Jerry Van Dyke
Acting • Born 1931-07-27 – Died 2018-01-05
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).
Filmography
56 credits
Palm Springs Weekend
Movie • 1963
Biff Roberts
McLintock!
Movie • 1963
Matt Douglas Jr.
Angel in My Pocket
Movie • 1969
Emery
Love and Kisses
Movie • 1965
Freddy
Annabelle's Wish
Movie • 1997
Grandpa Baker (voice)
Run If You Can
Movie • 1988
Brian
Merry Christmas, George Bailey
Movie • 1997
Uncle Billy
To Grandmother's House We Go
Movie • 1992
Harvey
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
Movie • 1963
Norman Jones
W.A.R.: Women Against Rape
Movie • 1987
Bernard Blackwell
Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three Hour Tour in History
Movie • 2001
Himself
The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited
Movie • 2004
Stacey Petrie
Sid & Judy
Movie • 2019
Self (archive footage)
Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade
Movie • 1996
Self - Host
The Drew Carey Show
TV • 1995
Luther Van Damme
The Andy Griffith Show
TV • 1960
Jerry
Charles in Charge
TV • 1984
Mr. Merken
The Middle
TV • 2009
Tag Spence
The District
TV • 2000
Judge Beers
My Name Is Earl
TV • 2005
Jerry
That Girl
TV • 1966
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
TV • 1964
Committed
TV • 2005
Walter
Coach
TV • 1989
Luther Van Dam
E! True Hollywood Story
TV • 1996
Grace Under Fire
TV • 1993
Luther Van Dam
Newhart
TV • 1982
Roy Herzog
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
James Douglas
You Wish
TV • 1997
Grandpa Max
Kraft Music Hall
TV • 1958
Self
The Headmaster
TV • 1970
Good Morning World
TV • 1967
Jerry Carroll
Accidental Family
TV • 1967
Jerry Webster
Unscripted
TV • 2005
Self
The Cara Williams Show
TV • 1964
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
TV • 1970
Wes Callison
General Electric True
TV • 1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV • 1962
Self
13 Queens Blvd.
TV • 1979
Steven Winters
My Mother the Car
TV • 1965
Dave Crabtree
The Judy Garland Show
TV • 1963
Self
The Love Boat
TV • 1977
Norman Quigley
The Ed Sullivan Show
TV • 1948
Self
Yes, Dear
TV • 2000
Big Jimmy Hughes
Fresno
TV • 1986
Tucker Agajanian
Teen Angel
TV • 1997
Jerry Beauchamp
Diagnosis: Murder
TV • 1993
Stacy sloan
Love, American Style
TV • 1969
John Pettidrew
The Dick Van Dyke Show
TV • 1961
Stacey Petrie
The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961
Self
Love, American Style
TV • 1969
Dwayne
Fantasy Island
TV • 1978
Mr. Brennan
Love, American Style
TV • 1969
Gordon
Raising Hope
TV • 2010
Mel
The Merv Griffin Show
TV • 1962
Self
The Millers
TV • 2013
Bud