Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 26, 1994 TAG: 9402260175
SECTION: SPECTATOR PAGE: 12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRISTY SLEWINSKI NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Van Dyke, who was making a living doing standup, says he wasn't in the greatest position to help. "I was a has-been never-was, working in a toilet," he says.
But Van Dyke read the salesman's work, saw some potential, and offered him $300 a week, plus room and board, to become his writing partner.
They collaborated for a while, but when the material wouldn't sell, the duo broke up. But not before Van Dyke called an old friend, James Brooks - a former writer on Van Dyke's short-lived "Accidental Family" who was then working on "All in the Family" - and asked him to read the kid's stuff.
Brooks was impressed, and a writer was born. And that, Van Dyke says, is how Hollywood came to know Barry Kemp, the creator of "Coach."
"I had to go out and create a guy to give me a job," Van Dyke jokes.
A self-proclaimed late-bloomer, Van Dyke has had his share of showbiz breaks, from guest stints on brother Dick's "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "The Judy Garland Show" to his own vehicle, "My Mother the Car."
But the 62-year-old comedian, who has been performing since age 16, never expected to obtain true stardom, especially so late in his career.
"I had pretty much hung it up, figuring I'd never be really successful," Van Dyke says. "I just figured it wasn't in the cards for me."
Then, in 1988, Barry Kemp came knocking again. Only this time, the creator of "Newhart" didn't need a job - he was offering one.
Now, six seasons and three Emmy nominations later, Van Dyke is getting a taste of a life that has eluded him for most of his career. "Before this, I had no idea what it was like to be on a hit series, 'cause I'd never been on one before," he says.
Van Dyke says he doesn't have to do much acting on the show because, with a little exaggeration on the part of the show's writers, he and his character, Luther Van Dam, are cut from the same cloth.
"My character is pretty much me, Jerry Van Dyke. I live that kind of life - I love junk food, I have bad knees, I'm an animal lover."
Van Dyke says that the only aspect of his life that hasn't been incorporated into the show is his family life. "Luther's never been married . . . he's a confirmed bachelor," says the father of three, who lives with his second wife, Shirley. The two split their time between their Arkansas ranch and their recently earthquake-ravaged home in Los Angeles.
All in all, Van Dyke says he's glad success came late, rather than early, in life.
"I don't think I was ready, by the way that I acted. Had I had a hit series then, I would've screwed it up."
by CNB