Regina King and Jimmy Kimmel Tear Up in First Interview Together Since Her Son's Death: 'You've Been Through a Lot'

Mar. 15, 2025

Jimmy KimmelandRegina Kingshared a touching moment during the actress’s first appearance onJimmy Kimmel Livesince the death of her son more than two years ago.

“Right now, I’m good,” she responded with a smile.

“Good, I’m glad to hear that,“said the host, getting choked up. “I know you’ve been through a lot the last year.”

“Yeah,” King replied before leaning over to take Kimmel’s hand, giving him another smile and saying, “It’s good to see you, Jimmy.”

After an emotional pause, Kimmel joked, “Did you seeWilliam Shatnerbackstage?” causing his guest and the audience to let out a collective laugh.

Regina King and Jimmy Kimmel onJimmy Kimmel Live!March 21, 2024.Jimmy Kimmel Live/YouTube

Jimmy Kimmel Live/YouTube

In a recent interview withRobin Roberts, which aired onGood Morning Americalast week, King admitted that “sometimes a lot of guilt comes over” her to this day.

“When a parent loses a child, you still wonder, ‘What could I have done so that wouldn’t have happened?’ " theOscarwinner said.

Since his death, King has had"the time to just sit with Ian’s choice”— and now, “I respect and understand that he didn’t want to be here anymore,” she told Roberts, 63. “And that’s a hard thing for other people to receive, because they did not live our experience, did not live Ian’s journey.”

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Regina King (R) and son Ian Alexander Jr. in Pasadena, California, on Feb. 22, 2014.John Sciulli/Getty

John Sciulli/Getty

“It’simportant to me to honor Ianthe totality of who he is — I speak about him in the present, because he is always with me. And the joy and happiness that he gave all of us,” she also said.In a recent cover story forHarper’s BAZAAR, King shared, “I feel like I am in a place now where my faith has really been challenged,” while opening up about life since Ian died.

“I don’t know that I should say this, because I feel like it’s where I used to be, but that idea that what you put into it is what you get back — it’s been proven to me that that’s not necessarily true,” she continued.

“When I look at all of the work and everything that we and Ian put into trying to move through the depression … I mean, he’s pure joy and pure light,” theHarder They Fallactress added of her son, who was a DJ and performing musician.

Regina King and son Ian Alexander Jr. in Beverly Hills, California, on Oct. 18, 2017.Vivien Killilea/Getty

Vivien Killilea/Getty

“But he was struggling so much. We knew. We knew what we were going through, buthe never presented that way,” King continued of Ian’s experience with depression. “That’s why I know that a smile doesn’t always mean happy. He would never not let whoever he was with feel like they were the most special person in the world.”

“So for me, I’m like, ‘Man, he was putting a lot into things, a lot into people, a lot into this world, and yet it wasn’t translating back,' " she said.

Shirleyis now streaming on Netflix.

source: people.com