Many people have wondered if Larry Mathews, the child actor who played Ritchie Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, is related to Jerry Matthews, the actor who played Jerry Helper on the same show. The two actors share a similar name and appearance, and they often appeared together as friends on the sitcom. However, the truth is that they are not related at all. Here are some facts to clear up the confusion.
Who is Larry Mathews?
Larry Mathews was born as Larry Mazzeo on August 15, 1955, in Burbank, California. He is an American actor who is best known for his role as Ritchie Petrie, the son of Rob and Laura Petrie (played by Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore) on The Dick Van Dyke Show. He was only six years old when he was cast for the role, and he appeared in all five seasons of the show from 1961 to 1966.
After the show ended, Larry Mathews left acting to pursue a more conventional childhood and education. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1976 and worked as an account executive for various companies. He has also appeared on numerous television programs to discuss his role on The Dick Van Dyke Show and has reprised it in some reunion specials, such as The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited (2004).
Larry Mathews is married to Jennifer since 1987 and has two children. He owns the desk that was used as a prop by Carl Reiner on The Dick Van Dyke Show. According to IMDb.
Who is Jerry Matthews?
Jerry Matthews was born as Jerry Paris on July 25, 1925, in San Francisco, California. He was an American actor and director who is best known for his role as Jerry Helper, the dentist and neighbor of the Petries on The Dick Van Dyke Show. He appeared in four seasons of the show from 1961 to 1965.
Before joining the show, Jerry Matthews had a successful career as a film actor, appearing in movies such as Marty (1955), The Caine Mutiny (1954), and The Wild One (1953). He also served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
After leaving the show, Jerry Matthews became a prolific television director, directing episodes of shows such as Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, and The Partridge Family. He also directed some feature films, such as Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985) and Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986).
Jerry Matthews was married to Ruth Benjamin from 1952 until his death in 1986. He had two children and four grandchildren. He died of cancer on March 31, 1986, at the age of 60. According to Wikipedia.
Why are they confused?
The reason why some people think that Larry Mathews and Jerry Matthews are related is because of their similar names and appearances. They both have dark hair and eyes, and they both spell their last names with one T. However, this is just a coincidence. Their real names are different: Larry Mathews is actually Larry Mazzeo, while Jerry Matthews is actually Jerry Paris. They are not related by blood or marriage.
Another reason why they are confused is because of their roles on The Dick Van Dyke Show. They both played characters who were friends with each other and with the Petries. They often appeared together in scenes where they were playing games, going to parties, or getting into trouble. However, this was just part of their acting job. They were not real friends or neighbors in real life.
Conclusion
Larry Mathews and Jerry Matthews are not related at all. They are two different actors who played two different characters on The Dick Van Dyke Show. They have different real names, backgrounds, careers, and families. They only share a similar name and appearance by chance. Therefore, the rumor that they are related is false..
