Spencer Grammer mourns the death of his stepfather in a heartfelt tribute

Spencer Grammer mourns the loss of her stepfather Dr. Bill Skinner.

On Monday, July 8, Rick and Morty The 40-year-old star announced earlier this week that her stepfather had died. Spencer paid tribute to him on Instagram alongside a photo of the two smiling while eating dinner with their son Emmett.

“I’ve never been very open about my personal life,” she began in the caption. “But the man I consider my father and who taught me unconditional love is a man named Dr. Bill Skinner.”

She further explained that she had known him “since I was five years old,” and when he married her mother, Doreen Alderman, “he agreed to be my father, too.”

“Even though he and my mom went their separate ways, he was still my dad,” Grammer continued. “He was there for me my whole life… no matter what I needed. He was there. I was always allowed to be his child. He always hugged me, always listened, always believed in me and always supported me.”

“He left us this week and our hearts are broken. I wanted to spend so many more years with him,” she added.

The Greek The former student revealed that the selfie was “one of the last ones we took together” and mentioned her tendency to “always forget to take photos” when she spends time with “people I love.”

“A part of me is missing now. Truly, deeply,” she said. “The friends who were lucky enough to know him or to have met him know how kind and generous he was and how much he meant to me. It’s a constant reminder to always take your time. We lost him too soon.”

Spencer ended her post with a tribute to her late stepfather, thanking him for “being in my life” and loving her “no matter what,” even if she “wasn’t always the best daughter.”

“I am eternally grateful to have known you. I will miss you so much,” she added.

Spencer is the eldest daughter of Kelsey Grammer. Although the two are now on good terms, their relationship has been strained at times over the years – especially after he split from Alderman when she was a toddler.

After starring together in a Lifetime Christmas movie, 12 days of Christmas EveKelsey told PEOPLE in November 2022 how the two were able to repair their relationship.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“I really regret letting her down a few times,” Kelsey said, explaining how the work took him away from his young family after he was cast Bottom up in 1984. He noted that the role and the sudden 20-hour workdays changed everything at the time. “Of course, she was a child of divorce,” he said of Spencer. “It was hard for us.”

He added: “I am sorry, but I am also grateful that we had the chance to make amends.”