Tim Allen has revealed a deeply personal moment of healing after being inspired by a moving eulogy at a memorial service.
The 72-year-old actor, known to millions as the voice of Buzz Lightyear and for Home Improvement, announced that he has finally forgiven the man responsible for his father’s death more than 60 years ago.
A Life Marked by Tragedy
Allen’s father, Gerald Dick, was killed in a tragic drunk-driving accident when Tim was just 11 years old.
The accident occurred while Gerald was driving home from a football game in Colorado with his wife and several children in the car.
The loss left a lifelong impact on Allen, who has spoken openly about the emotional and physical toll the tragedy had on him.
“I have struggled for over 60 years to forgive the man who killed my Dad,” Allen wrote on X.
“I will say those words now as I type: ‘I forgive the man who killed my father.’ Peace be with you all.”
In interviews over the years, Allen has described the moment of his father’s death in stark detail.
In 2006, he recounted how his father “broke his neck and died in my mom’s lap right there,” and reflected on how the loss changed him fundamentally.
Erika Kirk’s Eulogy Sparks Healing
The catalyst for Allen’s long-sought forgiveness came during a memorial service for Erika Kirk’s late husband, Charlie Kirk, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Erika’s moving words struck a chord with Allen:
“Our Savior said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.’
That young man … I forgive him,” she said through tears.
“I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and it’s what Charlie would do.”
Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was tragically shot and killed while speaking at a public event in Utah on September 10.
His widow’s act of grace resonated with Allen, allowing him to release decades of pent-up pain.
Reflecting on Faith and Forgiveness
Over the years, Allen has openly shared his complicated relationship with faith following his father’s death.
In 2012, he admitted to questioning why such a tragedy happened and wrestling with a sense of divine injustice.
Kirk’s eulogy, however, reminded him of the power of forgiveness and inspired a long-awaited sense of closure.
A Moment of Personal Peace
For Allen, forgiveness has finally offered a sense of peace that had eluded him for over six decades.
He credited Erika Kirk’s words for helping him take that emotional step forward, showing how acts of grace—even in the wake of tragedy—can ripple across lives in unexpected ways.