Blake Lively has paid a moving tribute to her father Ernie Lively on Instagram, days after the actor's death.
It was confirmed on Thursday (June 10) that Ernie - also an actor, who was best known for his roles in TV programmes between the 1970s and 1990s like The Dukes of Hazzard and Murder She Wrote - passed away at the age of 74.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ernie died in Los Angeles on June 10, surrounded by his family, following cardiac complications.
Making her first public statement since the devastating news, Blake simply shared a photograph of herself sat next to and hugging her dad accompanied by a heart emoji. Blake's husband Ryan Reynolds later shared the photograph on his Instagram Stories too.
Ernie was married to Blake's mother Elaine Lively for 42 years. The couple had two children together, Blake and Eric Lively. Ernie also adopted Elaine's children from a previous marriage, Lori, Robyn and Jason. He also had multiple grandchildren, including Blake and Reynold's three daughters, James, Inez and Betty.
All five of Ernie's children followed him into acting, with Blake notably starring in the TV series Gossip Girl as well as a string of movies. When Blake starred in the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (2005) screen adaptation (and the sequel in 2008) as Bridget Vreeland, alongside Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera and Amber Tamlyn, Ernie portrayed her on-screen father Mr Vreeland.
Supporting her actor and 'sister' Blake, Tamlyn also paid tribute to Ernie on social media, sharing a picture of the actor and writing: 'Rest in peace our dear wonderful Sisterhood set papa: Ernie Lively. What a funny, kind, generous should. You will be missed but never forgotten. We love you. @BlakeLively I love you my sister. [sic]'
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