Source: Screenshot YouTube
The Hollywood legend Dick Van Dyke, who is set to turn 98 in December, showed what a truly generous person he is last week when he was seen outside the Malibu Community Labor Exchange handing out $5 bills to people in need.
Entertainment Tonight reported that this center helps match people who are looking for work with potential employers. As he gave money to people outside the labor exchange, Van Dyke made sure to make conversation as well, leaving them impressed by how down-to-earth the Mary Poppins star is.
“Whenever I have some fives I come by,” he said humbly. “You can’t do it all the time though.”
“Just call him an angel from God,” said one employee.
Van Dyke was seen cheerfully running errands around Malibu later that same day, stopping at the bank and the pharmacy. He’d been previously spotted handing out money outside the Malibu Community Labor Exchange in May of 2021, putting his own health at risk to do so during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Van Dyke has been known for his charitable ways for decades, as he’s been volunteering at Midnight Mission, a homeless shelter in Los Angeles, for the past 20 years.
Related: Dick Van Dyke ‘Just Glad To Still Be Here’ At 96
The former “Dick Van Dyke Show” star additionally serves as spokesman for the Cell Therapy Foundation and the National Reye’s Syndrome Foundation, the latter of which he began working with after the tragic 1987 death of his granddaughter Jessica Van Dyke. She was only 13 when she died of Reye’s syndrome, which the Associated Press said “causes severe swelling in the brain and liver.”
“It is found mostly in children aged 5 to 15 after they have chicken pox, flu or another respiratory disease,” the publication added.
Jessica had been treated for chicken pox just before her death. Watch Van Dyke talk about her passing and about Reye’s syndrome in the video below.
Van Dyke has been recognized publicly for his charitable efforts in the past, as he was honored with the Prince Rainier III Humanitarian Award back in 2014 by the Princess Grace Foundation. This award is given to public figures who have made a difference in the lives of others, and Van Dyke has certainly done that!
One of the past recipients of this award is Julie Andrews, who famously starred with Van Dyke in the 1964 classic Mary Poppins, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Watch Van Dyke honor Andrews earlier this year when she won the AFI Life Achievement Award.
Related: Dick Van Dyke Playing ‘The Drunk Uncle’ Is Wet Your Pants Hilarious!
When Van Dyke isn’t helping others, he’s focused on staying fit.
“I’m 95. And a lot of my friends won’t do these,” Van Dyke told CBS News last year as he did setups at his home in Malibu. “All you old guys out there, listen to me, I’m telling you. You can keep going for — I’m still dancing and singing.”
“I’m looking forward to 100,” he said. “George Burns made it, and I’m gonna do it too.”
Burns was an Oscar-winning comedic legend who died back in 1996 at the age of 100. Van Dyke will be turning 100 in December of 2025, and given how healthy and active he seems to still be, there’s no reason to think he won’t make it to this landmark birthday!
Check out a 2021 interview in which Van Dyke also says he won’t ever retire in the video below.
Van Dyke has played so many beloved characters onscreen, so it’s nice to see that he’s just as caring and kind in real life as well. God bless him for taking the time to help others in need in his community!
The Hollywood star Ryan Gosling is speaking out this week to say that he keeps…
After Dumber and Dumber To finished filming in 2014, Jeff Daniels told co-star Jim Carrey,…
The singer Britney Spears has revealed that she is the latest celebrity to be ditching…
Cher was once broke. But she was able to come back out of it, as…
Johnny Depp has officially launched his Hollywood comeback in the wake of him coming out…
The former "Beverly Hills, 90210" star Jason Priestley recently became the latest in a long…