William Gerald Paris (July 25, 1925 – March 31, 1986) was an American actor and director best known for playing Jerry Helper, the dentist and next-door neighbor of Rob and Laura Petrie, on '' The Dick Van Dyke Show'', and for directing the majority of the episodes of the

sitcom A sitcom (short for situation comedy or situational comedy) is a genre of comedy produced for radio and television, that centers on a recurring cast of character (arts), characters as they navigate humorous situations within a consistent settin ...

Happy Days ''Happy Days'' is an American television sitcom that aired first-run on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC network from January 15, 1974, to July 19, 1984, with a total of 255 half-hour episodes spanning 11 seasons. Created by Garry Marsha ...

''.

Early life

Paris was born in

San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

, California. His name, as frequently reported, was indeed Paris, and not Grossman, his stepfather's surname, which he never adopted. Paris' mother's maiden name was Esther Mohr. After serving in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he attended

New York University New York University (NYU) is a private university, private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a Nondenominational ...

and the

Actors Studio The Actors Studio is a membership organization for professional actors, theatre directors and playwrights located on West 44th Street in Hell's Kitchen in New York City. The studio is best known for its work refining and teaching method actin ...

in New York City. After graduating, Paris moved to

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, where he attended

UCLA The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Its academic roots were established in 1881 as a normal school then known as the southern branch of the C ...

and studied acting at the Actors Lab in Hollywood.

Career

Paris had roles in films such as ''

The Caine Mutiny ''The Caine Mutiny'' is a 1951 Pulitzer Prize–winning novel by Herman Wouk. The novel grew out of Wouk's personal experiences aboard two destroyer-minesweepers in the Pacific Theater in World War II. Among its themes, it deals with the mo ...

'', '' The Wild One'', and '' Marty''. He also played Martin "Marty" Flaherty, one of Eliot Ness's men, in a recurring role in the first season of ABC-TV's '' The Untouchables'', besides making guest appearances on other television series. After having directed some episodes of '' The Dick Van Dyke Show'' in which he also played the recurring character of next-door neighbor and dentist Jerry Helper, Paris won an Emmy Award in the 1963-64 season for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy for the series. He later devoted himself to directing both in film and television, including ''

The Partridge Family ''The Partridge Family'' is an American musical sitcom created by Bernard Slade, which was broadcast in the United States from September 1970 to March 1974 on American Broadcasting Company, ABC. After the final first-run telecast on ABC in March ...

'' and ''

Here's Lucy ''Here's Lucy'' is an American sitcom starring Lucille Ball. The series co-starred her long-time comedy partner Gale Gordon and her real-life children Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. It was broadcast on CBS from 1968 to 1974. It was Ball's third ...

'' (including the famous third season opener featuring

Elizabeth Taylor Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) was an English and American actress. She began her career as a child actress in the early 1940s and was one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema in the 19 ...

and

Richard Burton Richard Burton (; born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr.; 10 November 1925 – 5 August 1984) was a Welsh actor. Noted for his mellifluous baritone voice, Burton established himself as a formidable Shakespearean actor in the 1950s and gave a memor ...

), but he worked most notably on ''

'', where he directed 237 of the show's 255 episodes. Imitating

Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English film director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featu ...

, he appeared uncredited in at least one episode of every season. Paris also directed episodes of ''

Laverne & Shirley ''Laverne & Shirley'' is an American television sitcom that ran for eight seasons on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from January 27, 1976, to May 10, 1983. A spin-off of ''Happy Days'', ''Laverne & Shirley'' stars Penny Marshall and Cindy Wi ...

'', '' The Odd Couple'', ''

The Mary Tyler Moore Show ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (also known simply as ''Mary Tyler Moore'') is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns and starring actress Mary Tyler Moore. The show originally aired on CBS from September 19, 1970 ...

'', '' The Ted Knight Show'', and '' Blansky's Beauties''. He returned to directing feature films in 1985's '' Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment'' and 1986's '' Police Academy 3: Back in Training''. In all, he is credited with directing episodes of 57 TV titles and as an actor in 105 titles.

Personal life and death

Paris married Ruth Lincoln Benjamin in Santa Barbara, California, on December 19, 1954. They had three children, Tony, Julie, and Andy. They remained married until her death on August 13, 1980, in Los Angeles, California, at age 51. On March 18, 1986, Paris was hospitalized at

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a non-profit, Tertiary referral hospital, tertiary, 915-bed teaching hospital and multi-specialty academic health science centre, academic health science center located in Los Angeles, California. Part of the Cedars ...

