TikTok Star Ronald Williams, Known As Grandpa Lou Pickles, Dies Aged 79

Popular internet content creator Ronald Williams has died, his grandson announced on Wednesday.

In a tribute video uploaded to TikTok this week, Williams' grandson, Ryan Adams, shared the news. "Thanks for the good times. Ronald Williams will never be forgotten, RIP Grandpa," his caption read.

The upload, which was a slideshow montage of photos and videos, had been watched more than 16 million times on TikTok alone as of Thursday, and sparked a flood of comments from fans.

Williams, born in 1941 and living in La Jolla, California, was reportedly 79-years-old at the time of his passing. Cause of death was not immediately known, but multiple video uploads since the start of 2021 appeared to chart a sustained period of illness.

On January 29, it was announced on Williams' YouTube channel that he had lost his voice, with Adams asking viewers if they thought his grandfather should seek a COVID test despite not showing symptoms. On February 25, Adams said Williams was admitted to hospital.

"I don't want to get into too much detail but just keep him in your prayers," Adams said said at the time. On March 4, Adams said Williams was cleared of a blood infection and was going through physical therapy but still "other complications going on." Williams returned home on March 16, according to a post on Instagram.

In another video on TikTok, where Williams had 9 million followers, Adams reflected on why Williams had been special and thanked followers for their interactions.

The grandson said: "My grandpa meant so much to me. He taught me how to be myself. He broke my silence. Nothing would bother this man.

"He was full of joy. His soul is the purest I've ever seen in my life. He was my best friend. He was the best grandpa I could ever ask for and he's in a better place where he's not in pain anymore. He loved every single one of you.

"He did call you his grandkids for a reason, because he cared about you a lot. You were happy to see him on his videos and it made him happy to see you happy."

On TikTok, the videos quickly attracted a wave of emotional tributes from fans. "RIP to the best grandpa on Earth," one person wrote. A second TikTok user added: "You will always be remembered as an amazing person who put smiles on so many faces."

The tributes spread YouTube, where one user wrote on Wednesday: "Let us take a knee and a moment of silence, for the great, most wholesome, man, to ever exist."