Jerry Van Dyke, the younger brother of Dick Van Dyke who struggled for decades to achieve his own stardom before clicking as the dim-witted sidekick in television's "Coach," died Friday in Arkansas, according to his manager. He was 86.
John Castonia said Van Dyke died at his ranch in Hot Spring County. His wife, Shirley Ann Jones, was by his side. No cause was immediately known.
Van Dyke had an affable, goofy appeal, but he spent much of his career toiling in failed sitcoms and in the shadow of his older brother, even playing the star's brother in "The Dick Van Dyke Show."
Until "Coach" came along in 1989, Van Dyke was best known to critics as the guy who had starred in one of television's more improbable sitcoms, 1965's "My Mother the Car." Its premise: A small-town lawyer talks to his deceased mother (voiced by actress Ann Sothern), who speaks from the radio of an antique automobile.
Other bombs included 1967's "Accidental Family," in which he was a nightclub comedian, 1970's "The Headmaster," in which he was a gym teacher and 1963's "Picture This," a game show that lasted only three months. He also joined "The Judy Garland Show" in 1963, to provide comic relief, but was fired at the end of the season.
"The show's writers wrote awful, awful, awful stuff," he recalled in a 1994 interview with The Associated Press, "and I was forced to do it. For instance, I had to come out and say to Judy Garland, 'What's a nice little old lady like you doing on television?'" He added: "And that was just the first week!"
In "Coach," he finally made it, playing assistant coach Luther Van Dam, comic foil to Craig T. Nelson's coach Hayden Fox. The two headed up a hapless Minnesota college football team, its follies aired from 1989 to 1997, and Van Dyke was nominated four times for an Emmy.
"I never knew what success was like, or having a hit series, or even doing something GOOD," Van Dyke told the AP. "Finally I got a job that I enjoy doing, that's not hard to do — and I get paid a lot of money."
Nelson, his co-star on the show, paid homage to his former onscreen partner Saturday: "I am incredibly sad to hear of Jerry's passing. He was such a brilliant comedian and we had a great time working together on 'Coach.' It is just devastating news."
Dawn Wells, an actress who starred with Van Dyke on an episode of "Fantasy Island," called him in a statement "one of Hollywood's funniest, kindest and personable comedians. He was a joy to work with. He will be missed."
Over the years, Van Dyke made guest appearances on numerous programs, among them "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," whose star had played his sister-in-law on "The Dick Van Dyke Show."
He also appeared on "The Andy Griffith Show," ''Perry Mason" and in such films as "The Courtship of Eddie's Father," ''Palm Springs Weekend," ''Angel in My Pocket" and "McLintock!"
His decision to take the "Car" role was one of two disastrous career moves in the mid-1960s. He also passed on a chance to play the title role on "Gilligan's Island" and to replace the departing Don Knotts as the deputy on "The Andy Griffith Show."
"My Mother the Car" lasted one season. (A New York Times critic cracked, "last night's premiere made a strong case for not fastening your seat belts.") But "Gilligan's Island" turned its star, Bob Denver, into a television icon and is still airing endlessly in reruns. Van Dyke said in 1990 that his brother told him "My Mother the Car" sounded good. (At the time, a show about a talking horse — "Mister Ed" — and other fantasy sitcoms were doing well.)
"I never asked him for advice after that," Jerry Van Dyke said.
He also rued the loss of a role in 1982 when he was up for a supporting gig in a series to star Bob Newhart, which would run for eight celebrated seasons. But Tom Poston got his role as George the handyman on "Newhart." In recent years, Van Dyke made recurring appearances on "The Middle" (where he and brother Dick starred in an episode) and "Yes, Dear."
Patricia Heaton, who played Van Dyke's daughter on "The Middle," tweeted her respects: "Jerry, you were hilarious and terrifically talented — what an honor to be able to watch up close as you and your brother create your special magic."
He was born in Danville, Illinois, in 1931, six years after his brother. He said he knew from childhood that he wanted to be a comedian, and grew up listening to the radio shows of Bob Hope, Red Skelton and others. By age 8 he had earned a reputation as class clown.
He had his first brush with acting in a guest role on "The Dick Van Dyke Show" as Rob Petrie's banjo-playing brother. "I came away thinking, 'TV is a piece of cake; I want more of this,'" he told the AP.
Van Dyke entered Eastern Illinois University, but his education was interrupted by service in the Air Force during the Korean War. He spent much of that time entertaining colleagues at military shows with jokes and banjo playing.
When he got out of the service, he took that act on the road, with little success. Eventually he followed his brother to Hollywood.
He is survived by his wife, two children from his previous marriage to Carol Johnson — Jerri and Ronald — and his brother.
(CNN) Jerry Van Dyke, the younger brother of fellow comedian and actor Dick Van Dyke, died Friday at his Arkansas ranch, his wife Shirley Ann Jones told CNN. He was 86.
Van Dyke was known for several roles, most notably for playing the assistant football coach on the late '80s and '90s hit show "Coach," for which he earned 4 Emmy nominations. He also made appearances on his brother's classic sitcom "The Dick Van Dyke Show."
