Jimmy Kimmel and Regina King shared a touching moment Thursday night as the actress visited Kimmel’s show for the first time since her son’s death in 2022.
King has been making the rounds in recent weeks, promoting her new film, Shirley. In interviews with Good Morning America and Harper’s Bazaar, she’s also candidly discussed her grief over her 26 year-old son’s death by suicide.
Although Kimmel didn’t directly address the topic in his interview with King last night, it was clearly on his mind as he welcomed her back to the show.
“It’s very good to see you. How are you doing right now?” he asked as she sat down.
“Right now, I’m good,” King responded.
“Good, I’m glad to hear that,” Kimmel said. “I know you’ve been through a lot in the last year.”
Choking back tears, Kimmel then paused as King reached out to hold his hand.
“It’s good to see you, Jimmy,” she said.
Although the stereotype of a late-night show host tends to be one who’s aloof and detached, Kimmel is known to wear his heart on his sleeve, having cried on his show while discussing matters both personal and not, including the death of his friend Bob Saget and the Uvalde school shooting.
He’s not alone. Jon Stewart made headlines last month when he too broke into tears over his dog during an episode of The Daily Show.