Person biography:
Jerry Van Dyke was born on July 27, 1931, in Danville, Illinois, six years younger than his brother Dick Van Dyke. He developed an aptitude for clowning in high school and began performing stand-up comedy in the Deep South, incorporating his banjo-playing into his routine. He became a regular on the Playboy club circuit and later performed in top showrooms in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, and Atlantic City.
After joining the Air Force in 1952, Jerry continued to perform in Special Services shows, winning a military talent contest and earning appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. Following his tour of duty, he landed variety appearances and a regular comic relief role on The Judy Garland Show.
Jerry built his TV reputation in the early 1960s, turning down the title role in Gilligan's Island to star in the equally silly My Mother the Car, which proved to be a detrimental career move. He went on to star in several other short-lived series, including Accidental Family and Headmaster.
Jerry's career experienced a resurgence when he won the role of Luther Van Dam on Coach, earning four consecutive Emmy nominations and a steady paycheck for eight seasons. He continued to appear in TV shows and films throughout his career, including guest spots on The New Addams Family, The District, Diagnosis Murder, and My Name Is Earl.
In his later years, Jerry lived on a ranch in Arkansas with his second wife, Shirley Jones, and raised cattle. He was also an avid poker player and appeared in ESPN tournaments. Jerry Van Dyke passed away on January 5, 2018, at the age of 86.
