JERRY VAN DYKE BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:
Jerry Van Dyke was born on July 27th, 1931 in Danville, Illinois to parents, Loren and Hazel Van Dyke. He already became involved in entertaining while in High School. He loved to do stand up comedy and would perform at local night clubs and strip joints.
He joined the Air Force in 1952 and would entertain the troops. He even won a military talent show contest. By the mid 1950's, he had his own show, "The Jerry Van Dyke Show" with WTHI-TV. Soon he was making guest appearances on such shows as, "The Dick Van Dyke Show", "The Ed Sullivan Show" and soon regular appearances on, "The Judy Garland Show".
Along with his talent being showcased on a number of television shows, casting agents were also giving him film opportunities such as was the case in the films, "McLintock!" starring John Wayne, "Palm Springs Weekend" and "The Courtship of Eddie's Father".
His popularity was increasing, but with him turning down two roles that were offered to him, "Gilligan's Island" and replacing Don Knotts on, 'The Andy Griffith Show" things career wise were not going as he planned. He was cast in two sitcoms, "My Mother the Car" (1965) and "Accidental Family" but neither were successful career choices for him.
He decided during the mid 1970's to return to what he knew he was best at, stand up comedy. He would tour nightclubs and on the odd occasion would make a brief television appearance on such shows as, "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", "Love, American Style" and "Fantasy Island".
Jerry Van Dyke is most remembered for his role on the long running television series, "Coach" (1989-1997) where he played an assistant football coach and earned four consecutive Emmy nominations for, "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series".
He was married once before to Carol Johnson in 1957 and they had three children together before the marriage ended in divorce in 1974. He currently resides on his ranch in Arkansas with his second wife, Shirley Ann Jones whom he married in 1977.
Filmography
2011 Raising Hope
2010 The Middle
2010 Moon Ring
2008 My Name Is Earl
2001-2005 Yes, Dear
2005 Committed
2004 The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited
2004 The District
1999 Diagnosis Murder
1998 The New Addams Family
1997-1998 You Wish
1998 Teen Angel
1997 Merry Christmas, George Bailey
1997 Annabelle's Wish
1989-1997 Coach
1997 The Drew Carey Show
1997 Grace Under Fire
1992 To Grandmother's House We Go
1988 Charles in Charge
1988 Coming of Age
1987 Run If You Can
1987 Death Blow: A Cry for Justice
1986 Fresno
1983 Newhart
1982 The Love Boat
1978-1981 Fantasy Island
1980 House Calls
1979 13 Queens Boulevard
1976 ABC Afterschool Specials
1972-1973 Mary Tyler Moore
1973 The New Dick Van Dyke Show
1970-1971 Love, American Style
1970 Headmaster
1969 Angel in My Pocket
1968 Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
1968 Good Morning, World
1967-1968 Accidental Family
1967 Vacation Playhouse
1967 That Girl
1965-1966 My Mother the Car
1965 Love and Kisses
1965 The Andy Griffith Show
1962-1965 The Dick Van Dyke Show
1964 The Cara Williams Show
1964 Perry Mason
1963 McLintock!
1963 Palm Springs Weekend
1963 The Judy Garland Show
1963 The Courtship of Eddie's Father
1962 G.E. True
