“My Two Dads” Star Staci Keanan Remembers Dick Butkus After His Death: 'A Gentle, Sweet, Quiet Man' (Exclusive)

The actress reflected on the time she spent working with the "surprisingly funny" late football legend

Dick Butkus' former My Two Dads costar Staci Keanan is remembering the late Chicago Bears Hall of Famer, who died Thursday. He was 80.

“I'm so sorry to hear that Dick has passed away. He was such a gentle, sweet, quiet man,” Keanan told PEOPLE exclusively.

“He didn't say much, but when he did, he was surprisingly funny,” she said while recalling their time on the set of the 1980s NBC sitcom.

“He wore Birkenstocks back when we worked together — they weren't trendy then — it seemed to be because he had pain from his football days, and when he walked, he seemed to be in chronic pain. But he never complained about it.”

Keanan continued, explaining how even off of the field, Butkus was a shining star.

“My Two Dads did an episode once that included a highlight reel from what was supposed to be Dick's character's football career,” she said before marveling at his ability to excel at the game," Keanan said. “The reel consisted of footage from Dick's own real-life NFL career. When I saw it, I couldn't believe all those massive tackles and sacks came from the gentle giant that I knew."

My Two Dads ran from September 1987 to April 1990.

The sitcom followed an unconventional family, consisting of two men Michael Taylor (Paul Reiser) and Joey Harris (Greg Evigan) who both loved the same woman and battled for her affection for over a decade.

Keanan’s character, Nicole Bradford, entered when the woman Joey and Michael longed for died, leaving behind a daughter who could have possibly been the child to either of them. Rather than taking a paternity test, the trio lived under one roof as a family.

Butkus played a recurring role on the sitcom as diner owner Ed Klawicki, who was also a former football player.

In an October 2022 interview with Chicago’s WGN 9, he opened up about how he got into acting in the first place.

After discussing how Sylvester Stallone paid tribute to the linebacker by naming his dog in Rocky after Butkus, WGN asked how the pro athlete pivoted his career after football.

Related: Roger Goodell, Athletes and More React to Dick Butkus’ Death: 'One of the NFL's All-Time Greats'

“When I finished with my knee at 30 years old, I had to find out what was second best in my life, and that’s, that’s no fun,” Butkus explained. “So, all these people that are working and probably don’t really like doing what they got to do, but out of necessity they have to do that. I’m blessed, I feel very lucky.”

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The legendary linebacker died at his home in Malibu, a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE on Thursday.

"The Butkus Family confirms that football and entertainment legend Dick Butkus died peacefully in his sleep overnight at home in Malibu, Calif.," his family said in a statement released by the Bears. "The Butkus family is gathering with Dick's wife Helen. They appreciate your prayers and support."

Butkus is survived by his wife, Helen, and three children, Ricky, Matt, and Nikki.

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