‘Growing Pains’ star Alan Thicke’s cause of death was a ruptured aorta
LOS ANGELES — Alan Thicke’s death certificate states the actor died of a ruptured aorta.
Thicke’s death certificate was released Wednesday, two days after the actor was buried in a Santa Barbara cemetery with several of his “Growing Pains” cast mates, including Leonardo DiCaprio, in attendance.
The cause of death was determined by a doctor and no autopsy was performed on the Canadian actor, songwriter and talk show host.
Thicke died at a Burbank, California, hospital on Dec. 13 at age 69.
His death certificate released Wednesday states Thicke’s aorta artery ruptured three hours after first developing a tear.
His wife, Tanya Thicke, wrote in a statement released Tuesday that their family was dealing with “gut wrenching sadness and unbelievable grief.”
An aortic tear also killed actor John Ritter in 2003.
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'Growing Pains' star Alan Thicke dead at 69
