Darren Criss writes about his love for his late father

Darren Criss, center, with his parents.

The father of actor Darren Criss passed away last Sunday. The  award-winning actor announced the death of his father, Charles William "Bill" Criss, on his Instagram account the following day, showing pictures of his family. In a moving tribute to his late father, he wrote:

"Bill Criss has left the building. After many years of coping with a rare heart condition - which, true to his form, very few would have even been aware of - he finally checked out peacefully yesterday morning, surrounded by his loved ones.

"Dad lived an extraordinary life. Anyone who ever met Bill Criss adored him instantly. He could talk to anyone about anything. Well-read and well-traveled, he made the world a better place wherever he went. (sic)"

The actor, 33, praised his dad for being an "outstanding father" and a "true gentleman through and through".

Darren added: "He was as deliriously charming as he was relentlessly selfless; always putting other people first, making anybody who ever got into a conversation with him genuinely feel like they were the most incredible person in the room.

"And although he would have been the first to gracefully protest it, the simple truth is that he was in fact, every inch the exemplary man: a devoted husband, an outstanding father, a loving grandparent.

"He lived his days the same way he loved his friends and family - with an unwavering sense of composure, compassion, generosity, and humility.

"He was a true gentleman through and through, and was a constant source of joy and inspiration for me.

"I've spent most of my life trying to be like him, wanting to see and do all the incredible things he did — and I'm so grateful he was around to see me actually pull a few off," Criss wrote. "He was there for the greatest moments of my life, which of course, he always dressed up for. His kind blue eyes, big laugh, and infamous warm smile could not have been a better representation of who he was to his core."

"I cherished him every day, and will forever."

Darren Criss' latest project, Hollywood, is now streaming on Netflix. In the 7-part reimagining of Hollywood's Golden Age after WWII, Criss plays to type, a Filipino American of mixed heritage.

In 2018, Darren Criss won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for his chilling portrayal of killer Andrew Cunanan, another Filipino American real-life character, in the American Crime Story dramatic series, The Assassination of Gianni Versace."

Charles William Criss Jr. leaves behind his wife Cerina Bru, his sons Darren and Chuck Criss, and his grandchildren.