Check out Will Smith and Willard Smith Sr in this emotional throwback photo as the actor's father dies

RIP Willard Carroll Smith, Sr! Will Smith's ex-wife Sheree Fletcher shared the sad news of the actor's father's death through social media on 7 October (Monday).

Fletcher took to Instagram to post an old throwback photo of the 48-year-old actor along with his father and son Trey as she paid tribute to the late Smith Sr.

In her moving picture tribute, the 48-year-old TV personality wrote, "We're gonna miss you Daddio! You lived & played by your own rules...you truly were 1 of a kind!"

The mother-of-two continued, "You instilled discipline, and a work ethic that has created a legacy in your honor! (Pic left to right: Will Smith II; Will Smith III (Trey); Will Smith I (Daddio!) #RIPDaddio #donttellmetheresnothingyoucantdo #WillSMITH1"

The Suicide Squad actor was married to his ex-wife Fletcher from 1992 to 1995 and the couple also shares a son from their 3-year-old marriage – Trey Smith, 23. While the speaker-cum-cook was the first one to break the heartbreaking news about Smith's father's demise on Instagram, the actor and his current wife – actress Jada Pinkett Smith – haven't spoken anything about the sad death.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the The Pursuit of Happyness actor had earlier gushed about his "tough" father during an interview.

"Dad was tough but not tyrannical. He kept me in line. He'd get this look that said, 'One more step, Will, and it'll get ugly.' He was an independent businessman - he set up refrigeration in supermarkets - and he always provided for us. He's a steady and positive figure in my life," he was reported as saying.