Acting
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).
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962 · TV
Perry Mason
1957 · TV
The Mike Douglas Show
1961 · TV
The Middle
2009 · TV
Coach
1989 · TV
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
1970 · TV
The Andy Griffith Show
1960 · TV
The Love Boat
1977 · TV
The Merv Griffin Show
1962 · TV
Diagnosis: Murder
1993 · TV
The Drew Carey Show
1995 · TV
The Dick Van Dyke Show
1961 · TV
Love, American Style
1969 · TV
Fantasy Island
1978 · TV
Newhart
1982 · TV
My Name Is Earl
2005 · TV
Raising Hope
2010 · TV
The District
2000 · TV
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
1964 · TV
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948 · TV
Grace Under Fire
1993 · TV
Kraft Music Hall
1958 · TV
That Girl
1966 · TV
Charles in Charge
1984 · TV
Yes, Dear
2000 · TV
The Millers
2013 · TV
The New Dick Van Dyke Show
1971 · TV
Teen Angel
1997 · TV
Unscripted
2005 · TV
Accidental Family
1967 · TV
Good Morning World
1967 · TV
My Mother the Car
1965 · TV
The Cara Williams Show
1964 · TV
General Electric True
1962 · TV
The Judy Garland Show
1963 · TV
The New Addams Family
1998 · TV
You Wish
1997 · TV
Committed
2005 · TV
McLintock!
1963 · Movie
Fresno
1986 · TV
The Headmaster
1970 · TV
13 Queens Blvd.
1979 · TV
E! True Hollywood Story
1996 · TV
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
1963 · Movie
Annabelle's Wish
1997 · Movie
Angel in My Pocket
1969 · Movie
To Grandmother's House We Go
1992 · Movie
Palm Springs Weekend
1963 · Movie
Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade
1996 · Movie
W.A.R.: Women Against Rape
1987 · Movie
Merry Christmas, George Bailey
1997 · Movie
The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited
2004 · Movie
Sid & Judy
2019 · Movie
Love and Kisses
1965 · Movie
Run If You Can
1988 · Movie
★ 7.2Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three Hour Tour in History
Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three Hour Tour in History
Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three Hour Tour in History
2001 · Movie
