He's the dad on Growing Pains. Then he hosted some show that was vaguely like America's Funniest Home Videos except I think it was animal themed or something?
he was basically Americas Dad for like 5 years during the height of Growing Pains. Theres not really a 20xxs equivalent of this, the closest I can think of is when you watch videos of Walter White on Malcolm in the Middle
10 years from now, Robin Thicke will finally be ready to take Alan Thicke's place as America's Dad, giving rise to the next Kirk Cameron. This will fulfill the prophecy laid out in Revelations, and bring about the Apocalypse.