Jerry Van Dyke

He has that same genuine likability factor owns that same trademark lantern jaw and is just as appealing and gifted as his older brother Dick Van Dyke but for decades Jerry Van Dyke had to bear the brunt of his brothers overwhelming shadow The comic actor was born six years younger than Dick on July 27 1931 in Danville Illinois Raised there the crew cut blond showed an aptitude for clowning in high school His standup comedy venues first took the form of dives and strip clubs throughout the Deep South in which his banjoplaying became an intricate part of the routine At one point Jerry was a regular on the Playboy club circuit He then set his sights on the top showrooms in Las Vegas Lake Tahoe and Atlantic City and became a dependable opening act Jerrys early career should have been rightfully interrupted when he joined the Air Force in 1952 He instead kept the troops laughing by performing in Special Services shows Winning a military talent contest actually earned him a couple of appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show 1948 aka The Ed Sullivan Show and resulting TV exposure Following his tour of duty he nabbed variety appearances and a regular comic relief role on The Judy Garland Show 1963 He found comic acting parts as well on TV Like brother Dick who was a huge TV star by this time Jerry also did a stint emceeing a game show In Jerrys case it was Picture This 1963