Barry Van Dyke is an American actor, writer, and director best known for playing Lieutenant Detective Steve Sloan on Diagnosis: Murder.
He is the second son of Dick Van Dyke and worked alongside his father on several television projects.
Barry Van Dyke Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Barry Van Dyke |
| Born | July 31, 1951, Atlanta, Georgia |
| Age | 75 |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actor, Writer, Director |
| Known For | Diagnosis: Murder |
| Height | 6 feet (1.83 m) |
| Father | Dick Van Dyke |
| Wife | Mary Carey |
| Children | 4 |
| Net Worth | $6 million |
Who is Barry Van Dyke?
Barry Van Dyke is an American actor, writer, and director whose career spans more than five decades. He is best known as Lieutenant Detective Steve Sloan on the CBS series Diagnosis: Murder, which aired from 1993 to 2001.
He appeared in 178 episodes of the show.
Barry is the son of Dick Van Dyke and Margie Willett. His uncle was the comedian and actor Jerry Van Dyke.
On screen, Barry played the son of Dr. Mark Sloan, a role his real-life father held. He also wrote and directed several episodes along the way.
Barry wrote and directed episodes of the show he starred in.
Before that series, he starred in Galactica 1980 and Airwolf. After it ended, he returned beside his father in the Murder 101 television films.
The Murder 101 film series began in 2006.
What Happened to Barry Van Dyke
Barry Van Dyke is alive and still part of the Van Dyke family’s public life. Fake obituaries and funeral notices for him have appeared online, but they are false.
He turned 75 on July 31, 2026.
In late 2025, he joined his father at a Vandy High Tea event at the family’s home in Malibu, California. Dick, then 99, told stories about working with Walt Disney while Barry joined the conversation.
Dick Van Dyke turned 100 on December 13, 2025.
Barry has kept working as well. His latest film credits include Heavenly Deposit and The Untold Story, both from 2019. Earlier, he starred in a 2012 television movie and a 2015 comedy pilot.
He played Principal Miller in the 2015 pilot of Dad Dudes.
Early Life of Barry Van Dyke
Barry Van Dyke was born on July 31, 1951, in Atlanta, Georgia. His father, Dick Van Dyke, was working in local television there at the time.
He spent part of his childhood in New York City. Later, the family settled in Los Angeles.
Barry is the second of four children.
His mother, Margie Willett, died in 2008. His siblings are Christian, Stacy, and Carrie Beth.
In 1962, Barry made his television debut on The Dick Van Dyke Show. He played Florian, a nine-year-old violin player, in the episode “The Talented Neighborhood” beside his brother Christian.
His father asked him to wait before pursuing acting seriously.
Barry Van Dyke Age / Birthday
Barry Van Dyke is 75 years old as of 2026, born on July 31, 1951.
His zodiac sign is Leo, a sign often linked with charisma and a strong stage presence. He turned 75 in July 2026 and has stayed active in television since the early 1970s.
Barry Van Dyke Ethnicity and Nationality
Barry Van Dyke holds American nationality and was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He is white, and his father’s family has English and Dutch roots.
His family has worked in American entertainment across three generations.
Barry Van Dyke Height and Weight
Barry Van Dyke stands about 6 feet tall, which is roughly 1.83 meters. His exact weight is not publicly confirmed.
He played a homicide detective on Diagnosis: Murder for eight years.
On screen, his tall frame suited detective and action roles. For example, he played pilot St. John Hawke on Airwolf.
He appeared in 24 episodes of Airwolf’s fourth season.
Barry Van Dyke Education
Barry attended Pierce Junior College in Los Angeles, where he majored in theater arts. He chose that path after finishing high school, as his father had advised.
He started as a gofer on The New Dick Van Dyke Show in 1971.
That series ran until 1974 and gave him his first look at television production. While working there, he also landed a part as an extra.
He later worked with his father on The Van Dyke Show in 1988.
Years later, he moved into writing and directing on Diagnosis: Murder. That step added a second craft to his acting work.
Barry Van Dyke Career
Barry Van Dyke’s career runs from child roles in the early 1960s to film work in 2019. He has worked as an actor, writer, and director across television and film.
His earliest screen appearance came in 1961 as an uncredited kid on Hazel.
Early Roles and Galactica 1980 (1962–1987)
After his 1962 debut, Barry worked behind the scenes on his father’s later sitcom. From 1971 to 1974, he served as a gofer on The New Dick Van Dyke Show and appeared in seven episodes.
