ET has confirmed that LARRY BIRKHEAD's father has passed away. He was
66.

"He just had knee surgery then was sent home with an oxygen tank
because they noticed a shortness of breath," Larry tells ET. "He was
getting ready to start rehab for his knee and his lung and he
collapsed in the bathroom."

The loss hits especially hard so close to the holidays, after a year
of emotional ups and downs for Larry.

"I have had such a crazy year and if it weren't for the joy
DANNIELYNN brings me, it would be impossible to deal with," he
says. "My dad was so excited about spending the holidays. He kept
calling me asking when I was coming home with Dannielynn for
Christmas."

Larry fondly remembers his father's zest for life, adding: "He
bragged to all the nurses at the hospital during his knee surgery
that he was my dad and Dannielynn's grandfather. When they didn't
believe him, he would always show them his ID with the name Larry
Birkhead -- then he would say, 'but I'm the good looking Larry
Birkhead!'"

ET captured Larry and his father at Dannielynn's birthday earlier
this year in our exclusive video footage.

Visitation will be held tomorrow, with the burial service on Friday.