Jerry Van Dyke
Acting
Born 1931-07-27
Died 2018-01-05
Danville, Illinois, USA
56 credits
Read biography
He has that same genuine likability factor, owns that same trademark lantern jaw and is just as appealing and gifted as his older brother, Dick Van Dyke, but, for decades, Jerry Van Dyke had to bear the brunt of his brother's overwhelming shadow. The comic actor was born six years younger than Dick on July 27, 1931, in Danville, Illinois. Raised there, the crew cut blond showed an aptitude for clowning in high school. His stand-up comedy venues first took the form of dives and strip clubs throughout the Deep South in which his banjo-playing became an intricate part of the routine. At one point, Jerry was a regular on the Playboy club circuit. He then set his sights on the top showrooms in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Atlantic City and became a dependable opening act.
Jerry's early career should have been rightfully interrupted when he joined the Air Force in 1952. He, instead, kept the troops laughing by performing in Special Services shows. Winning a military talent contest actually earned him a couple of appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) (aka "The Ed Sullivan Show") and resulting TV exposure. Following his tour of duty, he nabbed variety appearances and a regular comic relief role on The Judy Garland Show (1963). He found comic acting parts as well on TV. Like brother Dick, who was a huge TV star by this time, Jerry also did a stint emceeing a game show. In Jerry's case, it was Picture This (1963).
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Filmography
Acting
50 credits
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Perry Mason
The Middle
The Love Boat
The Mike Douglas Show
Diagnosis: Murder
The Andy Griffith Show
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Coach
Love, American Style
The Merv Griffin Show
Fantasy Island
The Drew Carey Show
The Dick Van Dyke Show
My Name Is Earl
Newhart
Raising Hope
The District
Charles in Charge
The Ed Sullivan Show
Grace Under Fire
Kraft Music Hall
Yes, Dear
The Millers
The New Dick Van Dyke Show
Unscripted
Teen Angel
Good Morning World
My Mother the Car
McLintock!
The New Addams Family
The Judy Garland Show
Accidental Family
Fresno
You Wish
Committed
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
13 Queens Blvd.
To Grandmother's House We Go
Annabelle's Wish
Sid & Judy
Angel in My Pocket
The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited
Merry Christmas, George Bailey
Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade
Palm Springs Weekend
Love and Kisses
W.A.R.: Women Against Rape
Run If You Can
Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three Hour Tour in History
Other credits
6 credits
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
That Girl
General Electric True
The Cara Williams Show
E! True Hollywood Story
The Headmaster
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