Ernie Lively, Blake Lively’s Father and ‘Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants’ Co-star, Dead at 74

Ernie Lively, an actor with over 100 credits during his 45-year film and TV career and was the father of Blake Lively, has died. Per Deadline, the actor died on June 2 in Los Angeles of cardiac complications. He was 74.

He played the father of Blake Lively’s character in the 2005 film adaptation of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and its 2008 sequel.

Ernie Lively began his screen career with guest roles on series like The Waltons and Fantasy Island, later being upped to a recurring role on The Dukes of Hazzard. He primarily had TV roles, also taking a few parts on telefilms, during the 1970s and 80s, appearing in episodes of Hill Street Blues, Falcon Crest, Newhart. Later in his career, he made appearances on Murder, She Wrote and The West Wing. In recent TV history, Lively had guest roles on hit shows like Seinfeld, Fame, Scarecrow & Mrs. King, Remington Steele, and thirtysomething.

By the late 80s, Lively landed a few small roles in films like Turrner & Hooch, Shocker, Hard to Kill, Air America, The Man in the Moon, Passenger 57, and Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot.

Lively was born Ernest Brown Jr. on January 29, 1947, in Baltimore. He served in the Marines in Vietnam before his turn to acting, later serving as an acting coach and mentor. He helped to shape the careers of clients like Alyson Hannigan, Brittany Murphy, Scott Grimes, and others. Later on, he helped to mentor his own children into acting, including Blake and Eric Lively, along with stepchildren Lori, Jason, and Robyn Lively.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years Elaine Lively; all five children and son-in-law Ryan Reynolds; his sister Judith; and several grandchildren.