In 1978, he played Stuart Stafford in five episodes of The Harvey Korman Show. Two years later, he joined the cast of Galactica 1980 as Lieutenant Dillon for ten episodes.
Guest roles followed on Remington Steele, Magnum, P.I., The A-Team, The Dukes of Hazzard, and The Love Boat. In 1983, he starred in six episodes of Gun Shy as Russell Donovan.
By 1987, he had joined Airwolf for its fourth season as pilot St. John Hawke. One year later, he starred beside his father in The Van Dyke Show, which ended in 1988 after a short run.
Diagnosis: Murder and Steve Sloan (1992–2001)
In 1992, Barry appeared in the first Diagnosis of Murder television film as Detective Steve Sloan. The series followed in 1993 and ran until 2001.
Barry played the son of Dr. Mark Sloan, whom his father Dick Van Dyke portrayed. The show often cast real-life relatives in family roles.
The series gave Barry his longest television run.
Barry also wrote and directed several episodes. His sons Shane and Carey guest starred in two episodes that he wrote.
Murder 101 and Later Work (2002–Present)
After the series ended, Barry stayed with the franchise through new television films. Titles included A Town Without Pity and Without Warning in 2002, followed by the Murder 101 films from 2006 to 2008.
Outside that franchise, he played Frank Allison in the 2010 film 6 Guns. In 2012, he played Jim Landon in the television movie Strawberry Summer.
Later, he appeared as Principal Miller in the 2015 pilot of Dad Dudes. His latest film credits include Heavenly Deposit, where he played Roland, and The Untold Story, both from 2019.
Barry Van Dyke Filmography
Barry Van Dyke has built a long list of television and film credits. His best-known roles appear below.
Most of his biggest parts came on television.
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | The Harvey Korman Show | Stuart Stafford | TV series |
| 1980 | Galactica 1980 | Lieutenant Dillon | TV series |
| 1983 | Gun Shy | Russell Donovan | TV series |
| 1987 | Airwolf | St. John Hawke | TV series |
| 1988 | The Van Dyke Show | Matt Burgess | TV series |
| 1993–2001 | Diagnosis: Murder | Steve Sloan | TV series |
| 2006 | Murder 101 | Mike Bryant | TV film |
| 2010 | 6 Guns | Frank Allison | Film |
| 2012 | Strawberry Summer | Jim Landon | TV movie |
| 2015 | Dad Dudes | Principal Miller | TV pilot |
| 2019 | Heavenly Deposit | Roland | Film |
His longest role remains Steve Sloan, which he played for eight years. You can find his full credit list on his IMDb profile.
Diagnosis: Murder alone accounts for 178 of his television episodes.
Barry Van Dyke Wife and Children
Barry Van Dyke is married to Mary Carey. The couple married in 1974.
Barry and Mary have four children.
Their children are Carey, Shane, Wes, and Taryn. Shane and Carey guest starred in two Diagnosis: Murder episodes that Barry wrote.
The Van Dyke family has now worked in television across three generations.
On Diagnosis: Murder, Barry’s father played his on-screen parent. Meanwhile, his sons appeared as guests in the same universe.
Barry Van Dyke Net Worth
Barry Van Dyke’s estimated net worth is $6 million as of 2026. His income comes mainly from his long acting career in television and film.
Diagnosis: Murder ran for 178 episodes with him in the main cast.
His steady work on that series and the Murder 101 films formed the core of his earnings. Writing and directing credits on the show added to that income.
Murder 101 produced several television films between 2006 and 2008.
Earlier roles on Airwolf, Galactica 1980, and The Love Boat built his résumé before his best-known part. Together, those credits fill more than four decades of working time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Barry Van Dyke still alive?
Yes. He turned 75 in July 2026, and online obituaries for him are false.
How old is Barry Van Dyke?
Barry was born in Atlanta in 1951 and is now 75 years old.
Who is Barry Van Dyke’s wife?
He has been married to Mary Carey since 1974.
How many children does Barry Van Dyke have?
Barry has four children named Carey, Shane, Wes, and Taryn.
What is Barry Van Dyke’s net worth?
His estimated net worth is $6 million as of 2026, earned mainly through acting.
Is Barry Van Dyke related to Dick Van Dyke?
Yes. Dick Van Dyke is his father, and the two starred together on Diagnosis: Murder.
Conclusion
Barry Van Dyke built a television career of his own as Detective Steve Sloan on Diagnosis: Murder while working beside his father for decades.
Even as false death rumors circulate online, he remains alive and active at 75.