Regina King made her first return to ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live in over two years on Thursday, which lead to a rather tender moment between her and the host.
King, 53, was promoting her new film Shirley, based on the true story of Shirley Chisolm, the first Black woman to run for President, in theaters March 22.
The Oscar-winning actress hasn’t appeared on the program since December 2021… just a month before her 26-year-old son Ian Alexander Jr. died of suicide in January 2022.
Kimmel started the interview by asking the actress, ‘How are you doing right now?’ She responded, ‘Right now, I’m good.
The host said he was glad to hear it, adding, ‘I know you’ve been through a lot in the last year,’ as his voice broke, as King reached out and grabbed his hand and said, ‘Hey, it’s good to see you, Jimmy.’
Regina King made her first return to ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live in over two years on Thursday, which lead to a rather tender moment between her and the host
The host said he was glad to hear it, adding, ‘I know you’ve been through a lot in the last year,’ as his voice broke, as King reached out and grabbed his hand and said, ‘Hey, it’s good to see you, Jimmy’
Kimmel’s voice broke again slightly and added, ‘It’s good to see you too, sharing a touching moment with the actress before moving on with the show.
He immediately lightened the mood and asked if she ran into the other guest that night, 93-year-old William Shatner, with Kimmel joking it was a, ‘Miss Congeniality 2 reunion.’
She added that she did have one scene with the Star Trek legend, and while they didn’t have a lot of time together, it was still memorable.
‘We had a scene together. But we didn’t really get a lot of interaction in front of the camera together. But any time you’re with William Shatner, whether you’re in the van or you are standing in between takes, it is fun, lively. He has a joke, he has an anecdote, he has a something. He’s great,’ she said.
Neither King nor Kimmell brought up her late son during the interview, which comes just over two years since his passing.
Ian Alexander Jr. was the only son of King and Ian Alexander Sr., who the actress was married to from 1997 to 2007.
Ian Jr. was a recording artist and DJ, performing under the name Desdune, who released a new single called Green Eyes just days before his death.
‘Our family is devastated at the deepest level by the loss of Ian. He is such a bright light who cared so deeply about the happiness of others. Our family asks for respectful consideration during this private time,’ King said in a statement in late January 2022.
Kimmel’s voice broke again slightly and added, ‘It’s good to see you too, sharing a touching moment with the actress before moving on with the show
He immediately lightened the mood and asked if she ran into the other guest that night, 93-year-old William Shatner, with Kimmel joking it was a, ‘Miss Congeniality 2 reunion’
Neither King nor Kimmell brought up her late son during the interview, which comes just over two years since his passing
King will next be seen on the big screen in Shirley, arriving on the Netflix streaming service on March 22.
King plays Shirley Chisolm, the first Black woman elected to Congress and to run for President of the United States in 1972.
The film also features one of the final performances from the late Lance Reddick as Wesley McDonald ‘Mac’ Holder, plus Terrence Howard.
King’s own sister Reina King also plays Muriel St. Hill in the biopic, written and directed by John Ridley.
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