Canadian singer, songwriter, actor and television dad to millions on the sitcom Growing Pains, Alan Thicke has passed away at the age of 69.
Best known as the father figure from the hit 80s-90s sitcom Growing Pains from 1985 to 1992, Thicke played stay-at-home psychiatrist dad Dr. Jason Seaver, who almost always had the answer to any and all problems that would pop up throughout each 30 minute episode and resolve the issue before the episode was over.
Thanks to his fatherly advice on the show, many people across the world began to view Thicke as the doting father not only on Growing Pains, but to an entire generation. Nicknamed “America’s Dad,” Thicke was without a doubt one of the most beloved figures in all of television – that being said, TV Guide placed Thicke as the 37th best television dad, so either I’m wrong or they’re wrong (chances are, its me).
Plenty of people know Thicke as Dr. Seaver on Growing Pains – or at least the older crowd does – but many may also know him as the father of “Blurred Lines” singer Robin Thicke. This may come as a surprise to those unfamiliar with either, but musical talent happens to run all the way up and down the Thicke lineage, as Alan Thicke was actually a highly sought after musical writer in addition to his acting. He famously wrote the theme songs for a number different game shows, including Wheel of Fortune. Furthermore, Thicke also wrote the unforgettable theme song for Diff’rent Strokes, which many consider to be his finest work in songwriting. Thicke wrote the theme song to Diff’rent Strokes alongside his then wife Gloria Loring, who was the mother to Robin Thicke (and Alan’s first of three wives).
Alan Thicke was one of the last multi-dimensional Hollywood types around, as his acting, songwriting, singing, and authoring all garnered him high praise throughout his 50 year career. Later in his life, Thicke returned to Canadian television with the wildly popular Thicke of the Night, which American television producers attempted to (and failed) replicate the success of later in Thicke’s life.
According to the publicist for his son, singer Robin Thicke, the elder Thicke died of cardiac arrest. His longtime friend and agent Tracy Mapes later confirmed his death. It’s reported that Thicke passed away outside his home in Burbank, California.
Thicke’s legacy will forever be best known as Dr. Seaver on Growing Pains, and all his cheesy but powerful advice. In the days following his death, perhaps the best advice for mourning Thicke’s death is from Seaver himself – “Don’t waste another minute on your crying.”
