Ryan Seacrest announces his father Gary Lee Seacrest's death at 79 after prolonged cancer battle
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Wheel of Fortune' host Ryan Seacrest shared the sad news that his father, Gary Lee Seacrest, died at the age of 79 after a prolonged battle with cancer.
The 50-year-old TV host shared his family's extreme sadness and comfort on his Instagram account, knowing his father no longer suffered, and shared some of the very personal moments of Gary's last days and private health battle.
Ryan Seacrest remembers his father Gary as his 'best friend'
Ryan Seacrest posted a heartfelt tribute to his father with a series of sweet family photos on Instagram on Friday, October 31.
He said, "It is with a heavy heart that I share with you that my loving father peacefully passed away earlier this week,” adding, “My mom, sister and I have peace knowing he is in a better place and free of any pain or suffering. We are heartbroken."
Ryan remembered his father as “a devoted husband for 56 years, an incredible Papa to Flora, and my best friend,” and concluded the post by writing, “Dad you will live in our hearts forever. I love you.”
Apart from Ryan, Gary is survived by his wife Connie Seacrest, daughter Meredith Seacrest Leach, and granddaughter, six-year-old Flora Leach.
Ryan Seacrest opens up about his father's private battle with cancer
On his podcast, 'On Air with Ryan Seacrest', the TV host reflected on his family's final moments with Gary Lee Seacrest, saying his father had "been sick for a long time."
In 2021, the ‘Wheel of Fortune’ host shared on his Instagram that his father was "battling cancer for several years," and the cancer was "no longer detectable" at the time.
However, Ryan revealed in July this year that his father had been diagnosed with prostate cancer years ago, which he kept “very private.”
Unfortunately, as Ryan noted, “It didn’t get better. It got worse and it spread. It didn’t go well for him.”
He said his decision to go public was influenced by his father contracting pneumonia earlier this year, which led to a dramatic moment while Ryan was filming 'American Idol'.
Ryan recalled, “I was on an 'American Idol' show live during last season and my sister called me and she said, ‘Dad is in the ICU. How fast can you get here?” He concluded, saying, “I couldn’t, I couldn’t even, I didn’t even remember what I was saying was on the show. It was like robotic at that point.”
He was also concerned for his mother, who had cancer in remission, saying, “I needed her to take a break,” adding, “When you’re a kid, no one tells you how to handle this with your parents.”
Ryan Seacrest reveals his father's final words
Ryan Seacrest gave an intensely personal account of his father's last moments on his podcast.
He remembered the scene as "so vivid in my mind," describing how his father, despite a lack of energy, “said without much strength or energy that he loved us and that he was going to miss us.”
Ryan recalled, “He looked over at me, and the power in the contact, he said, 'Take care of your mom.' And he said to my sister Meredith, and to her husband Jimmy, 'Take care of Flora my granddaughter.'"
He concluded the moving story of his father's death by saying, "And then literally a few seconds later he closed his eyes and said, 'I've got to go.' He knew. He was at peace."
