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He had that same genuine likability factor, owned that same trademark lantern jaw and was just as appealing and gifted as his older brother, Dick Van Dyke, but, for decades, Jerry Van Dyke bore the brunt of his brother's overwhelming shadow.

Six years younger than brother Dick, the comic actor was born on July 27, 1931, in Danville, Illinois. Raised there, the crew cut blond showed an aptitude for clowning in high school. His stand-up comedy venues first took the form of dives and strip clubs throughout the Deep South in which his banjo-playing became an intricate part of the routine. At one point, Jerry was a regular on the Playboy club circuit. He then set his sights on the top showrooms in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Atlantic City and became a dependable opening act.

Jerry's early career should have been rightfully interrupted when he joined the Air Force in 1952. He, instead, kept the troops laughing by performing in Special Services shows. Winning a military talent contest actually earned him a couple of appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) (aka "The Ed Sullivan Show") and resulting TV exposure. Following his tour of duty, he nabbed variety appearances and a regular comic relief role on The Judy Garland Show (1963). He found comic acting parts as well on TV. Like brother Dick, who was a huge TV star by this time, Jerry also did a stint emceeing a game show. In Jerry's case, it was Picture This (1963).

Ever the hapless klutz and happy-go-lucky stammerer, Jerry built up his TV reputation in the early 60s. He turned down the title role in Gilligan's Island (1964), which he rightfully deemed inane, but instead chose the equally silly My Mother the Car (1965). It proved to be a detrimental career move. While "Gilligan" became a surprise hit that still runs in syndication four decades later, Jerry had to live down starring in one of the most lambasted sitcoms of all time. Truthfully, the two shows were on an equal (sub)par with each other. It was just a cruel luck of the draw that Jerry ended up biting the bullet while Gilligan's Bob Denver found cult celebrity. Jerry's subsequent two series were also one seasoners with Accidental Family (1967), a sitcom in which he more or less played himself (a nightclub comedian), and Headmaster (1970), a drama starring Andy Griffith in which he played a physical education coach. Neither did much for his career. A promising co-star role with Griffith in the film Angel in My Pocket (1969) also went nowhere. Over the years, Jerry has appeared as a guest star on a number of brother Dick's shows, including the classic The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961) in which he played, of course, Dick's brother.

The genially dim character "George Utley" on Bob Newhart's 1980s series was originally created for Jerry but Tom Poston assumed the part. Good fortune finally smiled on Jerry when he won the hapless role of "Luther Van Dam", a role that capped his long career, on Coach (1989). He earned four consecutive Emmy nominations and a steady paycheck for eight seasons. His seesaw struggle and survival after nearly five decades truly paid off this time, and only proves his love for the business.

Nearing the millennium, Jerry was seen frequently on the smaller screen. In addition to guesting on such shows as "The New Addams Family," "The District," "Diagnosis Murder," "My Name Is Earl," "Committed" and "Raising Hope," the veteran actor played the regular roles as grandpa types in the sitcom fantasies Teen Angel (1997) and You Wish (1997); had the recurring grandparent role of Big Jimmy Hughes in the comedy series Yes, Dear (2000) and ended his career as a grandpa in the established sitcom The Middle (2009) starring Patricia Heaton and Neil Flynn.

In later years, Jerry spent much of his time at a ranch in Arkansas where he lived with his second wife, the former Shirley Jones (not the singer/actress), and raised cattle. Tragedy struck in 1991 when one of his three children, Kelly Van Dyke, a substance abuser, took her own life. On the sly, one could also find Jerry at the poker table as part of ESPN tournaments. He died in Arkansas on January 5, 2018, aged 86.

He was born and grew up in Istanbul. He started his career at Bakirkoy Community Center Theatre. Later he worked at Ankara State Theatre, Istanbul State Theatre and Istanbul City Theatre. He also worked in small play houses with today's famous actors and actresses. He made his place in the theatre stronger with the play Fareler ve Insanlar (Mice and Men). Although he was a known stage actor he became famous nationwide with his movies, after 1950's.

In 1970's, he took part in many Ertem Egilmez movies which contained other famous names of the time. In those movies he mostly played with actress Adile Nasit as a duo and they became a memorable couple in the minds of the audience. His most known role is Kel Mahmut (Mahmut the Bald), who is the idealist principal of a high school with troubled students in Hababam Sinifi; movie series. Kel Mahmut (a.k.a. Mahmut Hoca) tries to help those students and guide them to a better life.

Ozkul, secluded himself from public when the TV started to become popular. Yet, he appeared in some TV shows as a guest star or in small parts.

Turkish Ministry of Culture awarded him with the title State Artist, in 1998.

In his youth he had some problems with his drinking habit. After that he spent the most of his life fighting against alcohol and by the 1990s he quit drinking, completely.

Ozkul's been married for 4 times and he has 3 children from those marriages. His first wife was Sadan, the second one was a famous actress Suna Selen, the third one was Yasar and the fourth and current one is Umman Ozkul with whom he's been married for 27 years now. One of his children, Guner Ozkul, is an actress and a TV presenter.

He's been suffering from Dementia since the early 2000s and, as a result of this disease, he almost never leaves home.

He's been battling with dementia and COPD for almost two decades and on January 5th, 2018 he lost that battle. He died at his home in Istanbul, where he lived the rest of his days with his family, at the age of 93.

Pearl Somner was born on 5 May 1923 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She was a costume designer, known for Love Story (1970) and The Cross and the Switchblade (1970). She was married to Martin Balsam. She died on 5 January 2018.