, where doctors discovered he had a brain tumor. He underwent two surgeries, but doctors were unable to remove the tumor. Paris remained hospitalized until his death on March 31 at the age of 60. A private memorial was held at Paris' home in Pacific Palisades on April 2.

Filmography

Actor

*'' The Lady Gambles'' (1949) as Horse Player (uncredited) *'' Sword in the Desert'' (1949) as Levitan (uncredited) *'' Battleground'' (1949) as German Sergeant (uncredited) *'' My Foolish Heart'' (1949) as Usher at Football Game *'' Woman in Hiding'' (1950) as Customer at Newsstand (uncredited) *'' DOA'' (1950) as Bellhop (uncredited) *'' The Reformer and the Redhead'' (1950) as Radio Station Call Boy (uncredited) *'' Outrage'' (1950) as Frank Marini *'' Cyrano de Bergerac'' (1950) as Cadet *'' The Flying Missile'' (1950) as Crewman Andy Mason *'' Frenchie'' (1950) as Perry (uncredited) *'' Call Me Mister'' (1951) as Air Force Pilot in Skit (uncredited) *''Her First Romance'' (1951) as Camp Counsellor (uncredited) *'' Bright Victory'' (1951) as Reynolds, the Medic (uncredited) *'' Submarine Command'' (1951) as Sergeant Gentry *'' Monkey Business'' (1952) as Scientist (uncredited) *'' Bonzo Goes to College'' (1952) as Lefty Edwards *'' The Glass Wall'' (1953) as Tom *'' Sabre Jet'' (1953) as Captain Bert Flanagan *'' Flight to Tangier'' (1953) as Policeman in Car (uncredited) *'' The Wild One'' (1953) as Dextro (uncredited) *'' Drive a Crooked Road'' (1954) as Phil *''

Prisoner of War A prisoner of war (POW) is a person held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of war for a ...

'' (1954) as Axel Horstrom *''

'' (1954) as Ensign Barney Harding *'' About Mrs. Leslie'' (1954) as Mr. Harkness (uncredited) *'' Unchained'' (1955) as Joe Ravens *'' Marty'' (1955) as Tommy *'' Not as a Stranger'' (1955) as Thompson (uncredited) *''The Naked Street'' (1955) as Latzi Franks *'' Crossroads'' in "With All My Love" (1955) as Corporal Reynolds *''The View from Pompey's Head'' (1955) as Ian Garrick *'' Good Morning, Miss Dove'' (1955) as Maurice Levine *'' Hell's Horizon'' (1955) as Corporal Pete Kinshaw *''Crusader'' (CBS, 1956) as Barney *'' Never Say Goodbye'' (1956) as Joe *''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, airing on CBS and NBC, alternately, between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. Between 1962 ...

'' (1956) (Season 1 Episode 26: "Whodunit") as Wally Benson *'' D-Day the Sixth of June'' (1956) as Raymond Boyce *'' I've Lived Before'' (1956) as Russell Smith, Copilot *'' Hey, Jeannie!'' (1956) as Joe Grady *''Those Whiting Girls'' (1957) as Artie the Accompanist / Artie *'' Zero Hour!'' (1957) as Tony Decker *'' Man on the Prowl'' (1957) as Woody *''

'' (1958) (Season 3 Episode 36: "The Safe Place") as Fred Piper *'' Colt .45'' in "Blood Money" (1958) as Joe Bullock *'' The Female Animal'' (1958) as Hank Galvez (not Lopez) *'' The Lady Takes a Flyer'' (1958) as Willie Ridgely *'' Sing, Boy, Sing'' (1958) as Arnold Fisher *'' The Naked and the Dead'' (1958) as Goldstein *'' No Name on the Bullet'' (1959) as Harold Miller *'' Steve Canyon'' (1959) as Maj. 'Willie' Williston *''

Career A career is an individual's metaphorical "journey" through learning, work (human activity), work and other aspects of personal life, life. There are a number of ways to define career and the term is used in a variety of ways. Definitions The ...

