Watch Jimmy Kimmel’s Emotional Tribute to Don Rickles

The monologue from last night’s Jimmy Kimmel Live was not the show’s standard fare. At the outset, an emotionally overwhelmed Kimmel admitted, “I’m already crying,” in reaction to the death of legendary insult comic Don Rickles. Kimmel proceeded to share a few anecdotes about his close personal friendship with Rickles. “The Sinatra stories are great,” Kimmel once confessed to Rickles, “but if Sinatra was here, I’d be asking him for stories about you.”

Kimmel’s monologue moved from a story about Rickles, Bob Newhart and Sinatra, to talking about Rickles’ 18 appearances on Kimmel’s show. It’s truly touching to see Kimmel lose and regain his composure repeatedly while remembering the times he spent with his comedic hero.

“It was, like, I was in some kind of talk show host fantasy camp,” Kimmel said, “sitting behind a desk when Don Rickles made fun of me. It was like being a real talk show host.” The monologue touched on quite a few stories, culminating in the affectionate notes that Rickles sent to Kimmel:

Dear Jimmy, thanks so much for the beautiful frame of you and I. Who needs Sinatra, your picture of us together is much more important. Please don’t show this to anyone, it could cause harm to me and me family.

Watch the full tribute up top, and watch “The Best of Don Rickles on Jimmy Kimmel Live” below.