Actor Barry Watson shared a touching tribute to his late father, Michael, revealing that his dad died on Jan. 13 just days after the “7th Heaven” star was forced to evacuate his home due to the destructive Palisades wildfire.
“My sister said, ‘I’m sorry, dad just passed.’ We cried together on the phone for a few moments.”
The actor and his wife, actress Natasha Gregson Wagner, fled their Venice, California, home with their 12-year-old daughter, Clover, and three dogs two days earlier after the fire broke out nearby in the Pacific Palisades.
The wildfire, which erupted on Jan. 7, was one of several that burned across Los Angeles County last month. The Palisades Fire scorched more than 23,000 acres and claimed a dozen lives before firefighters were finally able to extinguish the flames on Jan. 31.
Watson’s tribute post included a video montage of pictures of his father, set to Norman Greenbaum’s 1969 hit song “Spirit in the Sky.”
“I’m not sure why I’m writing this. I guess it’s hard to believe it’s been a month and I’m just now catching my breath,” the actor said.
“Thinking of my dad’s life. And mine. One thing I know about Dad. He brought joy. He brought smart logical conversations. He brought laughter. Sometimes just by his own laugh.”
Watson said his father, who was 83, lived a full life.
“I will miss him. I will honor him. In ways I don’t even know yet,” Watson wrote.
“Like my brother Scott said at the end of the eulogy, ‘I’m proud to be your son.’ I love you Dad. And thank YOU.”
Watson posted a video on Instagram the day after the wildfire broke out, showing a plane dropping fire retardant.
The following day, the actor encouraged his fans and followers to support first responders and those impacted by the wildfires by donating food, water, clothing, and other supplies.
“So do whatever you can to support them, and do whatever you can to support the people who are displaced right now.”
Watson landed his breakout role in 1996, playing Matt Camden on The WB family drama television series “7th Heaven.”
The actor went on to star in a variety of other television shows, including “Samantha Who?,” “Gossip Girl,” “Wilfred,” “Hart of Dixie,” “Murder in the First,” “Date My Dad,” and “Naomi.” His film roles include “Search Engines” (2016), “A Dog’s Way Home” (2019), and “Highway to Heaven” (2021).
Watson discussed his cancer battle during a March 2022 appearance on the “First Class Fatherhood” podcast.
During the interview, the actor said the experience inspired him to become a father, noting that he had previously been scared to have children because he feared he would be a bad parent.
Watson later welcomed two sons, Oliver, 19, and Felix, 17, with television personality Tracy Hutson. The former couple were married from 2006 to 2011. He went on to remarry, tying the knot with Wagner in 2014.
“I said no to probably too many things in the past and it affected my work. But I have no regrets,” Watson said.
“I’m proud because I can coach my daughter’s basketball games, go to the games, really be a part of their lives. And hopefully my kids will recognize that Dad was always there.”
