(LifeSiteNews) — Tim Allen, star of “Home Improvement” and original voice of Buzz Lightyear, said that after witnessing Erika Kirk publicly forgive her husband’s killer during her memorial speech, he was moved to do something he had struggled with for 60 years: forgive the man who killed his father. 

“When Erika Kirk spoke the words on the man who killed her husband: ‘That man… that young man… I forgive him,’” wrote Allen on X, “That moment deeply affected me.” 

“I have struggled for over 60 years to forgive the man who killed my Dad,” said Allen. 

“I will say those words now as I type: ‘I forgive the man who killed my father,’ he proclaimed. 

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. 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…

— Tim Allen (@ofctimallen) September 25, 2025

Allen’s father died in 1964 when a drunk driver hit his car. Allen was 11 years old at the time.

The famous actor’s act of forgiveness was met with over 10,000 messages of support and encouragement, nearly 300,000 “likes,” and had been viewed nearly 10 million times in less than 24 hours. 

Fellow actor Kevin Sorbo responded, “Tim….class act, sir. Not an easy thing to do.” 

Tim….class act, sir. Not an easy thing to do.

— Kevin Sorbo (@ksorbs) September 26, 2025

“This is so beautiful to read, Tim. I am so thankful for this,” wrote Owen Strachan, a Baptist theologian and author.

“Erika forgave, by her own words, because Christ forgave her. That’s how we find true peace: we claim the forgiveness offered us by the shed blood of Jesus, repenting of our sins,” wrote Strachan. “Then, as forgiven people, we forgive.” 

For its part, the Family Research Council posted a famous quote by Corrie Ten Boom, who as a young woman during World War II was held as a prisoner at a Nazi concentration camp: “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” 

Charlie Kirk “wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life,” said Erika at Sunday’s memorial service.

“Our Savior said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ That young man … I forgive him,” Erika Kirk said. “I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and it’s what Charlie would do.”