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This Is Us fans have had a rough go of it lately; after a tragic post-Super Bowl episode that finally revealed how Pearson family patriarch Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) died, fans took out their rage on the Crock-Pot and pretty much cried themselves to sleep over his loss. We’ve already heard from Ventimiglia’s co-star and on-screen wife Mandy Moore on the matter, but last night, Ventimiglia sat down with Jimmy Kimmel and discussed just how much of an impact his role on the show has had on his life and interactions with fans.
“To actually see the cause of death was very upsetting for a lot of people,” Kimmel told Ventimiglia. Kimmel then proceeded to read Ventimiglia some of the most emotional tweets about his character’s death, and the two shared some laughs and shocked reactions. But what about in-person interactions?
“A lot of people, they still… they want a hug,” said Ventimiglia. “They don’t really ask me for advice, but they want that paternal knowing that things are okay. A lot of people walk up to me and they’ll wanna share their story.”
These stories range from a restaurant manager binging the show while on maternity leave and relating the show to the experience of being a new parent (all while sobbing) to people straight-up joyously screaming and clapping at him (and not knowing his real name). “I love you, Jack, Jack, Jack!” he recalled a fan saying.
“This happens all the time, it’s crazy,” Ventimiglia laughed. “I can’t escape it, man.”
