Tracey Gold Remembers TV Dad Alan Thicke

— -- A day after "Growing Pains" star Alan Thicke's death, his TV daughter, actress Tracey Gold, reacted to the news of his unexpected passing.

"I am in absolute shock and so unbelievably sad," Gold said in a statement to Entertainment Weekly on Wednesday.

Gold played daughter Carol Seaver on the hit '80s sitcom as well as two reunion movies.

"In 1985, the Seavers became a family and Alan was our patriarch," she wrote. "I looked up to Alan and admired him greatly. I always listened to his advice and wisdom. He was so kind and warm and always made me laugh. He was incredibly proud that our 'Growing Pains' days were about family, all our families."

"He was truly an amazing father," she continued. "His sons were his world. Our 'Growing Pains' family is hurting today and that will not go away anytime soon. He was so full of life. I thought we had so much time. I’m not ready to say goodbye. I am so honored to have been his daughter for seven beautiful years. I love you Alan and will miss you forever."

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Thicke, 69, died Tuesday after suffering a heart attack in Los Angeles, according to a publicist for his son, Robin Thicke.

Since then, there has been an outpouring of grief from Hollywood, including other members of his TV family. "Growing Pains" co-stars Kirk Cameron, Joanna Kerns, and Leonardo DiCaprio were among those mourning Thicke's death.

Cameron, who played one of his TV sons, wrote on social media that he was "so blessed to have grown up with him." Kearns, who played his TV wife, called Thicke "one of the smartest and funniest men I have ever known." Meanwhile, DiCaprio, who played a homeless boy the Seavers took in, wrote on Facebook that he is "forever grateful for the opportunity I had to work with Alan early in my career."