The Hollywood legend Dick Van Dyke is just two months away from celebrating his 100th birthday on December 13. Now, Van Dyke’s former onscreen wife Michele Lee is speaking out to clear up a common misconception that’s made about his marriage to his much younger wife Arlene Silver.
Lee Defends Van Dyke’s Marriage
Van Dyke, 99, and Silver, 53, have been married since 2012. Though they’ve received some backlash for their 46 year age gap, they are still as madly in love as ever.
Their love has now been corroborated by Michele Lee, 83. She famously starred as Van Dyke’s love interest in the 1969 movie The Comic. in a new interview, Lee has confirmed that she’s still close friends with Van Dyke decades later. In fact, she’s developed a close bond with Silver as well.
“Dick Van Dyke and I remain friends to this day,” Lee told That’s Classic. “I love his wife. And the love story is so real.”
Lee, who is best known for starring in the 1980s television show Knots Landing, went on to clear up a common misconception about Van Dyke and Silver’s marriage.
“His wife is much, much younger than him,” she explained. “So when they started going with each other, most people felt like, ‘Oh my god. What’s going on? How is he going to handle this?’ And you know, you’re sure that this woman is trying to do a number.”
Despite this, Lee insists that Van Dyke and Silver love each other very much.
“It’s a love story. He loves her so much,” she concluded. “And they have fun together. They sing as much as he can do today. He does it.”
Van Dyke Admits Friends Had Their Doubts
Van Dyke himself has admitted that people in his life initially had their doubts about his relationship with Silver.
“Everybody said it wouldn’t work,” Van Dyke told People Magazine earlier this year. Silver was quick to agree, saying, “Yeah. I mean it’s like eerie how well it works. People the same age don’t last.”
“We get along so well,” Van Dyke gushed. Silver chimed back in to add, “We just care about each other so much.”
Van Dyke And Silver’s History
Van Dyke and Silver met at the 2006 Screen Actors Guild Awards, where she was working as a makeup artist. Nearly twenty years later, Van Dyke has never forgotten their first meeting.
“I never said hello to a strange girl in my life. I was too scared,” he recalled. “But I was at a show backstage and she walked by, and for some reason, I just jumped up and said, ‘Hi, I’m Dick.’ There’s something about her and got me, and I was right.”
“He’s made me feel like I can do anything,” Silver stated. Van Dyke stood by this, saying, “And you can.”
“Very supportive of each other,” Silver explained of what makes their marriage work.
Check out Van Dyke and Silver performing together a few years ago in the video below.
While a 46 year age gap is certainly unorthodox, it seems to be working just fine for Van Dyke and Silver. We applaud Lee for standing by them, and we wish them many years of health and happiness together to come!