Joanna Kerns & Leonardo DiCaprio Pay Tribute to ‘Growing Pains’ Co-star Alan Thicke

Hollywood is still reeling from Alan Thicke's unexpected death, and now his co-stars on “Growing Pains” are weighing in on their loss.

Joanna Kerns played his wife for seven seasons on the show. She said in a statement, “I am devastated by Alan's passing and will be for some time. I used to joke, before I met my real husband, Marc, that Alan was my favorite daytime husband. At work we laughed all day, everyday at things Alan would come up with, usually at my expense. It was fun. Alan was fun and we all loved teasing each other. Alan kept me calm and when I'd start to get upset about something silly, he would set things straight, give me a big hug and very gently say, 'Maggie… don't be an a**hole.'”

Kerns reflected on their time together on set. "Alan was a true and loyal friend. As Maggie and Jason Seaver, we experienced more than a life-changing success together. When you pretend to love someone day after day, year after year, you see all their faults and foibles and learn to accept them as they are, separate from you, and there is a connection that happens that is hard to explain. I had that with Alan. Maybe that's what marriage should be, the ability to love without judgement and the strength to remain separate.”

The 63-year-old also painted a loving picture of Thicke, who was more than just her co-star. She said, “Alan loved everything youthful: women, sports, music, and above all, his beautiful and talented sons, Brennan, Robin, and Carter… There was a sweetness and kindness to his humor. No one could make fun of Alan better than Alan. As an actor, that is a gift, and I truly believe he was underrated.”

Though Alan loved many things in life, he was not a fan of Kerns' nickname for him. She revealed, “I loved Al. I called him Al because it really bugged him. He thought it sounded like an old man's name. He hated it, but the cast loved it and unfortunately for him, it stuck.”

Along with Kerns, Leonardo DiCaprio, who appeared on the last season of “Growing Pains," also paid tribute to Thicke. He wrote on Facebook, "Alan was a devoted father, husband, friend and role model. He knew how to harness the power of the entertainment industry to be a positive influence in so many lives — including mine.”