Jerry Van Dyke (July 27, 1931 – January 5, 2018) was a beloved American comedian and actor who, after spending years in the shadow of his famous older brother, Dick Van Dyke, carved out his own iconic legacy with a Golden Globe-nominated role that showcased his brilliant and unique comedic talents.
Van Dyke began his career as a stand-up comedian, where his banjo-playing was a signature part of his act. After serving in the Air Force, he became a familiar face on television, with regular appearances on The Judy Garland Show. He famously starred in the notoriously ill-fated sitcom My Mother the Car (1965), a series often cited as one of the worst of all time, which he good-naturedly embraced as part of his comedic persona for the rest of his career.
His greatest and most enduring success came late in his career with the role of the lovably daft and perpetually confused assistant coach, Luther Van Dam, on the long-running hit sitcom Coach (1989-1997). The role was a perfect fit for his talents and earned him four consecutive Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, cementing his status as a television legend in his own right.
