Ryan Seacrest Shares Dad Gary Seacrest’s Final Words Before His Death

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Ryan Seacrest was able to say goodbye to his dad.

Ryan Seacrest reminisced about the precious final moments he spent with his father, Gary Lee Seacrest, before he passed away. He recalled the last conversation he had with his father, alongside his mother, Constance Marie Zullinger, his sister, Meredith Seacrest, and her husband, Jimmy Leach.

Ryan recalled a poignant moment on his podcast, On Air with Ryan Seacrest, saying, ‘It’s still so clear in my memory.’ He described how his father, weak and with little energy, told them he loved them and would miss them. Looking at Ryan, his father gave him a final, meaningful message: ‘Take care of your mom.’

Ryan shared that his father told his sister, referring to her by the nickname Jimmy, to look after his granddaughter, Flora. Almost immediately after, he closed his eyes and said he needed to leave, signaling he knew his time was near and was accepting of it. He seemed peaceful.

I was so saddened to hear about Gary’s passing after his long fight with prostate cancer. He was 50 years old, and his son shared some really touching details about their final days together. It’s heartbreaking, but beautiful to hear how they spent that precious time.

I spent the last few days at his bedside, along with my mother and sister. We held his hand, kissed his forehead, and stayed with him until his final moments. He and my mother had been married for fifty-six years.

He explained that it was the most challenging and unusual mix of emotions he’d ever experienced, stemming from the hardship of the situation and the feeling of being unable to do anything about it.

The American Idol host also spoke fondly about his close bond with his father, and the lasting impact Gary will have on their family.

Oh my gosh, Ryan said the sweetest thing! Apparently, he was huge on family dinners. Like, it was so important to him that they all ate together just to talk. And he wasn’t just saying it, he actually made it happen. Ryan kept repeating how he’d just… show up. He’d be there, no matter what, to have dinner with them. It’s just… so precious!

Ryan also emphasized how loved Gary made every member of his family feel. 

He cherished his fifty-six-year marriage and his love for my mom. He also felt immense pride in my sister and her family, and in his work with the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, which he dedicated nearly twenty years to – something we all worked on together.

He described him as a true gentleman, someone who treated his mother with the respect and care you’d hope for in a partner for your daughter. He mentioned small gestures, like always walking her to the curb, as examples of this consideration.

As Ryan shared on Instagram on October 31st, he described the man as a loving husband of 56 years, a wonderful grandfather to Flora, and his closest friend.

For more on Ryan’s family life, and the time he spent with his dad, read on. 

Ryan Seacrest mimicked his father Gary Lee Seacrest‘s style in an old family photo. 

In October 2025, Ryan posted a childhood photo of himself with his sister, Meredith Seacrest, to celebrate her birthday. He shared the picture on Instagram with a caption expressing his gratitude for their memories together.

I’ve always been fascinated by Ryan Seacrest’s family! He and his sister grew up in Dunwoody, Georgia, with their wonderful parents, Gary and Connie Zullinger. Connie is such a strong woman – she really helped shape the person Ryan is today.

Ryan and his family took a photo together in July 2025 to celebrate his father’s birthday, several months before his father sadly passed away that October. Ryan shared the photo online with a sweet message, recalling how his dad enjoyed a simple birthday breakfast of a fried egg sandwich with mustard.

Families who share meals together tend to stay close. Ryan recently posted a photo of a dinner he enjoyed with his parents.

I was so touched to be at the opening of Seacrest Studios at Boston Children’s Hospital back in 2014 with Ryan and his family. It’s a really special place – a radio and TV studio built right inside the hospital where the patients and their families get to be the stars! It’s all about giving them a creative outlet and a lot of joy, and it was wonderful to see it come to life.

Family fun. The American Idol host and his father shared a moment in the kitchen. 

For Father’s Day 2025, Ryan shared a post celebrating his dad and how he’s influenced the person Ryan has become, finishing with a heartfelt “Love you, Dad.”

In 2018, during an episode of American Idol, Ryan Seacrest was joined by his mother, Connie, to ask viewers to vote for the contestants they liked best.

In August 2025, Ryan and his sister Meredith, along with her husband Jimmy Leach and daughter Flora, enjoyed a family trip to a vineyard. Ryan shared a photo on Instagram at the time, calling it his “happy place.”

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2025-10-31 22:17