About

Known credits:
13
Birthday:
1934-08-11
Place of birth:
Toronto, Canada
Website:

Billy Van

Overview

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

Acting

2008 Return to Transylvania Actor himself N/A
N/A
1995 Net Worth Actor Les, the Trainer 58
Average
1992 This Is My Life Actor Agent 58
Average
1985 For Better or For Worse: The Bestest Present Actor Walter Lederhaus (voice) 58
Average
1985 The Hearst and Davies Affair Actor Advisor 58
Average
1983 Bits and Bytes Actor Self N/A
N/A
1980 Eureka! Actor N/A
N/A
1978 Circus Actor N/A
N/A
1975 The Bobby Vinton Show Actor N/A
N/A
1974 The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show Actor Self 69
Fair
1974 The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute Actor Zuckman 59
Average
1971 The Hilarious House of Frightenstein Actor 70
Good
1970 The Ray Stevens Show Actor N/A
N/A