Alan Thicke, star of Growing Pains, dead at 69

Actor Alan Thicke, best known for his role as the father in "Growing Pains," has died at age 69, his publicist told ABC News.

Thicke was an Emmy-nominated actor, songwriter, game and talk show host.

Carleen Donovan, who is a publicist for Thicke's son, singer Robin Thicke, says the actor died from a heart attack on Tuesday in Los Angeles. She had no further details.

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Alan Thicke was born Alan Willis Jeffery March 1, 1947 in Kirkland Lake in Ontario, Canada. He began his career as a writer for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and was successful as a daytime talk show host with "The Alan Thicke Show" in Canada before playing Jason Seaver on the sitcom "Growing Pains," which ran from 1985 to 1992.

Thicke recently appeared in "Fuller House," a 2016 sequel to the television series "Full House" which aired from 1987 to 1996.

Thicke, father of "Blurred Lines" singer Robin Thicke, also composed more than a few television theme songs, including for the sitcoms "Diff'rent Strokes" and "The Facts of Life." He wrote TV game show themes as well, including the original Wheel of Fortune theme.

Perhaps his boldest assault on the U.S. market was as a virtual unknown taking on the King of Late Night, Johnny Carson. "Thicke of the Night" was a syndicated talk-music-and-comedy show meant to go head-to-head against NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson."

It premiered in September 1983 with great fanfare, boasting an innovative format and regulars including Richard Belzer, Arsenio Hall, Gilbert Gottfried and Fred Willard. But all too quickly, it was evident that Carson wasn't going to be dethroned, and the ambitious "Thicke" disappeared into the night after one season.

In the 1990s and beyond, Thicke stayed busy as a celebrity TV host and with guest shots on dozens of series, including "How I Met Your Mother" and, this year, the Netflix series "Fuller House" and the NBC drama "This Is Us."

Celebrities who had crossed paths with Thicke, whether through music, acting or simply as friends, expressed their sorrow at news of his death.

"I grew up watching him and got to know him through Robin. He was always so kind to me," John Legend posted on Twitter.

"You were a part of my family and hockey family. You will be greatly missed. My heart hurts," Candace Cameron Bure tweeted.

"RIP dear friend and gentleman," posted Marlee Matlin.

Thicke's fellow Canadians also responded quickly.

William Shatner tweeted that he was saddened by his friend's loss, and singer Anne Murray's Twitter post said she was "shocked and devastated," recalling him as a friend as well as a writer and producer of many of her TV specials.

The Edmonton Oilers also weighed in.

"RIP to one of the great ones, Alan Thicke," was posted on the hockey team's website, with a photo of a young Thicke and Wayne Gretzky on the ice.

Like any good Canadian, Thicke was a hockey fan, frequently attending LA Kings games. He took credit for introducing the sport to celebrity friends.

He began playing at age 5, but acknowledged he wasn't very good at it.

"You were expected to play," he said in 1998. "I was never good enough for the big time, but I always had fun at it."

In 2003, Thicke received 30 stitches and lost five teeth after he was struck by a puck while practicing for a celebrity fundraising hockey game. "I won't be playing any leading men roles in the next couple of months," he joked after the accident.

He had the satisfaction of seeing his musical skills passed down to son Robin, a successful singer-songwriter and producer who, with brother Brennan, was born to Thicke and the first of his three wives, Gloria Loring.

In an email, Loring described Thicke's passing as "a shock. We were all just together for Thanksgiving. He was funny, talented and deeply devoted to his family."

Thicke also leaves a son, Carter, from his marriage to second wife Gina Tolleson. He had been married to Tanya Callau since 2005.

Several celebrities tweeted condolences to his family.

Cox Media Group