Ryan Seacrest took to Instagram on Friday to share heartbreaking family news.

The American Idol host said that his ‘loving’ father Gary Lee Seacrest, 81, had died as he posted a sad caption along with a family photo.

‘It is with a heavy heart that I share with you that my loving father peacefully passed away earlier this week,’ said the Keeping Up With The Kardashians producer.

‘My mom, sister and I have peace knowing he is in a better place and free of any pain or suffering. We are heartbroken.

‘He was a devoted husband for 56 years, an incredible Papa to Flora, and my best friend. Dad you will live in our hearts forever. I love you. Ryan,’ he ended the post.

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Ryan Seacrest took to Instagram to share heartbreaking news. The American Idol host said that his 'loving' father had died as he posted a sad caption along with a family photo
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Ryan Seacrest took to Instagram to share heartbreaking news. The American Idol host said that his ‘loving’ father had died as he posted a sad caption along with a family photo

'It is with a heavy heart that I share with you that my loving father peacefully passed away earlier this week. My mom, sister and I have peace knowing he is in a better place and free of any pain or suffering. We are heartbroken,' he wrote
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‘It is with a heavy heart that I share with you that my loving father peacefully passed away earlier this week. My mom, sister and I have peace knowing he is in a better place and free of any pain or suffering. We are heartbroken,’ he wrote

There was a family photo shared with his mother Constance Marie and sister Meredith as a birthday cake that could be seen on a table.

Then there was a throwback photo of a much-younger Ryan, who was dressed in a dark suit and red striped tie with glasses on.

Gary worked as a real estate lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia and had been a lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

Ryan’s father was diagnosed with prostate cancer several years ago.

In a July 2025 on-air segment, Seacrest shared the challenging experience of his father’s illness. His dad had suffered from Pneumonia which put him in the ICU, but he recovered.

Still, his father had to continue his treatments for cancer, and that the situation was ‘tough’ for the entire family said the Wheel Of Fortune star.

‘My dad is about 80 years old, and I have a very close relationship with my father,’ he said during the July 21 episode of On Air with Ryan Seacrest.

‘And my father was diagnosed with prostate cancer years ago and started his treatment. And he, it didn’t get better. It got worse and it spread. It didn’t go well for him.’

The pneumonia news hit when he was on a live show.

‘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 continued, revealed.

Ryan was last seen at the 'Stage Architects: Nations ¿ Festivals ¿ Awards x Media' panel at the 2025 Joy Forum at SEF Arena on October 17 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Ryan was last seen at the ‘Stage Architects: Nations — Festivals — Awards x Media’ panel at the 2025 Joy Forum at SEF Arena on October 17 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Seacrest and Faisal Bafarat speak shake hands on stage
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Seacrest and Faisal Bafarat speak shake hands on stage

‘I finished the show. We were almost done. 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.’

But they made the most of it.

‘I watched them over the weekends send photos of smiling and happiness and being together,’ he remembered. ‘They’ve been married for 55 years. And they’ve got each other.’

Ryan added, ‘They’re just happy to sit together looking at an ocean. And I just, I want to share that because I’ve been holding that in for a long time.’

Ryan was last seen at the ‘Stage Architects: Nations — Festivals — Awards x Media’ panel at the 2025 Joy Forum at SEF Arena on October 17 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.