William Gerald Paris was an American actor and director best known for playing Jerry Helper, the dentist and next-door neighbor of Rob and Laura Petrie, on The Dick Van Dyke Show. Paris also directed Laverne & Shirley as well as episodes of The Odd Couple, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Ted Knight Show and Blansky`s Beauties. He returned to directing feature films in 1985`s Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment and 1986`s Police Academy 3: Back in Training. He passed away on 31 March 1986.