Q 01/05

Dick Van Dyke was born on December 13, 1925, in which state?

A) Illinois

B) Indiana

C) Ohio

D) Missouri

Answer · why

D) Missouri

West Plains, Missouri, to be exact, though he grew up in Danville, Illinois, where he sang in the high school a cappella choir.

Q 02/05

Van Dyke left high school in his senior year to train as a pilot in which service during World War II?

A) US Navy Reserve

B) US Marine Corps

C) US Coast Guard

D) US Army Air Forces

Answer · why

D) US Army Air Forces

He ended up building sets, entertaining troops at Majors Army Airfield in Texas and working as a radio announcer.

Q 03/05

In 1947 Van Dyke formed a nightclub comedy duo that mimed and lip-synched to 78 rpm records. What was it called?

A) The Merry Mutes

B) The Silent Partners

C) Eric and Dick

D) The Pantomimers

Answer · why

A) The Merry Mutes

Pantomime performer Phil Erickson talked him into it; they billed themselves 'Eric and Van'. The act later got a local TV show in Atlanta.

Q 04/05

Van Dyke won a Tony Award for playing Albert Peterson in the original 1960 production of which musical?

A) The Music Man

B) How to Succeed in Business

C) Bye Bye Birdie

D) Guys and Dolls

Answer · why

C) Bye Bye Birdie

He won Best Featured Actor in a Musical in 1961 and reprised the role in the 1963 film opposite Ann-Margret and Janet Leigh.

Q 05/05

What was the name of Van Dyke's character on The Dick Van Dyke Show?

A) Rob Petrie

B) Buddy Sorrell

C) Alan Brady

D) Mel Cooley

Answer · why

A) Rob Petrie

A comedy writer for the fictional Alan Brady Show, living in New Rochelle with wife Laura, played by 24-year-old Mary Tyler Moore.