Alan Thicke dies at 69
Los Angeles, CA – Alan Thicke, an actor best known for his parenting tips in the ’80s sitcom “Growing Pains,” has died. He was 69.
The Los Angeles Times confirmed his death was in the evening on Tuesday, Dec. 13. The Times was able to get confirmation that Thicke had suffered a heart attack by the publicist of his son, pop-soul singer Robin Thicke.
A native of Canada, Thicke played the head of the Seaver family on the popular ABC sitcom “Growing Pains,” which can be seen on syndicated cable stations.
The genial actor reportedly had a heart attack while playing hockey with one of his sons. He was immediately transported to a Los Angeles-area hospital on Tuesday afternoon and pronounced dead later.
“The good thing was that he was beloved and he had closure,” said Robin Thicke, who credited his dad, an accomplished musician himself, with being an inspiration and very supportive of his music career. “I saw him a few days ago and told him how much I loved and respected him.”
Wearing a variety of hats during his long show business career in addition to being an actor and presenter, the Canadian-born Thicke had continued to appear in TV roles through this year, including recent appearances on the NBC drama “This Is Us” and Netflix’s “Fuller House.”
Thicke skipped two grades and began attending Western University at 16 years old and graduated in 1967. Shortly after, he found his first job in entertainment with the variety show “The Good Company,” a young-skewing music and comedy series that aired on the Canadian Broadcasting Company in the late ‘60s. In 1970, Thicke moved to Los Angeles and married “Days of Our Lives” actress Gloria Loring. He found work behind the scenes as a writer and producer for shows such as “Fernwood 2 Night” and “The Richard Pryor Show” as well as specials for Olivia 
Newton-John and Barry Manilow, who helped Thicke earn his first Emmy nomination for “The Barry Manilow Special” in 1977.
Steadily working in the entertainment industry, Thicke also began collaborating with Loring to write theme songs for TV shows including “Wheel of Fortune,” “Facts of Life” and “Diff’rent Strokes,” the last of which he also sang.
Hollywood mourns the loss of a dad, actor, composing and singer.
Contact Shertina Mack at s.mack@TheBayNet.com
