We lost another celebrity, TV dad Alan Thicke to the vicious year 2016 which has already taken Prince, David Bowie, Mohammed Ali, Alan Rickman, John Glenn, Natalie Cole, Florence Henderson, Gwenn Ifill, Tommy Ford, Gary Shandling, Glenn Frey and others.
Thicke suffered a heart attack in California while playing ice hockey with his 19 year old son, Carter. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
He is survived from by his wife Tanya, his famous entertainer and singer son Robin Thicke and another son Brennan.
Today I lost my best friend and my idol, and the world lost one of it’s finest. You are a legend and I love you Pops. Until next time. pic.twitter.com/ZQd2NZMTx4
— Carter Thicke (@CarterThicke) December 14, 2016
Thicke and his ex wife Days of Our Lives actress and singer Gloria Loring are credited for penning lots of great sitcom jingles including the ones to Diff’rent Strokes, Facts of Life and Growing Pains.
Thicke went on to appear in numerous television shows and films, often appearing as himself on such series as How I Met Your Mother.
Recently, he appeared on Netflix‘s Fuller House, a reboot of another 1980s sitcom, featuring Bob Saget and Kirk Cameron‘s real-life sister, Candace Cameron Bure. Some of the last tweets on Thicke’s Twitter account referenced the show.
Many of us grew up with Thicke on his 7-year run show and also from the various game shows he hosted.Today, a lot of his past and present co-stars and fellow industry associates shared their condolences and wishes in social media.
A photo posted by Jeff Franklin (@fullerhouseguy) on
The NHL family is sad to learn of the passing of longtime hockey fan Alan Thicke. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/5ADyWRksuf
— NHL (@NHL) December 14, 2016