Kirk Cameron 'Heartbroken' Over Death of 'TV Dad' Alan Thicke
Actor Kirk Cameron took to social media Tuesday night to share his reaction to the unexpected death of his "TV dad" Alan Thicke.
In a sober Facebook post along with a video clip of Cameron and Thicke on the set of "Growing Pains," the actor wrote some words on behalf of himself and his wife, Chelsea Noble. Noble was also a featured actress on the show with Thicke and Cameron.
"I spent Monday through Friday for seven important years with Alan Thicke as my 'TV dad.' 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," Cameron wrote. "Chelsea and I send our love and prayers to his family tonight. We will cherish the memories ... 'sharing the laughter and love.'"
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The clip posted along with Cameron's quote was titled, "Thank God it's Friday," and featured a scene with Cameron and Thicke in their roles as Mike Seaver and Dr. Jason Seaver of the 1980s sitcom. In the scene, Mike had stayed out way past his curfew after resisting peer pressure to use drugs at a party while his father waited up for him to come home. The wholesome clip provided a refreshing look back at some of the family values addressed on the popular series that ran for seven seasons.
News of the Canadian actor's death was released to news outlets Tuesday night and confirmed by his longtime agent and friend, Tracy Mapes.
"I'm in shock," Mapes told the Daily News of Thicke's unexpected passing. "I am devastated and heartbroken. Today the world lost an amazing talent. He was charming, witty, talented, an icon. I was so blessed to have him in my life."
Thicke first began experiencing chest pains while at Pickwick Ice, a skating rink he frequently goes to with his 19 year old son, Carter, who was with him at the time for a pickup hockey game. He became nauseous and then vomited.
According to TMZ, the sitcom star was rushed to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, around noon where he was pronounced dead.
The vice president of Pickwick Ice told "Entertainment Tonight" that Thicke requested his son take a photo of him as he was being hauled away on a gurney.
"He had Carter take a picture of him and said, 'Make sure you get the rink in the background' as they were taking him out of here," Darin Mathewson told ET. "When he went by us, he gave us the thumbs up, like, 'I'm doing good guys, I'm good.'"
