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Arts and Entertainment

Jimmy Kimmel Delivers Emotional 13-Minute Tribute To Don Rickles

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If you cry when you see other people cry, do not watch the below video until you can let the tears flow. Jimmy Kimmel dedicated an extended opening monologue to Don Rickles on his show Thursday night, following the death of the legendary comedian.

Rickles died at the age of 90 on Thursday from kidney failure, and Kimmel declared, "I know it sounds crazy to say he was too young, but he was. Because he was youthful and funny and sharp and generous." He went on to tell stories, both his own and tales that Rickles himself would share, and share letters he received from him over the years as the two formed a friendship.

While it took some persistence to get Rickles on his show for the first time, in 2006, he went on to be a guest 17 more times, and, Kimmel said, "whenever he was on, we would go out to dinner, we would always go to dinner after the show." Get some tissues and press play:

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