Alan Thicke
A Canadian entertainer who became America's favorite TV dad on Growing Pains, masking a sharp wit behind a warm, dependable smile.
1947–2016 (age 69)·Canadian actor, songwriter, and television host·Birthday: March 1·Baby Boomers
Biography
Long before he was the wise and patient Dr. Jason Seaver, Alan Thicke was a utility player in the entertainment industry, writing theme songs for sitcoms and hosting Canadian game shows. His big break came when 'Growing Pains' needed a father figure who could be both authoritative and approachable, a role he inhabited so perfectly he defined a generation's ideal of suburban dadhood. Off-screen, Thicke was a different animal—a skilled improviser, a relentless prankster, and a talented songwriter who penned themes for shows like 'Diff'rent Strokes.' His later career saw him embrace his own persona, hosting talk shows and appearing as a good-natured version of himself, forever cementing his status as a versatile and beloved showbiz professional.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Alan was born in 1947, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1947
#1 Movie
The Egg and I
Best Picture
Gentleman's Agreement
Alan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1947Born
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1952Started school
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1960Became a teenager
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1963Could drive
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1965Could vote
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1968Turned 21
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1977Turned 30
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 40
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 50
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 60
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Died at 69
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
Key Achievements
- Starred as psychiatrist and father Jason Seaver on the hit ABC sitcom 'Growing Pains' for seven seasons.
- Wrote the theme songs for several television shows, including 'The Facts of Life' and 'Diff'rent Strokes.'
- Hosted the popular Canadian late-night talk show 'The Alan Thicke Show' in the early 1980s.
- Was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2013 for his contributions to television and music.
Did You Know?
He co-wrote the theme song for the 1970s game show 'The Wizard of Odds.'
He was a skilled tennis player and frequently participated in celebrity tournaments.
His son is singer Robin Thicke, known for the hit 'Blurred Lines.'
He was a champion of Canadian talent and often featured fellow Canadians on his talk shows.
“I've been a performer since I was a kid. I've never had a real job.”
