Leonardo DiCaprio's moving tribute to late TV dad Alan Thicke

Alan Thicke and Leonardo Dicaprio were very close on the set of Growing Pains. Photo / Getty

Hollywood A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio has paid emotional tribute to the TV dad he played alongside in one of his earliest roles.

Actor Alan Thicke died yesterday at the age of 69, suffering a heart attack while playing hockey with his teenage son Carter near their Los Angeles home.

Alan Thicke and Leonardo Dicaprio in Growing Pains. Photo / Getty

While he amassed dozens of film and television credits across his career, Thicke's most memorable role was as the Seaver family patriarch Jason in Growing Pains, which ran for seven seasons from 1985.

In its final season, a then-unknown DiCaprio, just 17 at the time, joined the cast as homeless teen Luke Brower who came to live with the Seaver family.

It was the start of bigger and better things for the young actor: Within three years he would be nominated for his first Academy Award for his role in What's Eating Gilbert Grape.

Alan Thicke and Leonardo Dicaprio in Growing Pains. Photo / Getty

In a post to his official Facebook page today, DiCaprio paid tribute to the beloved sitcom star, saying that "no one was cooler".

"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. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity I had to work with Alan early in my career," DiCaprio wrote.

"He had tremendous class, a huge heart, and he taught me and so many others the valuable lessons about humility and gratitude. I've seen him a number of times over the years and when Alan Thicke walked in the room, quite frankly, no one was cooler. I miss him already - my thoughts and prayers are with the entire Thicke family during this difficult time."

The cast from Growing Pains. Photo / Getty

DiCaprio has joined a plethora of Hollywood stars, including Thicke's former colleagues and famous family members, to pay tribute to the TV great.

Thicke's son, Blurred Lines singer Robin, described his father as "the greatest man I ever met" and "always a gentleman", and also detailed the final conversation they had just days earlier.

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A post shared by Robin Thicke (@robinthicke) on Dec 13, 2016 at 11:57pm PST

"The good thing was that he was beloved and he had closure," Thicke said. "I saw him a few days ago and told him how much I loved and respected him."