Tim Allen Forgives Driver Who Killed His Father After Emotional Speech from Charlie Kirk’s Widow
Hollywood star Tim Allen has revealed that he has finally forgiven the man responsible for his father’s death — a moment of healing he says was inspired by Erika Kirk’s emotional speech at her late husband Charlie Kirk’s memorial.
A Pain That Lasted Over 60 Years
The Home Improvement alum, now 72, shared the deeply personal revelation on Sept. 24 through social media. Allen explained that after watching Erika Kirk forgive the man accused of killing her husband, he felt moved to extend the same grace to the drunk driver who caused his father’s fatal accident in 1964.
“When Erika Kirk spoke the words on the man who killed her husband: ‘That man… that young man… I forgive him,’ that moment deeply affected me,” Allen wrote. “I have struggled for over 60 years to forgive the man who killed my Dad. I will say those words now as I type: ‘I forgive the man who killed my father.’ Peace be with you all.”
Remembering Gerald Dick
Allen’s father, Gerald Dick, tragically died in November 1964 in a horrific car crash while returning home from a Colorado football game. A drunk driver swerved across the highway median, crushing the vehicle carrying Dick, his wife, and six children.
Tim, who was just 11 at the time and not in the car, recalled in a 2006 interview that his father died in his mother’s arms. “Every single thing in my life changed,” Allen said, admitting that the trauma shaped his entire outlook on life.
Erika Kirk’s Message of Grace
Allen’s decision to forgive comes in the wake of the Sept. 21 memorial for Charlie Kirk, the conservative commentator fatally shot earlier this month. Erika Kirk stunned the audience by publicly forgiving her husband’s killer, echoing the message of forgiveness central to her Christian faith.
“Our Savior said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ That young man… I forgive him,” she told the crowd. “The answer to hate is not hate. The answer is love — always love.”
Her powerful message struck a chord across the nation and, for Allen, provided the push he needed to release a burden he had carried for decades.
A Journey of Healing
The Toy Story actor has often spoken about the lifelong pain of losing his father, calling him a “great dad” and the “love of my life.” While grief may never fully disappear, Allen’s recent words mark a profound turning point in his personal journey.
By choosing forgiveness, Tim Allen not only honors his father’s memory but also continues a legacy of love, resilience, and healing — one that mirrors the message Erika Kirk shared so bravely in front of thousands.
