Ryan Seacrest Reflects on His First Christmas Without His Father
Ryan-Seacrest">Ryan Seacrest is fondly remembering his late father, Gary Seacrest, during this holiday season.
“This is the first Christmas without Dad, but I am keeping him close in all the ways we can,” Ryan, 51, wrote via Instagram on Thursday, December 25, alongside a photograph of himself and his family. “We miss him. Merry Heavenly Christmas.”
The American Idol host wore matching festive pajamas alongside his loved ones as they gathered around the Christmas tree.
Ryan also provided a glimpse of the holiday meal he and his family enjoyed. In a subsequent image, Ryan posed in the kitchen while sporting festive, Christmas tree-shaped eyewear.
Ryan-Seacrest">Ryan Seacrest Mourns Dad Gary's Passing After a Battle with Prostate Cancer
Two months ago, Ryan announced that his father had died following a struggle with prostate cancer.
“It is with a heavy heart that I share with you that my beloved father peacefully passed away earlier this week,” the radio show host wrote via Instagram in October. “My mother, sister and I find comfort knowing he is in a better place and free from any pain or suffering. We are heartbroken.”
Ryan continued, “He was a devoted husband for 56 years, an incredible grandfather to [my] niece Flora and my best friend. Dad, you will live on in our hearts forever. I love you.”
Gary is survived by his wife of 56 years, Connie, their two children, Ryan and Meredith, and granddaughter, Flora.
Following the news of his death, Ryan paid tribute to his dad during one of his “On Air With Ryan-Seacrest">Ryan Seacrest” broadcasts on iHeartRadio.
“It’s so vivid in my memory, but as he said with little strength or energy, he loved us and that he would miss us,” he said while fighting back tears. “He looked over at me — and the strength in that connection — he said, ‘Take care of your mom.’ And he said to my sister [Meredith and her husband] Jimmy, ‘Take care of Flora, my granddaughter.’ Then, literally a few seconds later he closed his eyes and said, ‘I’ve got to go.’ He knew. He was at peace.”
Earlier this year, Ryan revealed on his radio show that his dad had been diagnosed with prostate cancer some time ago.
“My dad is about 80 years old, and I have a very close relationship with my father, and [he] was diagnosed with prostate cancer years ago and began his treatment,” Ryan said in July. “And it didn’t improve. It worsened and it spread. It didn’t go well for him.”
While Ryan kept his dad’s health condition private over the years, he decided to share it after Gary’s health took a turn for the worse.
“I was on an American Idol show live during last season and my sister called me and she said, ‘Dad is in the intensive care unit. How quickly can you get here?’” he explained, revealing that his father had contracted pneumonia. “I finished the show. We were nearly done. … I didn’t even remember what I was saying was being broadcast. It was, like, automatic at that point.”
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After filming, Ryan traveled to Atlanta to be by his father’s side and realized how serious his condition was.
“The night that I arrived, the conversation they were having with him about an emergency surgery was a life-or-death discussion,” he recalled. “And I’ve never seen my strong, very intelligent father with the expression on his face that he had and the concern, looking to me to help guide what decisions should be made in this moment. And this was in the intensive care unit. With pneumonia, with the cancer, after the chemotherapy.”
Gary was able to recover from pneumonia and continue his cancer treatment.
“His pneumonia is gone, but his cancer is not, and so we have to go back into another treatment and fight this cancer. And … it’s difficult. Cancer affects each and every one of us in some way. And it … then it’s disheartening. The treatments are difficult,” he said. “I know he’s going to get through this.”
