Singer Robin Thicke was overwhelmed with grief on Tuesday as he laid his father Alan Thicke to rest in California.
The TV and music veteran, 69, suffered a heart attack and died on 13 December, and exactly one week later, friends and family members, including his widow Tanya Callau, gathered to bid a final farewell to the Growing Pains star at a private funeral service in Santa Barbara.
Robin served as a pallbearer at the memorial and photos from the burial show the Blurred Lines hitmaker clearly distraught at the huge loss.
The 39-year-old, who was dressed in a black suit, matching shirt and sunglasses, was pictured appearing to struggle with his emotions in one series of images, turning away from the group of mourners with his head bowed and his hands on his hips before looking towards the skies, while another shot captured the singer holding his hand over his mouth as he seemingly fought back tears.
Robin, who previously paid tribute to his late father as “the greatest man I ever met”, was supported by his 22-year-old model girlfriend April Love Geary, who wore a low-cut, long-sleeved black dress to attend the funeral.
The service was held two days after Robin and his brothers Brennan and Carter helped to welcome guests, including Alan’s old co-stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Bob Saget, and Kirk Cameron, at a special memorial at the late actor’s ranch in Carpinteria, California on Sunday.
“Tonight’s memorial for Alan was just about perfect,” Brennan’s wife Dolly wrote on Instagram after the service. “So much family and so many historic friends came out to remember our beloved father-figure. Speaking for Alan so beautifully was (I’m realising now) an all-star cast.”
The post continued, “We heard from our own Robin Thicke who brought up all dear dad’s best friends, Bob Saget, Bill Maher, Alex Trebec (sic) who I had no idea had such old deep ties to our family, the entire cast of Growing Pains including Leo and Kirk Cameron who I had the pleasure of meeting for the first time, along with his wife who became an instant friend (sic).”
