LOS ANGELES:- Actor Alan Thicke, who played the father in US family sitcom Growing Pains, has died at the age of 69. A publicist for Thicke’s son, singer Robin Thicke, confirmed that the Canadian actor died from a heart attack on Tuesday in Los Angeles. He was also well known as a TV host and the composer of the theme song to sitcom Diff’rent Strokes. But Thicke’s most famous role was as Dr Jason Seaver in Growing Pains, which aired from 1985 to 1992. Star Trek actor William Shatner led the tributes on Twitter, writing: “Saddened over the loss of my friend Alan. Condolences to his family.”–BBC