Alan Thicke, the veteran actor probably best now known as the dad on "Growing Pains," died Tuesday, reportedly of a heart attack while playing hockey with his son. He was 69.
Thicke suffered a heart attack around noon Tuesday while playing hockey with his 19-year-old son, Carter, and was rushed to a hospital near the Burbank, California, skating rink, where he was pronounced dead, TMZ reported.
According to the Heart Foundation, someone has a heart attack every 34 seconds in the United States, and someone dies from a heart disease-related event every 60 seconds.
Here are eight other celebrities who have succumbed to the "silent killer":
1. James Gandolfini — The "Sopranos" star was just 51 when he died of a massive heart attack while on vacation in Italy in 2013. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)
2. Peter Finch — The "Network" actor suffered a heart attack in the lobby of the Beverly Hills Hotel in 1977 and died at age 60. (Metro Goldwyn Mayer via IMDb)
3. John Candy — The funnyman, known for his roles in films like "Spaceballs," "Uncle Buck," and "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," died in 1994 while on vacation in Mexico. He was 43. (AP Photo)
4. Jerry Garcia — In 1995 at age 53, the Grateful Dead rocker was found dead at a rehab clinic where he had been trying to kick a drug habit. (AP Photo/Steve Senna)
5. Luther Vandross — After years of struggling with health problems, Vandross succumbed to a heart attack in 2005 at age 54. (AP Photo/Mark Avery)
6. Celeste Holm — The old Hollywood star of "Come to the Stable" (1949) and "All About Eve" (1950) suffered a fatal heart attack in 2012. She was 95. (AP Photo)
7. Orson Welles — The acclaimed writer, director, and actor who achieved a trifecta of success in film, radio, and theater died of a heart attack in 1985 at the age of 70. (AP Photo)
8. Michael Clarke Duncan — Perhaps best known for his work in "The Green Mile," Duncan was just 54 when he suffered a heart attack in 2012 that would lead to his death. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)