Update: Blake Lively's Dad "Doing Much Better"

October 14, 2008

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"He's doing much better," Ernie Lively's business partner and cousin Harold Smith tells Star. "His wife Elaine just called to say they've moved him to a regular room."

The elder Lively, 61, best known for his role in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants films and guest work on West Wing and The Ghost Whisperer, was injured early on Oct. 13 and was taken to a Los Angeles Hospital where he is being treated for a broken back, arm and nose.

"It was pretty bad — he's lucky to be alive," a source says, adding Blake was on the first flight back to Los Angeles to be with her father. "They are as close as any father and daughter could be — she was beside herself when she got this horrible news. Her dad taught her everything."

Ernie is currently guest-starring on the series Criminal Minds. Early morning on Oct. 13, he was on his way to the Long Beach set when he apparently lost control of the car. "He was on the 210 Freeway to go to the 405 to the shoot in Long Beach. I understand the car left the road and went over a couple times," Smith tells Star.

Blake made a frantic flight from New York to Los Angeles to be at the hospital bedside of her father after hearing the devastating news, a close source tells Star.