Alan Thicke Net Worth

What Was Alan Thicke's Net Worth and Salary?

Alan Thicke was a Canadian actor, songwriter, and talk show host who had a net worth of $40 million at the time of his death in 2016. Alan Thicke was perhaps best known for his role as Dr. Jason Seaver on the hit sitcom "Growing Pains," which aired from 1985 to 1992. His portrayal of the warm, wise, and often humorous father figure made him a staple of 1980s television and earned him enduring popularity. Before his breakout acting role, Thicke had already established himself behind the scenes as a successful writer and producer, contributing to talk shows like "Fernwood 2 Night" and "The Richard Pryor Show."

Alan also had a prolific career as a composer, writing memorable TV theme songs for shows like "Diff'rent Strokes," "The Facts of Life," and "Wheel of Fortune." According to Hollywood legend, Alan made more money during his career from theme song royalties than he did from acting.

In the early 1980s, he hosted his own talk show, "Thicke of the Night," which, despite being short-lived, showcased his charm and versatility. Throughout his later career, Thicke continued to appear in television guest spots, reality shows, and made-for-TV movies, often playing parodies of himself. Alan is also notable for being the father of singer Robin Thicke.

Early Life

Alan Thicke was born Alan Willis Jeffrey on March 1, 1947, in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada. He was the son of nurse Shirley "Joan" Isobel Marie and stockbroker William Jeffery. After his parents divorced in 1953, his mother went on to remarry Brian Thicke, and the family moved to Elliot Lake. Alan graduated from Elliot Lake Secondary School in 1965, where he was elected homecoming king. He attended the University of Western Ontario and joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity.

Early Career

Thicke started his career as a game show host on the Canadian show "First Impressions" in the 1970s and continued on the prime-time celebrity game show "Animal Crack-Ups" in the late '80s. Alan was hired as a producer and head of the writing staff on "Fernwood 2 Night," a talk show based on characters from "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman." In the late 1970s, Thicke was a frequent guest on the popular daytime talk show on Canadian TV, "The Alan Hamel Show."

During the 1980s, Thicke became the host of his own popular talk show in Canada called "The Alan Thicke Show" and was also signed to do an American syndicated late-night talk show called "Thicke of the Night," which turned out to be short-lived.

Growing Pains

Although he started his career as a host, Thicke is most widely recognized for his work on the hit 80's sitcom "Growing Pains," on which he played Jason Seaver, a psychiatrist and father. This role immediately turned him into a household name. The show ran from 1985 to 1992 on ABC. Alan reprised his role in two reunion movies, "The Growing Pains Movie" (2000) and "Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers" (2004).

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Other TV and Film Appearances

From 1983 to 1990, Thicke co-hosted Walt Disney World's "A Very Merry Christmas Parade" with Joan Lunden. He was succeeded by Regis Philbin. From 1987 to 1988, Alan hosted the Crystal Light National Aerobic Championship. In 1988, Thicke replaced Bob Barker as the host of the Miss USA Pageant and the Miss University Pageant. In 1990, he was replaced by Dick Clark as the host of the Miss USA Pageant.

Alan continued to host a wide range of TV events, including the SCTV special "Opening of SkyDome" in Toronto. In 1992, he made a cameo as himself in the pilot episode of the sitcom "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper." In the early 2000s, Thicke hosted "The All-New 3's a Crowd" on the Game Show Network. He appeared on the American TV series "Hope & Gloria," which ran for 35 episodes, and he played the lead role in the "Not Quite Human" Canadian trilogy of made-for-TV movies. In 2006, Alan hosted "Celebrity Cooking Showdown" on NBC. That same year, he made appearances as a talk show host on several episodes of the soap opera "The Bold and the Beautiful." In 2007 and 2008, he appeared in "Alpha Dog" and "JPod." He also had a cameo on "How I Met Your Mother" and guest-starred as himself in a few other episodes over the show's run.

In 2009, Thicke appeared on Adult Swim's "Time and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job," the web series "Star-ving," the film "The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard," and "Attack of the Show," and he also appeared in the season six finale of "Just Shoot Me." In 2010, he guest-starred on "Tosh.0." Later that year, he was a celebrity contestant on "Don't Forget the Lyrics."

In March 2013, Alan took part in ABC's "Celebrity Wife Swap," on which he swapped wives with comedian Gilbert Gottfried. In 2013, Thicke was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame, and he was also part of a quasi-reality TV show called "Usually Thicke" that aired on the TV Guide Network. In 2014 and 2015, Alan hosted a traveling dance show called "Dancing Pros Live," which toured the United States. In 2016, he appeared as himself in the very first episode of NBC's "This Is Us."

Songwriting

In addition to his on-screen success, Alan Thicke built a respected career as a songwriter, contributing to both pop music and television. In the pop world, he co-wrote several songs with and for his first wife, singer Gloria Loring. Their most notable success came with "Our Love," which became a Top 10 adult contemporary hit for Loring and Dionne Warwick in 1986. Thicke also co-wrote "Sara" for Bill Champlin, who would later become a longtime member of the band Chicago. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Thicke collaborated with various artists across the U.S. and Canada, often blending soft rock and adult contemporary styles.

However, his most recognizable musical legacy lies in television. Thicke composed or co-composed the theme songs for some of the most beloved sitcoms of the 1980s, including "Diff'rent Strokes" and "The Facts of Life." He also wrote the original themes for several game shows, such as "Wheel of Fortune," "Celebrity Sweepstakes," "The Diamond Head Game," and "Blank Check." His ability to craft instantly catchy tunes helped shape the sound of family television and game shows for a generation.

Thicke also produced and contributed musical material to numerous variety specials, including a series of CBC Anne Murray Christmas specials in the late 1970s. His songwriting career, while often overshadowed by his acting, showcased his deep understanding of entertainment and his multifaceted creative talents.

Brennan Thicke, Alan, Joanna Kerns and Robin Thicke (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

Personal Life & Philanthropy

Alan Thicke was married three times over the course of his life. His first marriage was to actress and singer Gloria Loring, best known for her role on "Days of Our Lives." They were married from 1970 to 1984 and had two sons together: Brennan and Robin Thicke, the latter of whom became a successful singer-songwriter. Thicke later married Gina Tolleson, a former Miss World, and they had one son, Carter. His third marriage was to model Tanya Callau, whom he wed in 2005; they remained together until his death in 2016.

Thicke also made headlines in 1987 when he began dating 17-year-old actress Kristy Swanson while he was 40. The two were briefly engaged but never married.

Outside of his entertainment career, Thicke was deeply involved in philanthropy. He co-founded the Alan Thicke Center for Diabetes Research, inspired in part by his personal connections to the disease. He was also a longtime co-host of Telemiracle, a 20-hour televised fundraiser broadcast annually in Saskatchewan to support the Kinsmen Foundation, a Canadian non-profit that provides medical assistance and mobility equipment to those in need. His charitable efforts were a meaningful part of his public life and legacy.

Alan and Tanya Thicke Getty Images

Death

On December 13, 2016, Alan collapsed while playing hockey with his son, Carter, in Burbank, California. He died later that day at age 69 of type-A aortic dissection at the Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. His funeral was held on December 19, 2016, and was attended by the entire cast of "Growing Pains," including Leonardo DiCaprio. Bob Saget gave the eulogy, and Thicke was buried at the Santa Barbara Cemetery.

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