Jerry Van Dyke
Acting
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).
Born: July 27, 1931
Place of Birth: Danville, Illinois, USA
Known For
Filmography
as Self (archive footage)
as Bud
as Mel
as Tag Spence
as Jerry
as Self
as Walter
as Stacey Petrie
as Judge Beers
as Big Jimmy Hughes
as Uncle Billy
as Grandpa Baker (voice)
as Jerry Beauchamp
as Grandpa Max
as Luther Van Damme
as Stacy sloan
as Luther Van Dam
as Harvey
as Luther Van Dam
as Brian
as Bernard Blackwell
as Tucker Agajanian
as Mr. Merken
as Steven Winters
as Mr. Brennan
as Norman Quigley
as Wes Callison
as John Pettidrew
as Dwayne
as Gordon
as Emery
as Jerry Webster
as Jerry Carroll
as Dave Crabtree
as Freddy
as Self
as Matt Douglas Jr.
as Biff Roberts
as Norman Jones
as Self
as Self
as Stacey Petrie
as Jerry
as Self
as James Douglas
as Self