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.