Four time Emmy nominee Jerry Van Dyke, brother to Dick Van Dyke dies at age 86 at his Arkansas Ranch of Friday. He was 86 years old. He died of heart failure. The actor’s health had been declining since a horrible traffic accident in 2015, Jerry’s wife, Shirley Ann Jones said. Van Dyke was most well known for his role of the assistant football coach at the fictional Minnesota State University Screaming Eagles on the late 80’s and 90’s show “Coach,” where he earned all four of his back to back Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series from 1990-1993. He also made multiple appearances on his brother’s sitcom “The Dick Van Dyke Show.”
The two brothers were very close throughout their careers. In 2015, the two played a pair of fighting brothers on ABC’s sitcom “The Middle.” In an interview Jerry spoke of how he had always looked up to his older brother Dick. In the same interview, Dick spoke of his brother’s stand-up act, and described his first time seeing it. “I didn’t realize how good he was,” Dick said. “The main thing about Jerry is that he’s funny from the inside out.”
This is the second death to strike the family of The Dick Van Dyke Show in recent weeks. Rose Marie, who played comedy writer Sally Rogers on the program, died on December 28.
As well as his brother, the comedian is survived by Ms Jones – his second wife, a son and daughter from his first marriage, and two grandchildren.