Dick Van Dyke, 98, has had a Hollywood career that has spanned decades. During that time, he’s brought joy to millions of fans with things like The Dick Van Dyke Show and Mary Poppins.
Now, Van Dyke is speaking out to reflect both on his career and on his storied life.
Van Dyke Is ‘Really Proud’ Of His Career
“I am so happy that I picked the work I did,” Van Dyke told Forbes. “I am really proud of it.”
Van Dyke was reminded of some of his most famous movies and TV shows, like The Dick Van Dyke Show, Bye Bye Birdie (1963), Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), and Diagnosis Murder (1993-2001). When asked which project he thinks about the most these days, he knew the answer immediately.
“I think mostly the five years that we spent on The Dick Van Dyke Show was probably the most creative and the most fun, I think, I’ve ever had because the whole cast got to write, got to change things and it was just a party everyday,” he said. “It was such fun!”
Van Dyke also looks back fondly on his time working on Mary Poppins .
“And of course, Mary Poppins was such great memories from those days, when we shot that,” he recalled. “Working for Walt Disney was just heaven.”
Van Dyke Won’t Be Retiring
As for how Hollywood has changed over the years, Van Dyke lamented, “It seems to me that there’s no such thing as a lifetime career anymore.”
“Young actresses and actors are coming and going so fast, and they’re falling into categories,” he added.
Though Van Dyke is set to turn 99 at the end of this year, he has no plans to retire.
“No, retirement – I don’t use that word,” he explained. “If somebody called me up and asked me to do something, I’d be on a plane right away!”
Back in December, Van Dyke celebrated his 98th birthday with the two-hour CBS special Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic. This special featured archival footage and live performances of songs from Van Dyke decades-long career.
Van Dyke was humbled by the special in a big way.
“I never expected that kind of recognition,” he told People Magazine at the time. “My whole life went before me. I didn’t realize I had done so many things while I was 75 years in show business.”
Find out more about that special in the video below.
Van Dyke’s History
Born in Missouri on December 13, 1925 to a stenographer mother and a salesman father, Van Dyke was raised in Danville, Illinois. He dropped out of high school during his senior year to join the United States Army Air Forces for pilot training during World War II. However, he was then denied enlistment three times for being underweight.
Finally, Van Dyke was accepted for service as a radio announcer before transferring to the Special Services. He then spent years entertaining the troops stationed in the continental U.S.
After starting his career in radio, Van Dyke headed to Broadway. He got his big break in 1961 when he scored Carl Reiner’s The Dick Van Dyke Show, which also starred Mary Tyler Moore and ran until 1966.
Throughout his career, Van Dyke has won four Emmy Awards and been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards.
Van Dyke’s Personal Life
In his personal life, Van Dyke has been married twice. He was married to his first wife Margie Willett from 1948 until they divorced in 1984, and they had four children together. He was then in a 35 year relationship with Michelle Triola from 1984 until she died in 2009.
Van Dyke has been married to his current wife Arlene Silver, 52, since 2012.
Watch Van Dyke and Silver perform a duet together two years ago in the video below.
Related: Dick Van Dyke, 98, Reveals Secret To Longevity Is ‘Beautiful Young Wife Half My Age’
Van Dyke has maintained an active lifestyle for years, and he credits much of his longevity to that.
Van Dyke certainly has a lot to be proud of when it comes to both his career and how he’s lived his life. We wish him many years of happiness and health to come!
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