Description: |
One typed page including photograph; biography of Jerry Van Dyke, comedian/musician. ABASH VALLEY WP R O F I L E SA series of tributes to hometown people and events that have shaped our history.Jer r y Van Dykehe Terre Haute television audience of the 1950s saw many talented performers, but comedian/musician Jerry McCord Van Dyke was one who took his local renown to the "big time," jump-starting a notable national career from a nightly variety show bearing his name on WTHI-TV. Born July 27, 1931, in Danville, Ill., to Loren Wayne "Cookie" and Hazel (McCord) Van Dyke, Jerry was five years younger than his brother Dick, also a famed actor and comedian, as well as a singer and dancer. Although Jerry began acting as a student at Danville High School, he never really needed a stage to perform; some of his best comedy occurred in the classroom. Upon graduation, he attended Eastern Illinois University for 18 weeks and began working in night clubs. He joined the Air Force in 1952 and continued his performances in the Special Services. His television debut was as master of ceremonies with the Air Force Tops in Blue on Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town in 1954. In 1955 he was hired by WTHI and for awhile was a radio disc jockey. The Jerry Van Dyke Show, a popular half-hour of variety every weekday evening at 5 p.m., was the first locally produced television show with a live audience. Featured performers included singer-organist Nancee South, pianist Ben Falber, Joseph Benti (who later became anchor for the CBS Morning News) and Van Dyke. Jerry played banjo and drums and used Benti as his straight man in comedy skits. In January 1957, during his residency which lasted nearly three years, he wed Carol Johnson of Danville. The couple had three children -- Kelly, Jerri Lynn and Ron. After leaving Terre Haute, Jerry returned to the night club circuit. Eventually hired by the Playboy Club in Chicago, he also performed in Las Vegas and on the west coast. Meanwhile, Dick's career took a meteoric rise. In 1962 a few months after Dick began taping The Dick Van Dyke Show, Jerry appeared in two episodes, earning much attention as Dick's dual-personalitied brother Stacey. He later made semi-regular appearances on The Judy Garland Show and others. His first motion picture was McLintock! with John Wayne in 1963, which he followed with the likes of The Courtship of Eddie's Father, Palm Springs Weekend, Angel in My Pocket and Love and Kisses. In 1965 Jerry rejected the chance to star in a new series called Gilligan's Island because "it was the worst thing I ever read." Instead, he chose to star in My Mother The Car, a short-lived series which has recently gained a new following. He made guest appearances on Accidental Family, The Headmaster, 13 Queens Boulevard and Fresno until he landed the role of assistant coach Luther Van Dam on the series Coach. Four times (1990-1993) Van Dyke earned Emmy nominations for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series. In 1989 he made the film, Death Blow, and when Coach ended, he continued doing live comedy, returning to TV in You Wish and Teen Angel and for guest spots. Jerry and his second wife, country singer Shirley Jones, reside on their 500-acre cattle and llama ranch in Arkansas, where they own Jerry Van Dyke's Royal Theater and Jerry Van Dyke's Soda Shoppe, in downtown Benton. In 1998 they sold their home in the San Fernando Valley of California and during breaks from Jerry's comedic engagements and duties as spokesman for Big Lots, the couple vacations in Mexico.TTERRE HAUTE(812) 238-6000NATIONAL BANKAlways Close to HomeDate published: May 24, 2001Filename: Van Dyke, Jerry profile |
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Origin: | 2001-05-23 |
Created By: |
McCormick, Mike |
Publisher: |
Terre Haute Tribune-Star |
Source: |
http://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/vchs/id/594 |
Collection: |
Vigo County Historical Society |
Rights: | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/ |
Copyright: |
Copyright Undetermined |
Subjects: |
Van Dyke, Jerry, b. 1931 Actors Comedians Musicians People |
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