Robin Thicke on Growing Up with ‘America’s Canadian Father’ Alan Thicke and Having Wayne Gretzky as a Babysitter

Alan Thicke, a songwriter and the star of the ’80s sitcom ‘Growing Pains,’ died in 2016 at age 69

Robin Thicke grew up surrounded by stars.

During a June 18 appearance on the podcast Getting Grilled with Curtis Stone, the “Blurred Lines” singer, 47, attributed his disposition toward music to his mother, singer Gloria Loring, and late father Alan Thicke, who died in 2016 at age 69.

Alan, whom Robin called a “multi-dimensional renaissance man,” was a songwriter and an actor, starring in the ‘80s sitcom Growing Pains as Dr. Jason Seaver. He also composed the theme songs of iconic series like Diff’rent Strokes, The Facts of Life and the original Wheel of Fortune intro.

“Your dad in some ways was America’s father,” remarked host Curtis Stone.

“America’s Canadian father,” Robin affirmed, recalling how his family would return to Alan’s home country every summer for boating trips.

Related: All About Robin Thicke’s Dad, Late Actor Alan Thicke

Robin’s Canadian ties didn’t end there. Hockey icon Wayne Gretzky, who was “very close” to Robin’s father, also babysat the young star while Alan took a two-week vacation to Russia. At the time, Gretzky, now 63, was on the verge of being traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings.

“That was a pretty wild time,” the songwriter said of his childhood.

Despite what Stone, 48, called a “crazy beginning in life,” Robin eventually followed his family’s footsteps into the entertainment industry.

“My mom and dad were both very artistic, very accomplished entertainers, and it was a blast to grow up in that environment because you’re very inspired,” The Masked Singer judge explained. “I knew very early on that I wanted to sing, and I wanted to write songs and to perform.”

He expressed admiration for his father’s work ethic and constant creativity, reminiscing on Alan’s late-night writing sessions with friends after putting his kids to bed.

“They’d sit and write and make music, and he loved staying creative and instilled that in me that there’s always a new song to write, a new idea to come up with, a new TV show to pitch,” Robin said.

Related: Robin Thicke Shares Throwback Video of Late ‘Pops’ Alan Thicke Helping Him Launch His Music Career

After Robin found industry success with his debut album A Beautiful World in 2002, he was asked to contribute to Lil Wayne’s The Carter III and Usher’s hit Confessions album, and wrote the song “Fall Again,” ultimately recorded by Michael Jackson. According to the performer, Alan thought “so much of it” that he flew out to New York City to stay with and celebrate his son.

The Grammy-nominated singer continues to honor his father following Alan’s sudden death in 2016 from a “ruptured aorta” and a “standard type A aortic dissection.” During a 2022 episode of The Masked Singer, Robin performed a rendition of the Growing Pains theme song “As Long as We Got Each Other” in tribute to his father.

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In 2021, the star opened up to PEOPLE about his track “That’s What Love Can Do,” the first song he wrote after Alan’s death.

“It’s about the passing of the torch of my father to me and the kind of man I want to be,” Robin explained. “After my father’s death, I remember a friend of his said, ‘A big tree has fallen.’ That’s what my dad was: the big tree. Now here I am, this medium-size tree, and I’ve got to grow my branches and protect everybody. Every day I try to make him proud of me.”

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