WASHINGTON: At the age of 63, Veteran TV writer and producer Chris Thompson passed away after long illness on June 26.

Talking about the tragic death of the comedy series Shake It Up!, Action, The Naked Truth and Ladies Man creator, producer Jim Vallely said that he and everyone who knows the producer is devastated with the news, reported Deadline.com.

Sharing the writer’s picture on Instagram, the Shake It Up! stars Zendaya and Bella Thorne wrote, “Last night we lost an amazing, talented and loving man. RIP to my good friend Chris Thompson, mentor and creator of Shake It Up. You were like a dad to me at an early age and protected me through many years. I will love and miss you always.”

Thompson began his career at the age of 23 when he was approached by a producer who was impressed by his ‘Improv’ performance in Los Angeles and was offered a writing position on the series Sirota’s Court.