JD
Jerry Van Dyke
Actor
Died January 5, 2018 (86 years)
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).
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).
Filmography
| 2023 | Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic · as Tag Spence |
| 2013 | The Millers (TV Series) · as Bud |
| 2010 | Raising Hope (TV Series) · as Mel |
| 2009 | The Middle (TV Series) · as Tag Spence |
| 2005 | My Name Is Earl (TV Series) · as Jerry |
| 2005 | Committed (TV Series) · as Walter |
| 2004 | The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited · as Stacey Petrie |
| 2000 | The District (TV Series) · as Judge Beers |
| 2000 | Yes, Dear (TV Series) · as Big Jimmy Hughes |
| 1998 | The New Addams Family (TV Series) · as The Burglar |
| 1997 | Merry Christmas, George Bailey · as Uncle Billy |
| 1997 | Annabelle's Wish · as Grandpa Baker (voice) |
| 1997 | Teen Angel (TV Series) · as Jerry Beauchamp |
| 1997 | You Wish (TV Series) · as Grandpa Max |
| 1996 | E! True Hollywood Story (TV Series) |
| 1995 | The Drew Carey Show (TV Series) · as Luther Van Damme |
| 1993 | Diagnosis Murder (TV Series) · as Stacy Sloan |
| 1993 | Grace Under Fire (TV Series) |
| 1993 | The Pelican Brief · as Assistant Coach Luther Horatio Van Dam In Coach (archive Footage) |
| 1992 | To Grandmother's House We Go · as Harvey |
| 1989 | Coach (TV Series) · as Luther Van Dam |
| 1988 | Run If You Can · as Brian |
| 1987 | Death Blow: A Cry for Justice · as Bernard Blackwell |
| 1986 | Fresno (TV Series) · as Tucker Agajanian |
| 1984 | Charles in Charge (TV Series) · as Mr. Merken |
| 1982 | Newhart (TV Series) |
| 1979 | House Calls (TV Series) · as Dr. Duane Kellogg |
| 1977 | The Love Boat (TV Series) · as Norman Quigley |
| 1977 | Fantasy Island (TV Series) · as Fred Cooper |
| 1976 | Van Dyke and Company (TV Series) · as Dick Van Dyke |
| 1972 | The ABC Afterschool Special (TV Series) · as Mr. Finley |
| 1971 | The New Dick Van Dyke Show (TV Series) · as Mickey Preston |
| 1970 | The Mary Tyler Moore Show (TV Series) · as Wes Callison |
| 1969 | Love, American Style (TV Series) · as John Pettidrew |
| 1969 | Angel in My Pocket · as Emery |
| 1967 | Accidental Family (TV Series) · as Jerry Webster |
| 1967 | Good Morning, World (TV Series) · as Jerry Carroll |
| 1966 | |
| 1965 | My Mother the Car (TV Series) · as Dave Crabtree |
| 1965 | Love & Kisses · as Freddy |
| 1964 | Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (TV Series) |
| 1963 | McLintock! · as Matt Douglas Jr. |
| 1963 | Palm Springs Weekend · as Biff Roberts |
| 1963 | Vacation Playhouse (TV Series) · as Bill Wallace |
| 1963 | The Courtship of Eddie's Father · as Norman Jones |
| 1961 | The Dick Van Dyke Show (TV Series) · as Stacey Petrie |
| 1960 | The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series) · as Jerry |
| 1957 | Perry Mason (TV Series) · as James Douglas |
| 1948 | The Ed Sullivan Show (TV Series) · as Comedian |