The Lively family is mourning a serious loss. Actor Ernie Lively, known for his many roles in film and television such as The Dukes of Hazzard and Turner & Hooch, has died at 74.
Ernie died in Los Angeles due to cardiac complications on Thursday, June 3. Ernie was previously known to have managed cardiac issues over the last decade. He was surrounded by wife Elaine Lively and children Blake, Eric, Robyn, Lori, and Jason.
Inspired by his love for the craft, all of Ernie's children have made careers for themselves in acting. He even appeared alongside Blake in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. She recently shared a heartwarming tribute to her dad as the family continues to honor his memory.
Blake Lively is taking time to publicly honor her father, Ernie Lively. Sadly, the man who inspired Blake's love of acting (and that of her four siblings) died at the age of 74 on June 3 of cardiac complications. Ernie was surrounded by his five children and his wife of 42 years, Elaine.
Blake shared a photo of her and her father on her Instagram story. In the photo, she is leaning into him as he kisses her on the head. She simply added a brown heart, fitting because their last name is Brown.
Ernie got his start in acting back in the 1970s. He made appearances in classic series like The Waltons, The Dukes of Hazzard, and Falcon Crest. He also worked in film, with roles in Turner & Hooch, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Mulholland Falls.
Ernie found the love of his life in wife Elaine. The two married in 1979. He adopted her three older children, Lori, Robyn, and Jason. The couple would then add Blake and Eric to the brood. All five children would go on to do some acting.
Blake and Ernie even got to share the screen together. He played the father of her character, Bridget Vreeland, in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. He reprised the role in the sequel.
Ernie had cardiac struggles for some time. He suffered a massive heart attack in 2003 and had a significant heart procedure a decade later. The retrograde gene therapy for the heart, which injects a patient's own stem cells in the heart to repair damaged muscle and arteries, was a groundbreaking procedure that helped improve Ernie's quality of life.
"I woke up the other morning and told my wife, 'I haven't felt this good in years,'" he told People.
Ernie is survived by nine grandchildren. Friends have also reached out with condolences.
"Rest In Peace, our dear wonderful Sisterhood set papa: Ernie Lively. What a funny, kind, generous soul. You will be missed but never forgotten. We love you. @blakelively I love you my sister," actress Amber Tamblyn, who worked with Ernie and Blake in the Sisterhood films, posted on Instagram.
"My buddy, fellow actor, fellow Marine Vietnam vet Ernie Lively has died at 74. I hadn't seen much of him since he moved away from LA, but I treasure all my memories of working and hanging out with him. Welcome home, Marine," actor Jim Beaver tweeted.
