The Hollywood legend Dick Van Dyke is just one month away from celebrating his 100th birthday. Now, his fellow icon Carol Burnett is speaking out to praise him by revealing her favorite project of Van Dyke’s. Surprisingly, it’s not something that these two comedic geniuses worked on together!
Burnett Gushes Over Van Dyke
Last week, Burnett attended the West Hollywood premiere of the new television show Pluribus. There, she was asked by People Magazine about her bond with Van Dyke.
When asked what she loves the most about Van Dyke, Burnett replied, “his kindness.”
“His kindness and his…the way he moves,” said Burnett, 92. “I mean, he’s very brilliant as a comedian, and he can do stunts and do all kinds of things, but also he’s a very good dramatic actor.”
Van Dyke and Burnett met when they each starred on The Garry Moore Show Van Dyke from 1959-1962. Later, Van Dyke made his first appearance on The Carol Burnett Show back in 1976. This cemented his strong friendship with Burnett, which is still ongoing to this day.
Burnett’s Favorite Project Of Van Dyke’s
Though Van Dyke and Burnett have appeared onscreen together various times over the years, her favorite project of his is not something that she’s in.
“Do you remember the one he did – I think it was called The Morning After — and it was one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen,” Burnett gushed. “And that was Dick Vandy. So he’s not only a brilliant comedian, he’s a brilliant actor.”
This was a reference to Van Dyke’s 1974 television movie drama The Morning After, which he starred in with Lynn Carlin.
“A successful public-relations man’s refusal to admit his alcoholism jeopardizes his career, his family, and his life,” reads the official IMDB synopsis of the film.
This was seemingly a deeply personal project for Van Dyke. Indeed, around the same time that The Morning After came out, Van Dyke was confronting his own alcoholism. He’s thankfully been sober now for decades.
Van Dyke was nominated for an Emmy for his work in this TV movie. It must be pretty good if Burnett has never forgotten it over half a century later!
Van Dyke’s Upcoming Birthday
This comes as Van Dyke is preparing to turn 100 on December 13. He discussed his upcoming birthday last month at a Vandy High Tea event at the Vandy Manor in Malibu, California. The event was held to raise money for The Van Dyke Endowment of the Arts and the Dick Van Dyke Museum, which is currently in development.
“I’m not officially 100 until December,” Van Dyke said. “Two months. Two months.”
“It’d be funny if I didn’t make it,” he proceeded to joke.
We wouldn’t find that very funny, Mr. Van Dyke!
From there, Van Dyke got serious about his milestone birthday.
“I brag sometimes about how I made it to 100, and the truth is, if I had known I was going to live this long, I would’ve taken better care of myself,” he admitted. “And it is frustrating because I don’t know what I did right. Other than her [his 54 year-old wife Arlene Silver], I didn’t do anything right.”
We would have to disagree with you there, Mr. Van Dyke, as you’ve clearly done quite a lot right in your life!
Van Dyke and Burnett are two living legends, and there will never be others quite like them. After they’ve each made millions of us laugh for decades, we’re glad to see that they’re such good friends in real life.
God bless you both, Dick Van Dyke and Carol Burnett!