Today, he is 100 years old. What an amazing life of an amazing actor.
Born on December 13th in 1925, Dick Van Dyke, real name Richard Wayne Van Dyke, grew up around Dansville, Illinois. He learned that his family had ancestors tracing back to the Mayflower. Very interesting.
He participated in Drama classes when he was a teenager. Did amazing with dancing and singing.
Before getting into TV and movies, Dick started on Broadway. He later made appearances on TV as cameos in Chance of a Lifetime and even The Phil Silvers Show. Eventually, he would be noticed by a man named Carl Reiner. He was known for making tv shows happen.
He wanted to have a show based on himself but saw the talent Dick had and thought.... maybe it was best for him to star in his own show.
Mary Tyler Moore portrayed his wife and was known for starting a trend for women ok to wear pants in a time where it seemed taboo.
What he was known for in the show is his slap stick comedy. Tripping on the ottoman when he came into the home. He was known for stuff like that.
Soon, he would star in a movie that would make him well known to everyone young and old.
Dick Van Dyke starred at Bert the Chimney sweep in a movie based on a book called Mary Poppins. It wouldn't be the first one he would star in.
He helped Miss Mary Poppins, portrayed by Julie Andrews, who is taking care of two kids that would soon learn why she was needed for a family to show the way on what is important in life.
It wasn't a bad movie, but the next one he would star in....I would remember more. Chitty, Chitty, Bang-Bang. Another movie based on a book where a widowed father, played by Dick Van Dyke, ties to create inventions to make his children love him, or be rich.
His two children find an old car and their father fixes it up as new. He meets a girl he likes; they tell a story involving the car and well...it was very good from beginning to end.
Around the late eighties/early nineties, he decided to branch out into TV. With the help of his son Barry, who directed a few episodes, Dick Van Dyke portrayed a doctor named Mark Slone, who is not only a doctor, but is also solving crime on the side.
I never saw one episode, but it stayed on for a few seasons, and some people did like it. It had a 'Murder she Wrote' kind of vibe.
After Diagnosis Murder, he took a break but came back to portray a retired security guard for a museum that comes to life at night. He, the late Bill Cobbs and the late Mickey Rooney had a plan to steal a tablet and keep them for themselves.
Seeing Dick Van Dyke become a villain...that is so cool. He came back for the third adaptation, but it seemed the scene was cut. It was fine...I didn't see that one.
Dick Van Dyke had been married more than once. He even had to deal with alcohol issues. He was also a heavy smoker and had been chewing Nicotine gum to conquer his smoking habit. His house was also burned in the California Wildfires as well.
He has four children: Barry, Stacey, Carrie Beth and Christian. A lot of grandchildren and a few great-grandchildren. And he is blessed for all of them.
In 2023, he made history as being the oldest contestant at 97 to be on the Masked Singer. He was the first eliminated, but he surprised everyone (even me) when it was revealed to be him. Some people found out it was him, but many were in tears.
He even did a small rendition of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" He made everyone cry happy tears. Tears of joy mostly and well.... he was one of the biggest surprises to happen, although he was beaten out by Kermit.
Today, he is 100 and happily married to a woman in her late sixties. He was married before his first wife passed away.
He thinks of his new wife as his soul mate, and she is always by his side. He isn't doing much anymore but staying alive and appreciating every day he gets. Like we all are. For that, I am happy that he made it to 100. We wanted that for Betty White... and it didn't happen. Thank God Dick Van Dyke is here. Happy Birthday, Dick Van Dyke/
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