Lively's credits as a character actor date back to the 1970s, beginning with TV roles on shows including The Waltons and The Dukes of Hazzard.
In 2005, he played the father of his daughter Blake’s character in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and he returned for its 2008 sequel.
Lively was also a director, directing Blake in her film debut, “Sandman.” A father of five, he influenced all of his children as they pursued acting careers.
He adopted Elaine's children from her previous marriage: Lori, Robyn and Jason Lively.
In November 2013, Lively was treated with stem-cell therapy as part of a new experimental retrograde gene procedure.