Conny Van Dyke
Encyclopedia
Conny Van Dyke is a singer and actress, born September 28, 1945 in Nassawadox, Virginia
to Benjamin and Charlotte Elizabeth Van Dyke.
Van Dyke began as a songwriter and recording artist for Wheelsville Records in Detroit, Michigan
.
She entered and won Teen Magazine
's "Miss Teen USA" (unrelated to the current Miss Teen USA
pageant) in 1960 and signed with Motown Records
in 1961, making her one of the first white recording artists for the label. Her only Motown release appeared in early 1963 and featured the songs "It Hurt Me Too" (previously issued by Marvin Gaye
) which featured on its B-Side
, "Oh Freddy" written by Smokey Robinson
.
She was cast in Hell's Angels '69 with Tom Stern, Jeremy Slate, and the several members of the Hells Angels
motorcycle club. Her only sibling, Benjamin Van Dyke III, was killed in an auto accident near Salinas, CA in 1969. Shortly after Hell's Angels '69 she married Robert Page and gave birth to her son, Bronson Page. She continued to pursue recording, and released a self-titled album in 1972. She co-starred in W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings
in 1975 with Burt Reynolds
. Another album, "Conny Van Dyke Sings For You," followed the film.
In 1975, she co-starred in Framed
with Joe Don Baker, and in 2004 she co-starred in Shiner.
Van Dyke subsequently appeared on Adam-12
and Police Woman
and on several game shows in the 70's, including Match Game
, You Don't Say, The Cross-Wits
, The Hollywood Squares and The Gong Show
.
In 2008 she made her return to network television, guest starring on Cold Case, and appearing in CSI
the following year.
Van Dyke supported United Cerebral Palsy
's telethons for over 25 years.
Nassawadox, Virginia
Nassawadox is a town in Northampton County, Virginia, United States. The town, with an area of , is located on U.S. Route 13 on Virginia's Eastern Shore, approximately five miles south of Exmore and north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel....
to Benjamin and Charlotte Elizabeth Van Dyke.
Van Dyke began as a songwriter and recording artist for Wheelsville Records in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
.
She entered and won Teen Magazine
Teen magazine
Teen magazines are magazines aimed at female teenage readers. They usually consist of gossip, news, fashion tips and interviews and may include posters, stickers, small samples of cosmetics or other products and inserts. Magazines targeting teenage boys are not often called teen...
's "Miss Teen USA" (unrelated to the current Miss Teen USA
Miss Teen USA
Miss Teen USA is a beauty pageant run by the Miss Universe Organization for girls aged 14–19. The reigning titleholder is Danielle Doty of Texas....
pageant) in 1960 and signed with Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
in 1961, making her one of the first white recording artists for the label. Her only Motown release appeared in early 1963 and featured the songs "It Hurt Me Too" (previously issued by Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
) which featured on its B-Side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
, "Oh Freddy" written by Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
.
She was cast in Hell's Angels '69 with Tom Stern, Jeremy Slate, and the several members of the Hells Angels
Hells Angels
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is a worldwide one-percenter motorcycle gang and organized crime syndicate whose members typically ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. In the United States and Canada, the Hells Angels are incorporated as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation. Their primary motto...
motorcycle club. Her only sibling, Benjamin Van Dyke III, was killed in an auto accident near Salinas, CA in 1969. Shortly after Hell's Angels '69 she married Robert Page and gave birth to her son, Bronson Page. She continued to pursue recording, and released a self-titled album in 1972. She co-starred in W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings
W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings
W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings is a 1975 film directed by John G. Avildsen and written by Thomas Rickman. The 20th Century Fox film took place in 1957 and featured the first acting appearances of Jerry Reed and Brad Dourif....
in 1975 with Burt Reynolds
Burt Reynolds
Burton Leon "Burt" Reynolds, Jr. is an American actor. Some of his memorable roles include Bo 'Bandit' Darville in Smokey and the Bandit, Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Bobby "Gator" McCluskey in White Lightning and sequel Gator, Paul Crewe and Coach Nate Scarborough in The Longest Yard and its...
. Another album, "Conny Van Dyke Sings For You," followed the film.
In 1975, she co-starred in Framed
Framed (1975 film)
Framed is a 1975 film directed by Phil Karlson. It stars Joe Don Baker and Tab Hunter.-Cast:*Joe Don Baker as Ron Lewis*Conny Van Dyke as Susan Barrett*Gabriel Dell as Vince Greeson*John Marley as Sal Viccarrone*Brock Peters as Sam Perry...
with Joe Don Baker, and in 2004 she co-starred in Shiner.
Van Dyke subsequently appeared on Adam-12
Adam-12
Adam-12 was a television police drama which followed two police officers of the Los Angeles Police Department, Pete Malloy and Jim Reed, as they patrolled the streets of Los Angeles in their patrol unit, 1-Adam-12. Created by Jack Webb who is known for creating Dragnet, the series captured a...
and Police Woman
Police Woman (TV series)
Police Woman is an American television police drama starring Angie Dickinson that ran on NBC for four seasons, from September 13, 1974, to March 29, 1978.-Synopsis:...
and on several game shows in the 70's, including Match Game
Match Game
Match Game is an American television game show in which contestants attempted to match celebrities' answers to fill-in-the-blank questions...
, You Don't Say, The Cross-Wits
The Cross-Wits
The Cross-Wits is an American syndicated game show which premiered on December 15, 1975 and lasted for five seasons until its cancellation on September 12, 1980. The show was hosted by Jack Clark, with Jerri Fiala as hostess. Announcing duties were handled by John Harlan, Jay Stewart, and Jerry...
, The Hollywood Squares and The Gong Show
The Gong Show
The Gong Show is an amateur talent contest franchised by Sony Pictures Television to many countries. It was broadcast on NBC's daytime schedule from June 14, 1976 through July 21, 1978, and in first-run syndication from 1976–1980 and 1988–1989. The show was produced by Chuck Barris, who also served...
.
In 2008 she made her return to network television, guest starring on Cold Case, and appearing in CSI
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
the following year.
Van Dyke supported United Cerebral Palsy
United Cerebral Palsy
United Cerebral Palsy is an international nonprofit charitable organization consisting of a network of affiliates. UCP is a leading service provider and advocate for adults and children with disabilities, including cerebral palsy...
's telethons for over 25 years.
External links
- Conny Van Dyke at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...