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Dick
Van Dyke
| Born
in Missouri, entertainer Dick Van Dyke was raised in Danville,
Illinois, where repeated viewings of Laurel & Hardy comedies
at his local movie palace inspired him to go into show business.
Active in high school and community plays in his teens, Van
Dyke briefly put his theatrical aspirations aside upon reaching
college age. He toyed with the idea of becoming a Presbyterian
minister; then, after serving in the Air Force during World
War II, opened up a Danville advertising agency. When this
venture failed, it was back to show biz, first as a radio
announcer for local station WDAN, and later as half of a record-pantomime
act called The Merry Mutes (the other half was a fellow named
Philip Erickson). While hosting a TV morning show in New Orleans,
Van Dyke was signed to a contract by the CBS network. He spent
most of his time subbing for other CBS personalities and emceeing
such forgotten endeavors as Cartoon Theatre. After making
his acting debut as a hayseed baseball player on The Phil
Silvers Show, Van Dyke left CBS to free-lance. He hosted a
few TV game shows before his career breakthrough as co-star
of the 1959 Broadway review The Girls Against the Boys. The
following year, he starred in the musical comedy Bye Bye Birdie,
winning a Tony Award for his portrayal of mother-dominated
songwriter Albert Peterson (it would be his last Broadway
show until the short-lived 1980 revival of The Music Man).
In 1961, he was cast as comedy writer Rob Petrie on The Dick
Van Dyke Show, which after a shaky start lasted five seasons
and earned its star three Emmies. |
Full Biography
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