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Entertainment • Actor

Alan Thicke

Alan Thicke was a Canadian actor, composer, writer, producer, and television host best known for playing Dr.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Alan Thicke was a Canadian actor, composer, writer, producer, and television host best known for playing Dr. Jason Seaver on the sitcom *Growing Pains*. He also wrote theme songs for several television programs and hosted his own talk show. He was born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, and died in Burbank, California, in 2016.

Early life

Alan Thicke was born Alan Willis Jeffrey in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada, on March 1, 1947. Sources identify him as Canadian and note that he later built a career in television in Canada and the United States.

Career

Thicke worked as an actor, writer, producer, composer, and host. He first became broadly recognized for *Growing Pains*, and he also wrote theme songs for programs such as *The Facts of Life* and *Diff'rent Strokes*.

Later work and public profile

Beyond *Growing Pains*, Thicke continued appearing on television and remained associated with hosting and family-oriented entertainment. His career is often described as unusually broad for one performer, spanning acting, songwriting, and presenting.

Death

Thicke died on December 13, 2016, in Burbank, California, at age 69. Contemporary reporting states he died after a heart-related medical emergency.

Key facts

  • Thicke became widely known for portraying Dr. Jason Seaver on *Growing Pains*.
  • He was also a songwriter and composer who wrote theme songs for several TV shows, including *The Facts of Life* and *Diff'rent Strokes*.
  • He hosted television programs, including his own late-night talk show, *The Alan Thicke Show*.
  • He was born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, and later became active in both Canadian and U.S. entertainment.
  • He died on December 13, 2016, at age 69, in Burbank, California.
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Canadian context

Alan Thicke was a Canadian-born entertainer whose early career began in Canadian television before he became well known in the United States. He is a notable figure for Canadian readers because he was born in Ontario and remained identified with Canadian entertainment throughout his career.[2][10][11]

Frequently asked questions

What is Alan Thicke best known for?
He is best known for playing Dr. Jason Seaver on the sitcom *Growing Pains*.
Was Alan Thicke Canadian?
Yes. He was born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada, and is widely identified as a Canadian entertainer.
Did Alan Thicke write TV theme songs?
Yes. Sources credit him with theme songs for *The Facts of Life*, *Diff'rent Strokes*, and *The Wheel of Fortune*.
What was Alan Thicke's birth name?
His birth name was Alan Willis Jeffrey.
When did Alan Thicke die?
He died on December 13, 2016, at age 69.

References

  1. Television Academy — https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/alan-thicke
    Supports: Birth date and place, occupations, career overview, death date and place
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Thicke
    Supports: Known for *Growing Pains* and general biographical overview
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005484/
    Supports: Birth and death dates, birthplace, occupations, selected credits
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005484/bio/
    Supports: Birth name, birthplace, death place, cause of death
  5. NPR — https://www.npr.org/2016/12/13/505494572/alan-thicke-80s-sitcom-dad-and-theme-song-composer-dies-at-69
    Supports: Career summary, theme-song composing, death notice
  6. People — https://people.com/tv/alan-thicke-dead-life-in-photos/
    Supports: Early hosting work, *Growing Pains*, TV theme-song credits, death details