'' (1959) as Allan Burke *'' The Untouchables'' (1959-1960) as Agent Martin Flaherty *'' The Alaskans'' in "Peril at Caribou Crossing" (1960) as Walter Collier *'' The Great Impostor'' (1961) as Defense Lieutenant *'' Michael Shayne'' (1960-1961) as Tim Rourke *'' 77 Sunset Strip'' (1961) in "Big Boy Blue" as Tom Gardiner *'' The Dick Van Dyke Show'' (1961-1966) as Jerry Helper / Jack Sullivan / TV Newsman *'' The Lloyd Bridges Show'' (1962) in episode "Big Man, Little Bridge" *'' The Caretakers'' (1963) as Passerby Lorna Bumps on Street (uncredited) *'' The Eleventh Hour'' as Marty Kane in "What Did She Mean by Good Luck?" (1963) *'' The Fugitive'' (1963) as Jim Prestwick *'' Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River'' (1968) as Baseball Umpire *'' Never a Dull Moment'' (1968) as Police Photographer (uncredited) *'' But I Don't Want to Get Married!'' (1970) as Harry *'' Evil Roy Slade'' (1972) as Souvenir Salesman (uncredited) *'' Every Man Needs One'' (1972) as Marty Ranier *'' Leo and Loree'' (1980) as Tony *'' Police Academy 3: Back in Training'' (1986) as Priest in Police Line-up (uncredited) (final film role)

Director

*''The Silent Service'', two episodes (1957) *'' The Joey Bishop Show'' (1961) *'' The Dick Van Dyke Show'' (1963–66) (TV series, 84 episodes) *'' The Farmer's Daughter'' (1963) *''

The Munsters ''The Munsters'' is an American sitcom about the home life of a family of benign monsters that aired from 1964 to 1966 on CBS. The series stars Fred Gwynne as Herman Munster (Frankenstein's monster),Episodes referring to the fact that Herman is ...

'' (1964) *'' Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River'' (1968) *'' That Girl'' (1966) (TV series, pilot) *'' Hey, Landlord'' (1966–67) (TV series) *''Sheriff Who?'' (1967) (TV series, pilot) *'' Never a Dull Moment'' (1968) *'' How Sweet It Is!'' (1968) *''

'' (1968) (TV series) *''

Love, American Style ''Love, American Style'' is an American anthology comedy television series that aired on ABC from September 29, 1969, to January 11, 1974. The series was produced by Paramount Television. During the 1971–72 and 1972–73 seasons, it was a pa ...

'' (1969) *'' Viva Max!'' (1969) *''

'' (1970) (TV series, pilot) *'' The Grasshopper'' (1970) *'' McCloud'' (1970) *''

'' (1970) *'' The Odd Couple'' (1970–75) (TV series, 19 episodes) *'' Barefoot in the Park'' (1970) (TV series) *'' But I Don't Want to Get Married!'' (1970) (TV) *'' The Feminist and the Fuzz'' (1971) (TV) *'' The New Dick Van Dyke Show'' (1971) *''Two on a Bench'' (1971) (TV) *'' What's a Nice Girl Like You...?'' (1971) (TV) *'' Star Spangled Girl'' (1971) (TV) *''Call Her Mom'' (1972) (TV) *'' Evil Roy Slade'' (1972) (TV) *''Wednesday Night Out'' (1972) (TV pilot) *''Keeping Up with the Joneses'' (1972) (TV pilot) *'' The Couple Takes a Wife'' (1972) (TV) *'' Every Man Needs One'' (1972) (TV) *''Thicker Than Water'' (1973) (TV series) *'' Break Up'' (1973) (TV special) *''

'' (1974–84) (TV series, 237 episodes) *'' Only with Married Men'' (1974) (TV) *''The Fireman's Ball'' (1975) (TV pilot) *'' When Things Were Rotten'' (1975) (TV series) *''Good Heavens'' (1976) (TV series) *'' How to Break Up a Happy Divorce'' (1976) (TV) *'' Blansky's Beauties'' (1977) (TV series) *'' The Ted Knight Show'' (1978) (TV series) *''Make Me an Offer'' (1980) (TV) *'' Leo and Loree'' (1980) *'' Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment'' (1985) *'' Police Academy 3: Back in Training'' (1986) *'' You Again?'' (1986) (TV series)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Paris, Jerry 1925 births 1986 deaths 20th-century American comedians 20th-century American male actors Actors Studio alumni American male comedians American male film actors American male stage actors American male television actors United States Navy personnel of World War II American television directors Deaths from brain cancer in California Film directors from California Male actors from San Francisco New York University alumni Primetime Emmy Award winners University of California, Los Angeles alumni United States Navy officers Comedians from San Francisco