Stephen Colbert took a moment during his wildly popular show to pay tribute to the late John Meiklejohn, his longtime cameraman.
Meiklejohn passed away last week.
He was an industry veteran, winning the 2012 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special for his work capturing that year's Tony Awards ceremony.
He also worked on nearly 200 episodes of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which allowed him and the comic to develop a respectful rapport.
According to Colbert:
"He was known to everybody. He'd been working in New York forever. He believed in me and I could feel it from him, and sadly we lost John last weekend. I wish I could have seen him again."
Colbert added that Meiklejohn "liked to talk about his boat."
In fact, the two men shared a passion for boating and for fishing.
"He gave me a beautiful fishing rod for my 50th birthday and he gave me the most beautiful gift of all, like I said, he believed in me."
Colbert recalled that in Meiklejohn firmly believed Colbert would have a long and fruitful career on television, once telling Colbert's own father-in-law after a taping that the show would succeed "because of that man at that desk."
Colbert was visibly emotional as he remembered that moment, telling the audience:
"While I never got to see him again, I do miss him, and I want to say, 'Thank you John. I love you, old man."
You can watch Colbert's tribute below:
Stephen Pays Tribute To John Meiklejohn www.youtube.com
Colbert's viewers were touched by his words.
It didn't take long for other tributes to Meiklejohn to pour in.
@StephenAtHome : I just watched your tribute to cameraman John Meiklejohn. Thank you for sharing that with us, your… https://t.co/zWmDiaC616— Ginger Edwin 💙💛 (@Ginger Edwin 💙💛) 1555827033
Sorry about the loss of your friend and cameraman, John Meiklejohn @StephenAtHome and it was such a beautiful tribu… https://t.co/hDAQwNyh6M— Emily Eldridge (@Emily Eldridge) 1555737948
@StephenAtHome that was really a wonderful heartfelt tribute you gave to your cameraman John Meiklejohn that passed… https://t.co/0y3HWeuz4Q— Mary Lucus-Blanchard 🌊 (@Mary Lucus-Blanchard 🌊) 1555737161
. @StephenAtHome that was such a beautiful tribute to your friend & cameraman John. I still have tears in my eyes.… https://t.co/Ryhv7sguCt— Bailey O'Brien (@Bailey O'Brien) 1555735090
Rest in peace, Mr. Meiklejohn—and thanks for the great work over the years.