Alan Thicke
Alan Thicke | |
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Thicke at the "Night of 100 Stars", at the Beverly Hills Hotel, March 2010 | |
Born |
Alan Willis Jeffery March 1, 1947 Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada |
Alma mater | University of Western Ontario |
Occupation | Actor, composer, TV host |
Years active | 1969–present |
Spouse(s) |
|
Children |
Brennan Thicke Robin Thicke Carter Thicke |
Relatives | Todd Thicke (half brother) |
Alan Willis Thicke (born Alan Willis Jeffery; March 1, 1947) is a Canadian actor, songwriter, and game and talk show host. He is known for his role as Jason Seaver, the father on the ABC television series Growing Pains. He is the father of singer Robin Thicke. In 2013, Thicke was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.
Early life
Thicke was born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada, the son of Shirley "Joan" Isobel Marie (née Greer), a nurse, and William Jeffery, a stockbroker.[1] His mother remarried to Brian Thicke, a physician.
Thicke graduated from Elliot Lake Secondary School in 1965, and was elected homecoming king. He went on to attend the University of Western Ontario, where he joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity.
Career
Game shows
Thicke hosted a Canadian game show on CFCF-TV in Montreal called First Impressions in the late 1970s and the Saturday morning celebrity game show Animal Crack-Ups in the late 1980s. In 1997, he hosted a television version of the board game Pictionary.[1] In the early 2000s, he hosted the All New 3's a Crowd on the Game Show Network.[1]
Talk shows
Norman Lear hired Thicke to produce and head the writing staff of Fernwood 2-Night, a tongue-in-cheek talk show based on characters from Lear's earlier show, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. In the late 1970s, he was a frequent guest host of The Alan Hamel Show, a popular daytime talk show on Canadian TV, usually hosted by Alan Hamel. Thicke went on to host his own popular talk show in Canada during the early 1980s, called The Alan Thicke Show. The show at one point spawned a prime-time spinoff, Prime Cuts, which consisted of edited highlights from the talk show. Thicke was later signed to do an American syndicated late-night talk show, Thicke of the Night.
Theme song composer
Thicke had a successful career as a TV theme song composer, often collaborating with his then-wife Gloria Loring on these projects, which included the themes to the popular sitcoms Diff'rent Strokes and The Facts of Life. He also wrote a number of TV game show themes, including The Wizard of Odds (for which he also sang the vocal introduction), The Joker's Wild, Celebrity Sweepstakes, The Diamond Head Game, Animal Crack-Ups (which he co-wrote with his brother Todd Thicke and Gary Pickus), Blank Check, Stumpers!, Whew!,[2] and the original theme to Wheel of Fortune. Thicke was a popular songwriter. He co-wrote "Sara", a solo hit for Bill Champlin and included on the latter's Runaway album (1981).
Growing Pains
Thicke played Jason Seaver, a psychiatrist and father, on the family sitcom Growing Pains.[3] When the show began, Jason was moving his psychiatry practice into the home to be closer to the family's children while the family matriarch Maggie, played by Joanna Kerns, resumed her career as a reporter.[4] Growing Pains debuted on ABC in 1985 and ran until 1992.[3][5]
Two TV movies, The Growing Pains Movie (2000), and Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers (2004), followed.
Television and film appearances
![](../I/m/Alan_Thicke.jpg)
Thicke co-hosted the Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade (now the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade) with Joan Lunden from 1983 to 1990, when he was succeeded by Regis Philbin.
In 1988, he hosted the Miss USA Pageant in El Paso, Texas, replacing Bob Barker (who quit over fur being involved in the pageants). He replaced Barker again as host of the 1988 Miss Universe Pageant (along with Tracy Scoggins) in Taipei, Taiwan. Thicke was replaced by Dick Clark as host of the 1989 Miss USA Pageant in Mobile, Alabama and by John Forsythe as host of the 1989 Miss Universe Pageant in Cancun, Mexico.
