‘Growing Pains’ Star Says Alan Thicke Helped Him Avoid Homelessness

Jeremy Miller is sharing his gratitude to late television icon Alan Thicke, who played his father on “Growing Pains,” for providing emotional and professional support during a rocky time in his life.

Miller, best known for his portrayal of Ben Seaver on “Growing Pains,” got candid about his experiences with addiction in a video interview with Youngstown Studio last week.

During a particularly emotional point in the chat, Miller looked back on his relationship with Thicke fondly, calling him one of the “most caring, generous, loving men you could ever know.”

The former child actor, who is also a trained chef, went on to recall how Thicke and their “Growing Pains” co-star, Kirk Cameron, reached out to him when he was “on the brink of homelessness.”

“After 2008, when the big economic crash happened, my catering company went under, and I was really struggling ― I mean, really struggling,” he recalled, later adding: “Alan set up interviews with all of his restaurateur friends in Santa Barbara and a few other places and got me connected to different places where I could utilize my chef skills and earn some money to help take care of my family.”

He went on to note: “All it took was a phone call to say, ‘Hey, Al, I’m really struggling. Do you know anybody who might—’ and that’s all I had to say. He was on the phone for the next two days, making connections and doing everything he could to try and help me. That was just the kind of guy he was.”

Thicke died in 2016 of a heart attack at age 69. While “Growing Pains” wrapped its seven-season run in 1992, the actor had continued to appear in films and on TV regularly in the years preceding his death, with roles on “This is Us” and “Fuller House.” His last credited film role was in 2017’s “Love’s Last Resort,” which was released posthumously.

In his Youngstown Studio chat, Miller acknowledged having been in “shock” upon learning of Thicke’s death, noting: “We really thought he was gonna be the next Dick Clark, you know? 102 and still going.”

“He would call just to check up on me, make sure everything’s going good,” he said. “But he really did fill that father role. He was my other dad.”

Watch Jeremy Miller’s Youngstown Studio chat below. His comments on Thicke begin around the 14:54 mark.

Need help with substance use disorder or mental health issues? In the U.S., call 800-662-HELP (4357) for the SAMHSA National Helpline.