Ryan Seacrest Remembers Father Gary on 1st Christmas Since Death

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Ryan Seacrest is remembering his late father, Gary Seacrest, this holiday season.

“First Christmas without Dad, but holding him close in all the ways we can,” Ryan, 51, wrote via Instagram on Thursday, December 25, alongside a photo of himself and his family. “We miss you. Merry Heavenly Christmas.”

The American Idol host wore matching festive pajamas alongside his loved ones as they gathered around the Christmas tree.

Ryan also gave a glimpse of the holiday meal he and his family shared. In a subsequent snap, Ryan posed in the kitchen while rocking festive, Christmas tree-shaped glasses.

Two months ago, Ryan announced that his father died after battling prostate cancer.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share with you that my loving father peacefully passed away earlier this week,” the radio show host wrote via Instagram in October. “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 continued, “He was a devoted husband for 56 years, an incredible Papa to [my] niece Flora and my best friend. Dad, you will live 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” broadcasts on iHeartRadio.

“It’s so vivid in my mind, but as he said without much strength or energy that he loved us and that he was going to miss us,” he said while fighting back tears. “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 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 was diagnosed with prostate cancer a while back.

“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 started his treatment,” Ryan said in July. “And it didn’t get better. It got worse and it spread. It didn’t go well for him.”

While Ryan kept his dad’s battle private over the years, he decided to open up about his condition 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 ICU. How fast can you get here?’” he explained, revealing that his father had contracted pneumonia. “I finished the show. We were almost done. … I didn’t even remember what I was saying was on the show. It was, like, robotic at that point.”

After filming, Ryan traveled to Atlanta to be by his father’s side and realized how dire his condition was.

“The night that I got there, the conversation they were having with him about an emergency surgery was a life-or-death conversation,” he recalled. “And I’ve never seen my strong, very smart father with the look on his face that he had and the concern and looking at me to help guide what decisions should be made in this moment. And this is ICU. With pneumonia, with the cancer, after the chemo.”

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 every one of us in some way. And it … then it sucks. The treatments suck,” he said. “I know he’s going to get through this.”

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