Thicke continued hosting a wide range of variety TV events. In 1989 he co-hosted with SCTV alumnus Andrea Martin the TV special Opening of SkyDome in Toronto, which aired across Canada on the CBC.[6] In 2004, he hosted the Miss Universe Canada Pageant in Ontario. Apart from Growing Pains, Thicke also appeared on the American television series Hope & Gloria, which ran for 35 episodes. He played a lead role in the Not Quite Human trilogy of made-for-TV movies. In April 2006, he hosted Celebrity Cooking Showdown on NBC, in which celebrities were teamed with famous chefs in a cooking competition. In August 2006 and 2007, Thicke made a few appearances as talk show host Rich Ginger on The Bold and the Beautiful. Thicke also had a cameo appearance in the 2007 movie Alpha Dog as the father of the lead character's girlfriend.
In 2008, Thicke appeared in a major supporting role as Jim Jarlewski in the television series adaptation of Douglas Coupland's jPod. That same year, he had a cameo appearance in the How I Met Your Mother episode "Sandcastles in the Sand" as the dad in Robin Scherbatsky's second "Robin Sparkles" music video.[7] He guest starred as himself in the episode "The Rough Patch". He appeared on a website made specifically for the show, canadiansexacts.org, featured in the episode "Old King Clancy".
In February 2009, Thicke made a guest appearance on Adult Swim's Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job. In the same month, he made a guest appearance on the web series Star-ving.[8] He also had a role in the 2009 film, The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard. On July 10, 2009, Thicke appeared on the 1000th episode of Attack of the Show!, and sang a song with Kevin Pereira and Olivia Munn, at the end kissing Munn.
Thicke appeared in the season six finale of Just Shoot Me, "The Boys in the Band". He made a guest appearance on a few episodes of Canada's Worst Handyman 5. In 2010, Thicke appeared on the television program, Tosh.0. In October 2010, he appeared as a celebrity contestant on Don't Forget the Lyrics, where he played for the charities ProCon.org and the Alan Thicke Center for diabetes research.[9]
In March 2013, he participated on ABC's Celebrity Wife Swap. He swapped wives with comedian Gilbert Gottfried.[10]
Other hosting
In 2014 and 2015 Thicke hosted a traveling dance show called Dancing Pros Live which toured the United States.[11]
Personal life
Thicke has been married three times: His first marriage, to Days of Our Lives actress Gloria Loring, lasted from 1970 until around 1984, and has two sons, Brennan and Robin Thicke.[1] He started dating actress Kristy Swanson when she was 17 years old in 1986 and got engaged to her two years later when he was 42.[12] He married his second wife, Miss World 1990 Gina Tolleson, on August 13, 1994, and had a son, Carter William Thicke, before their divorce was finalized on September 29, 1999.[1] In 1999, he met Tanya Callau in Miami, where he was the celebrity host and she was a model. They married in 2005.[13]
Filmography
![](../I/m/CFC_in_LA_(Alan_Thicke).jpg)
Films
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
1971 | The Point! | Narrator/Father (voice; third telecast) |
1983 | Copper Mountain | Jackson Reach |
1984 | Calendar Girl Murders | Alan Conti |
1987 | Not Quite Human | Dr. Jonas Carson |
1991 | And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird | Matthew Carson / Newman (voice) |
1993 | Betrayal of the Dove | Jack West |
1993 | Stepmonster | George Dougherty |
1995 | Open Season | Xanex |
1996 | Demolition High | Slater |
1998 | Anarchy TV | Reverend Wright |
2000 | Bear with Me | |
2001 | Xin shi zi jie tou | Steve |
2003 | Hollywood North | Peter Casey |
2003 | Carolina | Chuck McBride – Perfect Date Host |
2004 | Raising Helen | Hockey Cantor |
2004 | Childstar | J.R. |
2006 | The Surfer King | Pipeman |
2006 | Alpha Dog | Douglas Holden |
2009 | The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard | Stu Harding |
2009 | RoboDoc | Dr. Roskin |
2010 | Making a Scene | The Producer |
2015 | It's Not My Fault and I Don't Care Anyway | Patrick Spencer |
Television
Series
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1969 | It's Our Stuff | Regular | |
1974 | Jack: A Flash Fantasy | Jack of Diamonds | |
1978 | America 2-Night | Doug | Episode: "I Am Democracy" |
1980–82 | The Alan Thicke Show | Himself/Host | Also writer and producer |
1983–84 | Thicke of the Night | Himself/Host | Also writer and executive producer |
