Alan Thicke, Growing Pains Star, Dies Aged 69

Alan Thicke, the actor best known for his role on the ABC sitcom “Growing Pains,” died doing something he loved: playing hockey. He passed away of a heart attack on Tuesday at age 69.

According to TMZ, Thicke had a heart attack while he was playing hockey with his 19-year-old son, Carter. He was transported to Providence St. Joseph’s Medical Center around noon Tuesday, December 13th, and pronounced dead there.

Law enforcement sources told TMZ a company that recovers organs was contacted so some of Thicke’s organs could be donated.

He’s survived by his three sons — Robin, Brennan and Carter, and his wife, Tanya.

Thicke penned two books about parenting, 1999’s How Men Have Babies and 2006’s How to Raise Kids Who Won’t Hate You, and his more recent television credits included How I Met Your Mother, Scream Queens, This Is Us, Fuller House, and the Pop mockumentary series Unusually Thicke.

Brad Schwartz, the president of Pop TV, where the reality series Unusually Thicke aired for two seasons starting in 2014, remembered Thicke as “a tremendous talent” in a statement Tuesday. “He was also for all who knew him, an amazing father and a true gentleman. We had the privilege to work with America’s Favorite Dad and his loss is one that is deeply felt.”

Agencies/Canadajournal