Jerry Van Dyke

Jerry Van Dyke was an American actor and comedian best known for his long‑running role as Luther Van Dam on Coach and for being the younger brother of legendary entertainer Dick Van Dyke. Born Jerry McCord Van Dyke on July 27, 1931 in Danville, Illinois, he grew up in a family of Dutch, English, Irish and Scottish ancestry, the son of Hazel Victoria McCord, a stenographer, and Loren Wayne “Cookie” Van Dyke, a salesman. His early fascination with performance led him to do stand‑up comedy while still a student at Danville High School, and by the mid‑1950s he was already a veteran of nightclubs and strip joints. After a stint in the United States Air Force, where he joined the elite Tops In Blue troupe and twice won the All‑Air Force Talent Show, Van Dyke entered television, making his debut on The Dick Van Dyke Show as Rob Petrie’s brother Stacey. Throughout the 1960s he worked as a regular on The Judy Garland Show, hosted the game show Picture This, and appeared in films such as McLintock! and Palm Springs Weekend. Although the sitcom My Mother the Car (1965) failed to attract viewers, he continued to secure guest spots on shows like The Andy Griffith Show and The Cara Williams Show. He later starred in short‑lived series Accidental Family (1967) and Love and Kisses (1965), and turned down the iconic role of Gilligan on Gilligan’s Island. In the 1970s Van Dyke revived his stand‑up career, touring Playboy Clubs, Las Vegas venues and major festivals while making occasional TV appearances on Love, American Style and Fantasy Island. The defining moment of his career arrived in 1989 when he was cast as the lovable, bumbling assistant coach Luther Van Dam on Coach, a role that earned him four consecutive Emmy nominations from 1990 to 1994. Beyond acting, he was a skilled banjo player, a passionate poker enthusiast who announced tournaments for ESPN, and a dedicated family man. He married Carol Johnson in 1957, with whom he had three children, and later married actress Shirley Ann Jones in 1977. Jerry Van Dyke passed away on January 5 2018 at his Arkansas ranch, leaving behind a legacy of warm humor and a distinctive place in American television history.