1984 | Masquerade | Episode: "Sleeper" | |
1984/87 | The Love Boat | Alan Price / Robert McBride / Senator Bob Townsend | 3 episodes |
1985 | Scene of the Crime | Craig Spears | Episode: "A Vote for Murder" |
1985–92 | Growing Pains | Jason Seaver | |
1990 | The Hitchhiker | Mickey Black | Episode: "Tough Guys Don't Whine" |
1992 | Travelquest | Host | |
1993 | Murder, She Wrote | Harrison M. Kane | Episode: "The Phantom Killer" |
1994 | Burke's Law | Episode: "Who Killed the Beauty Queen?" | |
1995 | Minor Adjustments | Roger | Episode: "The Ex-Files" |
1995–96 | Hope & Gloria | Dennis Dupree | |
1996/97 | Married... with Children | Bruce / Henry | 3 episodes |
1997 | The Outer Limits | Donald Rivers | Episode: "A Special Edition" |
1999 | Arliss | Doctor | Episode: "Rules of the Game" |
2000 | Beggars and Choosers | Episode: "The Woodhouse Conundrum" | |
2000–02 | Son of the Beach | Captain 'Buck' Enteneille / Captain Buck Enteneille | 3 episodes |
2001 | 7th Heaven | Ed Palmer | Episode: "Parents" |
2003 | EGG, the Arts Show | Alan Scott | Episode: "Broadway Workshop" |
2004 | My Wife and Kids | Magician | Episode: "Fantasy Camp: Part 2" |
2005 | Yes, Dear | Joel | Episode: "The New Neighbors" |
2005 | Half & Half | Gavin Storm | Episode: "The Big Mothers for Others Episode" |
2005 | Joey | Himself | Episode: "Joey and the Poker" |
2006–09 | The Bold and the Beautiful | Rich Ginger | 7 episodes |
2007 | Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide | Hal E. Burton | Episode: "Spring Fever & the School Newspaper" |
2008 | About a Girl | Dude's Dad | Episode: "About a Homecoming" |
2008 | JPod | Jim Jarlewski | 13 episodes |
2008–13 | How I Met Your Mother | Himself | 5 episodes |
2010 | Canada's Worst Handyman 5 | Himself | |
2010 | Tosh.0 | Himself | Episode: "Crystal Light Dancers (Reunion)" |
2011 | I'm in the Band | Simon Craig | 5 episodes |
2011 | This Hour Has 22 Minutes | Himself | |
2012 | The L.A. Complex | Donald Gallagher | 4 episodes |
2013 | Celebrity Wife Swap | Himself | Season 2, episode 3 |
2014 | Unusually Thicke | Himself | Reality show; 14 episodes |
2014 | American Dad! | Himself | Episode: "Permanent Record Wrecker" |
2015 | Scream Queens | Tad Radwell | Episode: "Thanksgiving" |
2015 | The Jack and Triumph Show | Himself | Episode: 7 |
2016 | This is Us | Himself | Episode: "Pilot" |
2016 | The Eric Andre Show | Himself | Season 4, Episode 9 |
Movies
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
1986 | Perry Mason: The Case of the Shooting Star | Steve Carr |
1987 | Hitting Home | Conrad Vaughan |
1987 | Not Quite Human | Dr. Jonas Carson |
1988 | 14 Going on 30 | The real Forndexter |
1988 | Dance 'til Dawn | Jack Lefcourt |
1989 | Not Quite Human II | Dr. Jonas Carson |
1990 | Jury Duty: The Comedy | Phil Beckman |
1992 | The Trial of Red Riding Hood | The Wolf |
1992 | Still Not Quite Human | Dr. Jonas Carson |
1993 | Rubdown | Raymond Holliman |
1994 | Lamb Chop and the Haunted Studio | Alan |
1995 | Lamb Chop's Special Chanukah | Alan |
1996 | Windsor Protocol | Senator Joplin Hardy |
1996 | Shari's Passover Surprise | Alan |
1996 | The Secret She Carried | Reed Epperson (uncredited) |
1997 | Shadow of the Bear | William Andrich |
1997 | Any Place But Home | August Danforth |
1998 | Thunder Point | Joplin Hardy |
1998 | Casper Meets Wendy | Baseball Announcer |
1999 | Two of Hearts | Hank Powers |
2000 | Ice Angel | Coach Parker |
2000 | The Growing Pains Movie | Jason Seaver |
2004 | Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers | Jason Seaver |
2008 | Mother Goose Parade | |
2013 | Camp Sunshine | Ken Handcourt |
2013 | Bad Management | Tobias Sr. |
2013 | Let It Snow | Ted Beck |
Commercials
In the 1990s, Thicke was the spokesman for the Canadian division of Woolco department stores until its demise in 1994.[14] In 1991 Thicke appeared in a television commercial for 'Fruit of the Loom' underwear. In 1997 he appeared in a television infomercial for the 'Bright Smile' tooth whitening system. In 2007, he appeared in a television ad for Tahiti Village, a Las Vegas time-share resort. In 2009 Thicke began appearing in TV ads endorsing CCS Medical, a distributor of home-delivered diabetes supplies.[15][16][17] In 2014, Thicke began appearing in ad spots for OptimaTax Relief.[18]
Books
- Thicke, Alan (May 1999). How Men Have Babies: The Pregnant Father's Survival Guide. Contemporary Books. ISBN 978-0-8092-2806-5.
