Jerry Van Dyke, a stand-up comic who got a leg up from his superstar brother Dick Van Dyke (b. 1925), and who went on to establish his own successful career on TV, has died. He was 86.
The Van Dyke Show (Image via CBS)
According to ExtraTV, Van Dyke passed away Friday, two years after he and his wife Shirley were injured in a car accident; she reported to TMZ that Jerry's health slid after that.
Van Dyke made his TV debut as Stacey Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show in 1962, going on to become a series regular on such shows as The Judy Garland Show (1963-1964) and My Mother the Car (1965-1966).
A familiar face in the medium across five decades. Van Dyke had recurring roles on Yes, Dear (2001-2005) and The Middle (2010-2015) — the latter of which he appeared on in an episode with his brother, a fitting swan song as it became his last series — and achieved his greatest success on Coach (1989-1997).
Van Dyke appeared in movies occasionally, notably The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963) and McLintock! (1963).
He is survived by his wife and by two children.
