Leonardo DiCaprio has written a touching post paying tribute his “Growing Pains” co-star Alan Thicke, who passed away at the age of 69 on Tuesday.
“Alan was a devoted father, husband, friend and role model. He knew how to harness the power of the entertainment industry to be a positive influence in so many lives – including mine,” DiCaprio wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.
“I will be forever grateful for the opportunity I had to work with Alan early in my career. He had tremendous class, a huge heart, and he taught me and so many others the valuable lessons about humility and gratitude … I miss him already — my thoughts and prayers are with the entire Thicke family during this difficult time.”
On Tuesday, Thicke suffered a heart attack while playing hockey with his 19-year-old son Carter and was transported to a hospital in Burbank, California, TMZ reported.
Thicke played Jason Seaver, the father on sitcom “Growing Pains,” which ran for seven seasons from 1985-1992 on ABC. The show garnered him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in 1988.
In one of his first onscreen roles, DiCaprio joined the cast in the last season as a homeless teen who’s taken in by the Seaver family.
The sitcom spawned two TV movie spinoffs, “The Growing Pains Movie” in 2000 and “Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers,” in 2004, with Thicke reprising his role and the original cast, including Joanne Kerns, Kirk Cameron and Tracey Gold returning as the Seaver clan.
Cameron paid his respects to Thicke as well, writing on Instagram Tuesday, “I’m shocked and truly heartbroken today at the news of his death. Alan was a generous, kind and loving man. I am so blessed to have grown up with him. Chelsea and I send our love and prayers to his family tonight. We will cherish the memories… ‘sharing the laughter and love.’”
See DiCaprio’s Facebook post below.