Born on July 27, 1931, the brother of Dick Van Dyke, Jerry has been a performer since his high school days in Danville, Illinois. Soon, though, he moved his way up from principals and teachers and to stand-up comedy in strip clubs and other bars through the deep south. He got himself hired as a regular for the Playboy clubs and then was off to Vegas. Man, that Eastern education served him well.

He joined the Air Force in 1952 and continued his performances in the Special Services -- winning the Air Force's talent show and appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show. After leaving the service, he appeared on programs such as The Judy Garland Show, 13 Queens Blvd, the game show Picture This and everyone's favorite sitcom My Mother the Car.

Believe it or not, but Van Dyke picked My Mother the Car over Gilligan’s Island because he thought Gilligan’s Island was one of the worst things he ever read.

Another bit of trivia: The part of George Utley on Newhart was orginally created for him.

Like all performers who go to Eastern, Jerry Van Dyke has been nominated for an Emmy award. He was nominated each year from 1990-93 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his portrayal of Luther.

The EIU Hall of Fame staff is still investigating reports Van Dyke's character Luther is based on Eastern's head football coach, Bob Spoo (pictured left).

Jerry Van Dyke is listed as living in Los Angeles, but spends most of his time at a ranch in Arkansas where helives with his wife, Shirley, and (in a Joan Embery-like move) owns cattle and llamas.

No word on whether he and Spoo talk regularly.

Sources for information and some photos: E! Online, Internet Movie Database, Comedians USA, Fan Sites