Alan Thicke dead: Tracey Gold remembers Growing Pains dad

A day after the sudden death of Alan Thicke at age 69, his Growing Pains costar Tracey Gold paid tribute to him with a heartfelt remembrance, in which she said she was “honored to have been his daughter for seven beautiful years.”

Gold, who appeared with Thicke in the popular ’80s sitcom and two reunion movies, said in a statement to EW, “I am in absolute shock and so unbelievably sad. In 1985, the Seavers became a family and Alan was our patriarch. I looked up to Alan and admired him greatly. I always listened to his advice and wisdom. He was so kind and warm and always made me laugh. He was incredibly proud that our Growing Pains days were about family, all our families.”

Gold’s statement continued, “He was truly an amazing father. His sons were his world. Our Growing Pains family is hurting today and that will not go away anytime soon. He was so full of life. I thought we had so much time. I’m not ready to say goodbye. I am so honored to have been his daughter for seven beautiful years. I love you Alan and will miss you forever.”

Fellow Growing Pains stars Kirk Cameron, Joanna Kerns, and Leonardo DiCaprio have also mourned Thicke’s death. Cameron, his TV son, said he was “so blessed to have grown up with him,” and Kerns, his TV wife, remembered Thicke as “one of the smartest and funniest men I have ever known.”