Second banana to his brother, Jerry Van Dyke was always pretty good in everything he was in. He was very good in a guest spot on the Mary Tyler Moore Show, playing a bad stand-up comedian.
But in that “bad” routine he had a joke that I still say to this day.
“When I was young my parents were poor. They couldn’t pay to have my tonsils taken out, they could only afford to have them loosened.”
I’m at that age where I’m seeing my childhood pop culture die off day by day… by “natural” causes.
Depressing.
TMZ-
Jerry Van Dyke — the famed younger brother of Dick Van Dyke — has died … TMZ has learned.Jerry’s wife, Shirley, tells us … he died Friday afternoon at their Arkansas ranch with her by his side. She says they were involved in a car accident over 2 years ago … and Jerry’s health had deteriorated since.We’re told Dick visited them at the ranch over the Christmas holiday.A beloved comedian just like his brother, Jerry pursued stand-up as a young man and performed at military bases around the world. He made his acting debut on “The Dick Van Dyke” show and followed that up with appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show” before becoming a regular on “The Judy Garland Show.”
ht/ js
I remember watching My Mother the Car as a youngster. Saw it awhile back on a nostalgia channel. Oh my god it was terrible. But have very fond memories of him on Coach. RIP
I remember him on the Dick Van Dyke Show.
He played a guy who was very shy and tongue tied, but became loud, gregarious, funny and entertaining when he was sleep walking. I believe he played the banjo on that episode. I was very young so it’s a bit fuzzy.
RIP Jerry.
He’d have been a great Gilligan.
He was a sweetheart on Coach, and I will remember him with great fondness
DT’s comment above reminded me of a bit of trivia. It’s pretty much accepted that the Andy Griffith Show was never as good without Barney (Don Knotts). The guy who took Barney’s place was so forgettable I don’t even remember his name. Had fate not worked against us, the man who very well could have ended up as Andy’s new deputy was… Jerry Van Dyke. But Jerry thought the lead in My Mother was too good to pass up.
Aw… I loved him on “Coach.”
I always liked Jerry on the DvD show. Seems I have a soft spot for the underdogs.
RIP, Jerry. You were loved.
He seemed like a kind man. Rest in peace Jerry.
Really a funny guy and he could flat out play a banjo…..he was on a Gomer Pyle or two.
Rest In Peace Sir!
RIP Jerry and thanks for the laughs.
Sad to hear the news. Just watched him in “McClintock” playing a perfect progressive “dude”. Watched him on The Dick Van Dyke Show as Dick’s sleepwalking comic brother. It still cracks me up even though the episode is very poignant. Jerry would call Dick Van Dyke “Burford” when he was sleepwalking. Rhodes Burford was the name of a furniture store in his hometown, which also happens to be my hometown – Danville IL. Walked past that store many times as a kid, and yes, my parents bought furniture there. Met Jerry as a kid and just remembered he was very nice. Both Dick (born in Kansas, raised in Illinois) and Jerry (born/raised in Illinois) went home to visit quite often. In fact, I was home when Dick visited to be honored by our high school in 2016. Quite a number of A list celebs were born and/or raised in my little hometown.
RIP
Enjoyed his work.