John Walter was born on 19 April 1934 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He died on 5 January 2018 in Manhasset, New York, USA.

Marián Labuda was born on 28 October 1944 in Hontianske Nemce, First Slovak Republic [now Slovakia]. He was an actor, known for Král Ubu (1996), The Garden (1995) and I Served the King of England (2006). He was married to Viera. He died on 5 January 2018 in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Marina Ripa di Meana was born on 21 October 1941 in Rome, Lazio, Italy. She was a writer and actress, known for Bad Girls (1992), Assassination on the Tiber (1979) and La più bella del reame (1989). She was married to Carlo Ripa di Meana and Don Alessandro Lante Montefeltro della Rovere. She died on 5 January 2018 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.

Carole Hart was born on 30 April 1943 in Paterson, New Jersey, USA. She was a writer and producer, known for For the Next 7 Generations (2009), NBC Special Treat (1975) and Hot Hero Sandwich (1979). She was married to Bruce Hart. She died on 5 January 2018 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.

Karin von Aroldingen was born on 9 July 1941 in Greiz, Thuringia, Germany. She was an actress, known for Davidsbündlertänze (1981), Der Mann mit dem Hut und Großmutters Geburtstag (1961) and The Nutcracker (1993). She was married to Morton Gewirtz. She died on 5 January 2018 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.

Sue Barton was born on 26 November 1938 in Butte, Montana, USA. She was an actress, known for Nashville (1975), Garden of Beauty (1975) and Thank God It's Friday (1978). She was married to Richard Gregson and Billy Kirkland. She died on 5 January 2018 in Pacific Grove, California, USA.

Carlo Pedretti was born on 6 January 1928 in Casalecchio di Reno, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. He was married to Rossana. He died on 5 January 2018 in Lamporecchio, Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy.

Jose Molina was born on 19 November 1936 in Madrid, Spain. He was an actor, known for Omkring et flygel (1961), The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (1956) and Evening at Pops (1970). He died on 5 January 2018 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.

American astronaut John Watts Young was born in San Francisco, California to parents William Hugh Young, a civil engineer, and Wanda Howland Young. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1952, after which he joined the US Navy served as fire control officer on the destroyer USS Laws until June 1953 and completed a tour in the Sea of Japan during the Korean War. He joined NASA in 1962 where he rose to the rank of Captain. He served in the NASA operations Gemini 3, Gemini 10, Apollo 10, Apollo 16, STS-1, and STS-9. He spent a total of 34 days, 19 hours and 39 minutes in space. He died in January of 2018 due to complications from pneumonia.

Carlos Heitor Cony was born on 14 March 1926 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was a writer and actor, known for Dona Beija (1986), Marina (1980) and Kananga do Japão (1989). He was married to Beatriz Lajta and Maria Zélia Machado Velho. He died on 5 January 2018 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Christoffer Barnekov was born on 13 April 1940 in Malmö, Skåne län, Sweden. He was a writer and director, known for Arvefjender (1993), Livshunger (2002) and Vilse i pannkakan (1975). He was married to Hanne Fokdal and Kerstin Sjögren. He died on 5 January 2018 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden.

Gary Telgenhoff was born on 3 August 1957 in Cadillac, Michigan, USA. He was an actor, known for Lake Mead, Siren (2006) and Postmortem in Vegas (2014). He died on 5 January 2018 in Cadillac, Michigan, USA.

Anne-Marie Dermon was born on 16 June 1944 in Zürich, Switzerland. She was an actress, known for Ein Fall für Männdli (1973), Der Gehülfe (1976) and Pater Brown (1966). She died on 5 January 2018 in Zurich, Switzerland.

Siegfried Kienzle was born on 22 June 1938 in Graz, Austria. He was a producer, known for Kaiser und eine Nacht (1985), Heinrich Penthesilea von Kleist (1983) and Othello, der Mohr von Venedig (1991). He died on 5 January 2018.

Carla Gobetti was born on 20 May 1929 in Turin, Piedmont, Italy. Carla was a director and writer, known for Cudine 17 novembre 1944 (1979) and Scioperi a Torino (1962). Carla was married to Paolo Gobetti. Carla died on 5 January 2018 in Lucca, Tuscany, Italy.

Nobuyo Tsuda was born on 9 November 1922 in Niigata, Japan. She was an actress, known for Crying Freeman (1988), Cutie Honey (1973) and Gemini (1999). She died on 5 January 2018.

Kadi Müür was born on 30 October 1932. Kadi is known for Diamonds for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat (1975), Inimesed sõdurisinelis (1968) and Shlaager (1982). Kadi died on 5 January 2018.

Jack Gadellaa was a writer and producer, known for Zoals u wenst, mevrouw (1984), Kinderen voor kinderen (1980) and Drie recht, één averecht (1988). He died on 5 January 2018 in Hilversum, The Netherlands.

Natalya Kromina was born on 14 March 1960. She was an actress, known for Mentovskie voyny - 2 (2006). She died on 5 January 2018.

Michael J. Birnkrant was born on 12 December 1966 in Los Angeles County, California, USA. Michael J. is known for Super 8 (2011), Star Trek (2009) and War of the Worlds (2005). Michael J. was married to Amy Suzanne Rem. Michael J. died on 5 January 2018 in Santa Clarita, California, USA.

Hans Werner Kettenbach was born on 20 April 1928 in Bendorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He was a writer, known for Tatort (1970), Tennessee Waltz (1989) and Im Jahr der Schildkröte (1988). He died on 5 January 2018 in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.