- Thicke, Alan (April 27, 2006). How To Raise Kids Who Won't Hate You. iUniverse Star. ISBN 978-0-595-84288-9.
Honours
- 1988: Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series – Comedy/Musical for Growing Pains
- 1998: Nominated – Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Audience Participation Show/Game Show for Pictionary (co-executive producer)
- 2013: Inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame[19]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Alan Thicke Biography". FilmReference.com. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
- ↑ "Whew! Credits". Television Production Music Museum. 2010. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
Alan Thicke: Did not save a master reel. He didn't even remember doing the show. After much discussion, he gave the museum a written release so we can acquire anything the US Copyright office has regarding WHEW!
- 1 2 Hal Erickson, Rovi. "Alan Thicke". New York Times. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
- ↑ Margulies, Lee (9 October 1985). "He's Never Too Thicke To Endure 'Growing Pains'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
- ↑ Slate, Libby (25 April 1992). "A Night of Long Goodbys at ABC: Television: The last episodes of 'Growing Pains,' 'Who's the Boss?' and 'MacGyver' are expected to lure faithful viewers one more time.". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e3f4sWNFh4
- ↑ "Sandcastles In The Sand". How I Met Your Mother. Season 3. Episode 16. April 21, 2008. CBS.
- ↑ "News and Updates". AlanThicke.com. Retrieved February 24, 2009.
- ↑ "Don't Forget the Lyrics!". ProCon.org. October 20, 2010. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
- ↑ Itzkoff, Dave (March 11, 2013). "Vulgarity's Abrasive Master, but Not at Home". New York Times. p. C1. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
- ↑ BWW News Desk (September 17, 2014). "Karina Smirnoff, Chelsie Hightower & More Set for DANCING PROS: LIVE Tour". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
- ↑ "Alan Thicke". TV.com. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
- ↑ "Growing Pains' Alan Thicke Ties the Knot". People.com. May 11, 2005. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
- ↑ Don't get me started!: reflections ... – Susan Mackie Smith – Google Books. Retrieved November 20, 2011 – via Google Books.
- ↑ Weather & Time. "Does Alan Thicke have diabetes?". ChaCha. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
- ↑ juliana (April 25, 2007). "Alan Thicke Hawking Las Vegas Time Shares". HotelChatter. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
- ↑ Walters, Chris (June 24, 2009). "Alan Thicke Can't Save Tahiti Village Timeshare Company From Going Under". The Consumerist. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
- ↑ "Optima Tax Relief TV Spot, 'IRS' Featuring Alan Thicke".
- ↑ "Alan Thicke". Canada's Walk of Fame. Archived from the original on September 30, 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alan Thicke. |
- Official website
- Alan Thicke at the Internet Movie Database
- Alan Thicke at the Internet Broadway Database
- Alan Thicke in NNDB
- Alan Thicke in biography.com
Preceded by |
Miss World America Host 1992 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by Bob Barker |
Miss USA Host 1988 |
Succeeded by Dick Clark |
Preceded by Bob Barker |
Miss Universe Host 1988 |
Succeeded by John Forsythe |
Preceded by Brian Robbins |
Host, Pictionary 1997–1998 |
Succeeded by Defunct |
Preceded by |
Miss Universe Canada Host 2004 |
Succeeded by Dominique Dufour |