Billy Van
Billy Van, originally named Billy Van Evera, was born in Toronto in 1934. At the age of 12, he and his four brothers formed a singing group and began touring North America. In the 1960s, he started his journey to becoming one of Canada's most beloved comedians. He gained national recognition through his appearances on the CBC TV series Nightcap, which was known for its irreverent satire, low budget, and immature humour. Billy Van was a versatile performer who effortlessly portrayed different characters and became the comedic centrepiece of the show. While other comedians like John Candy and Dan Aykroyd achieved great fame, Billy Van's comedy was ahead of its time. His satirical and spontaneous style on Nightcap foreshadowed the success of Saturday Night Live, and his work on Frightenstein, where he parodied popular culture, paved the way for the hit show SCTV. Even though he never reached the same level of fame as his contemporaries, his influence on Canadian comedy cannot be denied. Billy Van passed away in 2003 at the age of 68 after battling lung cancer for a year. His final on-screen role was in the 1995 hockey movie Net Worth, where he played the character "Les" the trainer. It was a fitting end to a career that was characterized by comedy performed with heart, passion, and immense talent.
Known For
Credits
- 2008 · Return to Transylvania as himself
- 1995 · Net Worth as Les, the Trainer
- 1992 · This Is My Life as Agent
- 1990 · Law & Order as CSU Tech Gilmore
- 1990 · Law & Order as Detective
- 1990 · Law & Order as Vince Coughlin
- 1990 · Law & Order as CSU Technician
- 1985 · For Better or For Worse: The Bestest Present as Walter Lederhaus (voice)
- 1985 · The Hearst and Davies Affair as Advisor
- 1983 · Bits and Bytes as Self
- 1980 · Bizarre as
- 1980 · Eureka! as
- 1979 · The Littlest Hobo as Chief Danford
- 1978 · Circus as
- 1975 · The Bobby Vinton Show as
- 1974 · The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show as Self
- 1974 · The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute as Zuckman
- 1971 · The Hilarious House of Frightenstein as
- 1971 · The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour as Pizza Boy/Singer
- 1971 · Rollin' On The River as
- 1970 · The Ray Stevens Show as