Tim Allen forgives his father's killer after 60 years, inspired by Erika Kirk's words at Charlie Kirk's memorial

Tim Allen, the 72-year-old star of Home Improvement, publicly forgave the man who killed his father in a drunk-driving crash in 1964, saying Erika Kirk's remarks at her husband Charlie Kirk's memorial moved him to release decades of resentment. The actor posted the message on X on Thursday, saying he had struggled for more than six decades to forgive the driver and that he would now say aloud, "I forgive the man who killed my father." He closed with, "Peace be with you all."

Gerald M. Dick died in the crash in November 1964 when Allen was 11, a detail that has long framed the actor's recollections of his childhood. Charlie Kirk, a right-wing political activist, was fatally shot in the neck earlier this month while addressing a crowd at Utah Valley University. He was 31 and is survived by his wife and two young children, a 3-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son. Erika Kirk delivered the eulogy at Charlie's memorial service in Arizona, drawing a crowd of about 200,000 attendees, according to multiple accounts, including remarks reported by The Associated Press. The memorial drew attention from across the political spectrum and featured remarks from prominent figures, underscoring the reach of Charlie Kirk's work and the Turning Point USA network.

During the service, Erika Kirk spoke through tears about forgiveness and the path forward for her family. "That young man — I forgive him," she said, describing the act as essential to moving beyond hate. "The answer to hate is not hate." She attributed her stance to her Christian beliefs and to Charlie's own outlook, saying he would want to save young men like the one who took his life. In an interview with the New York Times, Erika said she would not push for the death penalty for Tyler Robinson, the man charged with Charlie's fatal shooting, adding, "I do not want that man's blood on my ledger." She elaborated on a heavenly perspective, asking whether an eye-for-an-eye approach would keep her from being with Charlie in the afterlife: "When I get to heaven, and Jesus is like, 'Eye for an eye? Is that how we do it?' And that keeps me from being in heaven, from being with Charlie?" The remarks reflected a wider message of forgiveness and restraint that she tied to Charlie's legacy.

Following Charlie's death, Turning Point USA, the nonprofit Charlie helped found to promote conservative activism on campuses, named Erika Kirk as its chief executive officer and chair of the board. She has vowed to carry Charlie's work forward and to continue his mission within the organization, which has aimed to influence political discourse on high school and college campuses.

The episode combines two threads familiar to entertainment and political audiences: a personal reckoning with a painful family history and a high-profile public figure publicly endorsing forgiveness in a volatile political climate. Allen's decision to share his private healing process on social media adds a moment of reflection amid the broader public conversation about reconciliation and accountability. As his post circulated, fans and observers noted the contrast between the actor's act of forgiveness and the often punitive rhetoric that characterizes much political discourse today.

For Allen, the moment appears to be less about absolving a specific act than about pursuing an internal peace that he says took more than six decades to reach. The broader Kirk family continues to navigate Charlie Kirk's legacy, including Erika Kirk's leadership of Turning Point USA and her stated commitment to advancing Charlie's work through the nonprofit.

Related coverage and reaction to the Kirk family’s public events continue to unfold, with attendees and commentators highlighting the personal dimension of forgiveness in the public sphere. Allen's message, in particular, stands out for its unexpected immediacy and its potential to shape how fans view personal resilience in the face of long-standing grief. As the family moves forward, the public will watch how forgiveness informs future expressions from both Tim Allen and Erika Kirk, and how the Kirk organization translates its founder's advocacy into ongoing activism.