He died of heart failure. His wife told CNN he never fully recovered from a "horrible car accident" two and a half years ago in which he was "injured very badly."
The Van Dyke brothers were close throughout their careers.
In 2015, Jerry and Dick reunited on screen on ABC's sitcom "The Middle," playing a pair of fighting brothers. Jerry told the Los Angeles Times that he always looked up to his older brother.
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Jerry Van Dyke, the younger brother of actor Dick Van Dyke best known for his role on Coach, has died at the age of 86, his rep confirms to PEOPLE.
The actor passed Friday at his Arkansas ranch with wife Shirley by his side, TMZ reported. Shirley told the website that Jerry’s health had been deteriorating over the years, after a car accident they were involved in back in 2015.
He was last seen on the small screen on ABC’s The Middle, in the recurring role as Tag Spence — the father of Patricia Heaton‘s character. Jerry first appeared on the show’s second season and appeared in eight episodes total. His last episode, airing in 2015, had a very special guest: Jerry’s brother Dick (playing Tag’s brother, naturally).
Heaton remembered Jerry on Twitter shortly after the news broke.
Jerry Van Dyke J. Cast Productions
“Much love to my wonderful TV dad #jerryvandyke and condolences to my TV dad-in-law #dickvandyke,” she wrote. “Jerry, you were hilarious and terrifically talented – what an honor to be able to watch up close as you and your brother create your special magic. Rest In Peace Jerry…”
Much love to my wonderful TV dad #jerryvandyke and condolences to my TV dad-in-law #dickvandyke. Jerry, you were hilarious and terrifically talented – what an honor to be able to watch up close as you and your brother create your special magic. Rest In Peace Jerry… pic.twitter.com/O5Sx12vK3q — Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) January 6, 2018
It was a full-circle moment as Dick was the one who actually gave Jerry his first big acting credit, casting Jerry as Dick’s on-screen brother during a 1962 gust spot on The Dick Van Dyke Show.
Jerry Van Dyke and Dick Van Dyke on The Middl Michael Ansell/ABC/Getty Images
Jerry, a stand-up comedian who had performed on military bases around the world as a member of the Air Force, would go on to book gigs on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Judy Garland Show. He even emceed a game show: 1963’s Picture This.
Despite having the same happy-go-lucky stammer that made his brother Dick a huge star in the ’60s, Jerry struggled to find the same break-out success. He famously turned down the title role in 1964’s Gilligan’s Island, and would go on to make a sea of one-season TV sitcoms from then on.
Jerry Van Dyke and Craig T. Nelson in Coach ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images
It wasn’t until 1989 that he would find his biggest part, playing defensive coordinator Luther Van Dam in ABC’s Coach. The show, which followed Craig T. Nelson as head coach of the fictional Division I-A college football team the Minnesota State University Screaming Eagles, would go on to air for nine season and rack up a total of 200 episodes. Jerry earned four consecutive Emmy nominations for his role on the shpw.
In the early 2000s, he often guest starred on Yes, Dear as well.
Jerry Van Dyke Jeff Daly/FilmMagic
Born and raised in Danville, Illinois, Jerry is six years younger than Dick. He married twice and had three children — one of which, Kelly Van Dyke, died via suicide in 1991.
Jerry Van Dyke, the younger brother of actor Dick Van Dyke and a four-time Emmy nominee, died Friday in Arkansas. He was 86.
Jerry’s wife, Shirley Ann Jones, told the New York Times that his health had deteriorated since a traffic accident in 2015.
Van Dyke’s television career began in tandem with his brother’s, as one of his earliest appearances was on “The Dick Van Dyke Show” in 1962 as Stacey Petrie.
Van Dyke was best known for his role as Assistant Coach Luther Van Dam on ABC’s “Coach,” which earned him four Emmy nominations.
Throughout his television career, Van Dyke gravitated towards projects that would go on to be short-lived, turning down a starring role in “Gilligan’s Island” to work on “My Mother the Car,” which has been regarded as one of the worst television shows of the era. It ran for only one season on NBC in September 1965. A few of his other ill-fated projects included “Accidental Family,” “Headmaster” and “13 Queens Boulevard.”
When his television career began to seemingly taper off at the end of the ’60s, he supported himself with his stage show, which played in Las Vegas, at Playboy Clubs, and on cruise ships.
In 1989, however, Van Dyke nabbed the role of Assistant Coach Luther Van Dam on “Coach,” which ran until 1997. Van Dam assisted to Craig T. Nelson’s Coach Hayden Fox as they oversaw the fictional Minnesota State University Screaming Eagles. Van Dyke’s work on the show earned him four Emmy nominations for supporting actor.
Van Dyke was characteristically good-humored about the meandering nature of his career, telling USA Today in 1990 that the Emmy nominations he received for the role marked its peak.
“Everybody talks about me making a comeback,” he said. “I say: ‘Comeback from what? This is as good as it’s ever been.’”
After “Coach” ended, Van Dyke continued to make guest appearances in sitcoms like “Yes, Dear,” “Raising Hope” and “My Name is Earl.”
