US chat show host Jimmy Fallon breaks down on air over death of mum

It’s been a rough few weeks for US chat show host Jimmy Fallon.

The bubbly presenter is usually full of laughs, but he became overpowered with emotion on his latest episode.

Sadly, his mother Gloria Fallon passed away earlier this month.

Fallon has hosted the Tonight Show for a number of years and is one of the most popular late-night presenters, but cancelled the show following the death of his beloved parent.

Bravely, the 43-year-old decided to return to work on Monday and shared an emotional tribute to his mother with the audience.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Fallon explained: “She was the best audience. She was the one I was always trying to make laugh and she was such a fan of the show and everything I did.”

He held back tears before continuing: “When we were little, my mum would walk us to the store – me and my sister – and we would hold hands. And she would squeeze my hand three times and say, ‘I love you,’ and I would squeeze back, ‘I love you too.’

“Last week I was in the hospital, at her side, and I grabbed her hand and I squeezed ‘I love you,’ and I just knew we were in trouble,” he said as he became more upset recounting the story.

“But I’m so grateful to be able to do this every day and night and I’m very appreciative of all the support from all of you that my family received over the past week.”

The comedian promised that he would continue to work hard on the show before paying one last tribute to his mother.

He said: “Mum, I’m never going to stop trying to make you laugh. I love you.”

Fans quickly took to social media to pay their tributes to Gloria.

One person said: “Sorry for your loss. Praying for you and your family.”

Another message read: “Condolences on your loss. May God grant you and your family comfort and may your Mum’s soul R.I.P.”

A third fan added: “I just lost my mum. I’m so sorry. We also squeezed hands 3 times. It was our secret handshake.”

What did you think of Jimmy Fallon’s tribute to his mum? How have you coped after losing a loved one?