Chris Hardwick announces his father's death on 'Talking Dead'

MEMPHIS, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- "Talking Dead" host Chris Hardwick announced at the taping of his TV program in Los Angeles Sunday that his father, Billy, had died the day before.

"I just want to say something. I don't want things to get weird, but my dad passed away suddenly yesterday and I didn't know if I was going to come in to work, but I like this job and it was a nice distraction," Hardwick said at the end of Sunday's chat show, which analyzes the zombie apocalypse drama, "The Walking Dead."

"I just want to thank everyone online," he said in his heartfelt statement. "It was one of the times where the Internet was really nice. And, really quickly, the day before he died, I had a really nice chat with him and I was really lucky I got to tell him how much I love him. But, look, the holidays are coming up -- they can be a pain in the ass -- but I just want to say, you're family is important and you should take time to appreciate them in the midst of all the traveling and all the crap that happens and family can be weird. But just remember they are important and they love you and you should take some time to appreciate them. I just want to say, rest in peace, Billy Hardwick, I love you, dad."

The elder Hardwick was a former professional bowler and the owner of a Memphis, Tenn., bowling alley when he died Saturday of an apparent heart attack. He was 72, The Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper reported.