Ernie Lively, a character actor who earned more than 100 credits during a 45-year film and TV career and was the father of Blake Lively, has died. He was 74 years old. The actor's rep confirmed to Deadline that he died of cardiac complications on June 2 in Los Angeles.
He played the father of Blake Lively's character in 2005's The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and its 2008 sequel.
Ernie Lively began his screen career with guest roles in such popular series as The Waltons, Fantasy Island and a recurring role on The Dukes of Hazard. He focused primarily on TV series and telefilms during the 1970s and 80s, appearing in several episodes of Hill Street Blues, Falcon Crest, Newhart and later Murder, She Wrote and The West Wing. He also made guest appearances on hit shows such as Seinfeld, Fame, Scarecrow & Mrs. King, Remington Steele and Thirtysomething.
He has worked on Turner & Hooch, Shocker, Hard to Kill, Air America, The Man in the Moon, Passenger 57 and Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot, among others.
Born on January 29, 1947, in Baltimore, Ernest Brown Jr. served in the Marines in Vietnam before turning to acting. He was also an acting coach and mentor who is credited with helping shape the careers of clients such as Alyson Hannigan, Brittany Murphy, Scott Grimes and others – including his children Blake and Eric Likely and stepchildren Lori, Jason and Robin Lively included.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Ellen Lively; all five children and son-in-law Ryan Reynolds; a sister, Judith; and many grandchildren.