Tom Bergeron pays tribute to late father on 'Dancing With the Stars'

Monday night's Dancing With the Stars packed its usual thrilling dance performances, but the episode ended on a somber note when co-host Tom Bergeron announced that his father had passed away.

"I want to take a moment to say that my dad loved this show. Never missed an episode. And I'd like to think somewhere that he didn't miss this one," Bergeron said during the show's closing credits. The co-host had previously missed last week's show to be with his ailing father.

Shortly after Monday's episode, Bergeron posted an image to Instagram of him and his father.

"At my wedding and in my life, The Best Man. RIP," Bergeron wrote in his post.

Dancing With the Stars contestant Bindi Irwin, daughter of the late Crocodile Hunter TV star Steve Irwin, showed her support for Bergeron.

"It is a really, really tough club to be in, and my heart and soul and energy go out to him," Irwin told People. "It is one of the most challenging things you can ever experience in life but you have to remember that when someone passes away, they never leave you. They are always with you no matter where you go, and I hope that he remains strong and just surrounds himself with the love and light that is there for him because we are all supporting him."

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