Ryan Seacrest is remembering his dad Gary Lee Seacrest.
The American Idol host—who shared that his father died after a yearslong battle with prostate cancer in October—opened up about how he spent his first Christmas without him.
“First Christmas without Dad, but holding him close in all the ways we can,” he captioned the Dec. 25 Instagram post. “We miss you. Merry Heavenly Christmas.”
In one photo, Ryan can be seen wearing matching pajamas with his loved ones as they lounge around an expertly decorated Christmas tree. In another, the 51-year-old shared a glimpse into his family’s holiday dinner—including an after-snap of his plate on the dining room table. And sprinkled throughout, Ryan can be spotted sporting festive Christmas tree glasses as he supports his loved ones in the kitchen.
His heartbreaking post came just one day after commemorating another milestone without his father—his birthday. Indeed, the Wheel of Fortune host—whose birthday is Dec. 24—celebrated his birthday just one day prior with his long-standing family tradition of eating fondue.
“A very cheesy way to celebrate,” he captioned the Dec. 24 Instagram video. “Thank you for all the birthday wishes!”
Recently, Ryan reflected on his last moments with Gary before his death, as well as the final conversation he, his mother Constance Marie Zullinger, his sister Meredith Seacrest and her husband Jimmy Leach shared with his late father.
“It's so vivid in my mind,” Ryan said during the Oct. 31 episode of his podcast On Air with Ryan Seacrest. “He said without much strength or energy that he loved us and that he was going to miss us. He looked over at me—and the power in the contact—he said, 'Take care of your mom.'”
Ryan continued, “He said to my sister, Jimmy, 'Take care of Flora, my granddaughter.' And then literally a few seconds later he closed his eyes and said, 'I've got to go.' He knew. He was at peace."
He also emphasized the irreplaceable bond he shared with his dad, as well as the legacy Gary is leaving behind for their family.
“He was a champion of family dinners,” Ryan explained. “He always wanted us to have dinner together so we could talk, and he would show up—he would show up.”
He added, “He was the ultimate gentleman. He did the things that you hope someone who's with your daughter, in this case my mom, does for your daughter, right? Really respects, communicates, stands on the street side when she's on the sidewalk.”
For a look at Ryan's sweetest moments with his family, keep reading...
Like Father, Like Son
Ryan Seacrest mimicked his father Gary Lee Seacrest's style in an old family photo.
Big Brother
Ryan shared a baby photo alongside sister Meredith Seacrest for her birthday in October 2025, writing on Instagram at the time, "So grateful for every memory with you."
Growing Up
The Seacrest siblings were raised by dad Gary and mom Constance "Connie" Marie Zullinger in Dunwoody, Georgia.
All Together
Ryan and his family posed together for a photo on his father's birthday in July 2025, months before Gary's death that October. In a post celebrating his father at the time, Ryan wrote, "Glad you’re enjoying a fried egg sandwich with mustard again this year for your bday breakfast!"
Family Dinner
A family that eats together, stays together. Ryan shared a glimpse into a family dinner night alongside his parents.
Family Philanthropy
Ryan and his parents attended the grand opening of Seacrest Studios, a radio and television studio that broadcasts showcases of patients and family members, at Boston Children's Hospital in 2014.
Cooking Up Quality Time
Family fun. The American Idol host and his father shared a moment in the kitchen.
Peas in a Pod
In a 2025 Father's Day post, Ryan showed off how his father—quite literally—"shaped" him into who he is, adding, "Love you, Dad."
Sharing the Spotlight
During an episode of American Idol in 2018, Ryan was joined by his mom Connie to encourage the audience to vote for their favorite contestants.
The Next Generation
All grown up, Ryan and his sister Meredith—as well as her husband Jimmy Leach and her daughter Flora—took a family trip to a vineyard in August 2025, with Ryan writing in an Instagram post at the time, "My happy place looks a lot like this."