Alan Thicke (born Alan Willis Jeffery; March 1, 1947) is a Canadian actor, songwriter, and game and talk show host. He is best known for his role as Jason Seaver, the patriarch on the ABC television series Growing Pains.

Background and personal life

Thicke was born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, the son of Joan, a nurse, and William Jeffrey, a stockbroker. His mother later married Brian Thicke, a physician. He graduated from Elliot Lake Secondary School in 1965, and was elected the homecoming king. He went on to attend the University of Western Ontario, where he joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity. Alan is an avid hockey and softball fan/player.