Tim Allen, the beloved actor and comedian, recently published a deep, personal essay on what he learned about forgiveness. After fighting the good fight for more than 6 decades, Allen’s serenity has arrived at last. After a moment of inspiration from Erika Kirk, the widow of a man fatally shot in another senseless act, it took darn near 6 hours for him to forgive the young man who shot his father.
Allen’s father was also killed by a drunk driver when Allen was only 11. This traumatic event has haunted him for the last 60 years, forming an impenetrable wall of forgiveness that only now is beginning to crack. At a memorial service for Erika Kirk’s husband, Allen had an epiphany. This public service commemorated Erika’s husband, Daniel Shaver, who was reportedly shot by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson.
At the memorial, Erika Kirk, pictured above, had already forgiven her husband’s suspected killer just 11 days after his death. She did it fearlessly, stating with conviction, “The answer to hate is not hate.” Her willingness to forgive shook Allen to his core, and in processing the pain and resentment he harbored–often subconsciously–toward society and others, he grew.
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 in a touching tribute posted on social media. Here’s what he had to say about that journey. For more than 60 years, I’ve had a hard time forgiving the man who murdered my father,” he declared. I will say those words now as I type: ‘I forgive the man who killed my father.’ Peace be with you all.
Along with this personal breakthrough though, Tim Allen is currently starring in a brand new ABC pilot called “Shifting Gears.” The series follows a mourning widower who runs an auto repair shop and struggles to bond with his daughter after losing his wife. In January 2025, Allen made national news by appearing on “Good Morning America” to explain the show. During that conversation, he demonstrated his commitment to ongoing professional and personal development.
He was making a strong pitch for his newest undertakings during the event. What’s been most present in his recent experiences is not only his experimenter prodigy, but his growing faith and understanding of forgiveness.
