortunate to meet, a humorous, gruff, diligent person whose stern manner masked an enormous, giving heart. No cause of death was given.[S1][S2][S3][S4][S5][S6]
Kimmel also shared a lighter memory of their long collaboration, joking that no man had seen him in his underpants more often. He noted that Muñoz had helped many of them through difficult times and said they would miss him as he joins his beloved parents in whatever comes next.[S1]
Friend says Muñoz died on Oct. 2 after COVID-19 complications
According to a Facebook post from Muñoz's friend Joe Dietl, the costume designer passed away on Oct. 2. Dietl, who likewise gave no cause of death, explained that Muñoz had suffered a very severe bout of COVID-19 during the pandemic. To preserve his life, he was put into a coma and connected to a ventilator, and he had continued to struggle with health problems from that point on, Dietl said.[S1]
A career spanning Kimmel, Letterman and the Oscars
In addition to designing many frequently flamboyant outfits for Kimmel's comedy bits, Muñoz dressed the host when he emceed the Academy Awards in 2018. His work on Kimmel's program brought him a Creative Arts Emmy in 2010 in the category of Outstanding Costumes for a Variety/Music Program. Prior to his time with Kimmel, Muñoz served as a costume designer on 'Late Show with David Letterman.'[S1]
This marks the second death within Kimmel's close circle in under a year. Cleto Escobedo III, who led the show's house band, Cleto and the Cletones, and had been a dear friend of Kimmel since they were children, passed away on Nov. 11, 2025, at age 59. Kimmel posted at that time that they had lost a wonderful friend, father, son, musician and man, adding that he and Cleto had been inseparable from the age of nine.[S1]
