Jerry Van Dyke Dies At Age 86, Two Years After Car Wreck
Former Coach star Jerry Van Dyke has died at age 86 after his health was reportedly wrecked in a car accident two years ago.
Dick Van Dyke's younger comedian brother, who also appeared on the sitcoms Yes Dear and The Middle, passed away on Friday afternoon at the Arkansas ranch he shared with his wife, Shirley. Jerry recently got a Christmas visit from Dick at the 800-acre ranch.
The widow told a website that after she and Jerry had been involved in a car accident more than two years ago, his health had gone downhill.
Jerry was a longtime standup comic who made his acting debut on his brother's TV hit, The Dick Van Dyke Show.
Dick, 92, recently lost another show co-star as Rose Marie died at age 94.
Jerry was also a regular on The Judy Garland Show.
But younger TV fans knew him for playing Asst. Coach Luther Van Dam opposite Craig T. Nelson on Coach, which ran from 1989 to 1997.
Jerry was married twice and had three children. The funnyman suffered a huge family tragedy when his daughter Kelly Jean reportedly committed suicide in 1991 after struggling with substance abuse issues. She was found hanged.
We pay for juicy info! Do you have a story for RadarOnline.com? Email us at tips@radaronline.com, or call us at (866) ON-RADAR (667-2327) any time, day or night.