Born in 1947, Thicke grew up in the northwestern Ontario town of Kirkland Lake. After college at the University of Western Ontario, Thicke found his way onto television as a host of various 70s game shows, notably the CFCF-TV game show First Impressions. He is, of course, best known to most of us as the character Jason Seaver from the classic TV show Growing Pains, which ran from 1985 to 1992. Alan also had a successful career as a composer of various TV theme songs in both Canada and the US; he in fact composed the original theme for the US game show Wheel of Fortune.

Alan Thicke is succeeded by his wife Tanya Callau and by his three children. He is fondly remembered by television fans worldwide.