Jerry Van Dyke
| Jerry Van Dyke | |
|---|---|
Van Dyke at the 1994 Emmys
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| Born |
July 27, 1931 Danville, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian |
| Years active | 1962–present |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | 3, including Kelly Jean Van Dyke |
| Relatives | Dick Van Dyke (brother) |
Jerry Van Dyke (born July 27, 1931) is an American comedian and actor, the younger brother of Dick Van Dyke.
He made his TV acting debut on The Dick Van Dyke Show with several guest appearances as Rob Petrie's brother, Stacey. Later in his career from 1989 to 1997, he portrayed Luther Van Dam on Craig T. Nelson's ABC sitcom Coach.
Van Dyke was born in Danville, Illinois, in 1931 to Loren Van Dyke (1900-1976) (nickname "Cookie") and Hazel Vorice (née McCord) Van Dyke (1896–1992). He is of Dutch descent on his father's side and of English and Scottish descent on his mother's side. His mother was a Mayflower descendant.
Van Dyke pursued his stand-up comedy career while still in Danville High School, and was already a veteran of strip joints and nightclubs when he joined the United States Air Force Tops In Blue in 1954 and 1955. During the mid-fifties, Van Dyke worked at WTHI-TV in Terre Haute, Indiana. The Jerry Van Dyke Show, which included future CBS News Early Show news anchor Joseph Benti, Nancee South, and Ben Falber, was popular fare. In the service he performed at military bases around the world, twice winning the All Air Force Talent Show. Following his first guest appearances on The Dick Van Dyke Show and two others on CBS's The Ed Sullivan Show, CBS made him a regular on The Judy Garland Show. He was also given hosting chores on the 1963 game show Picture This. In that same year, movie audiences saw him in supporting roles in the films , Palm Springs Weekend and The Courtship of Eddie's Father.
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