Dick Van Dyke Says He's 'Glad To Still Be Here' And Looks Forward To 100

Jun 24, 2022 by apost team

Dick Van Dyke is a well-known man in the entertainment industry as he has a litany of wondrous talents he's been sharing with the world since the late 1940s. In 1961, he starred in the original production of "Bye Bye Birdie," and the role earned him a Tony Award for best actor in a musical. That was also the year his series, "The Dick Van Dyke Show," first aired, and it would continue until 1966. This was the show that made the actor a household name.

As an actor, comedian, writer, singer, and dancer, this award-winning entertainer has been unstoppable in paving the way for not only himself but up-and-coming rising stars. With memorable films like "Bye Bye Birdie," "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," and "Mary Poppins" under his belt, Van Dyke has become an icon in his field of work and has left many fans and critics happy and smiling with all of his great work.

With a career spanning seven decades, it's no surprise that Van Dyke has won a handful of awards and has positively impacted others in the industry, his fans at home and even his own family. He has received five Primetime Emmy Awards, one Tony, and a Grammy Award. In addition, he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1995 and has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2013, Van Dyke received the Screen Actor Guild's highest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in 2021. 

Now, at 96, Van Dyke is still enjoying every moment of his life.

Van Dyke was born on Dec. 13, 1925, in West Plains, Missouri. He grew up in Danville, Illinois, and is the son of Hazel Victoria and Loren Wayne "Cookie" Van Dyke. His mother was a stenographer, while his father was a salesman. 

When he was young, Van Dyke first considered a career in ministry. However, he took a drama class in high school that made him fall in love with acting, and he decided to become a professional entertainer. It seems like the rest was history. Since he was a child, the actor has always loved singing and dancing.

Van Dyke is known for his physical comedic acting abilities, and CBS This Morning described him as elastic-limbed with impeccable timing. Van Dyke told the program, "I had always been an admirer of Buster Keaton and Laurel and Hardy. So as a kid I practiced falling. And I had worked it all out."

The actor's initial claim to fame was performing in "Bye Bye Birdie" on Broadway and then in the "Dick Van Dyke Show," but he is most well-known with younger audiences for appearing in "Mary Poppins." Van Dyke said that working for Walt Disney was wonderful, and the producer was very attentive. "Walt was there every day watching over it. Yeah, there was a spirit about it. Everybody was having such fun doing it," Van Dyke told CBS This Morning. 

At 96, Van Dyke is healthy and has been sober for years. The performer is still full of life and makes sure to keep up an active lifestyle. 

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In his interview with CBS This Morning, he took the crew into the backyard to show them how he does sit-ups. He said:

"All you old guys out there, listen to me, I'm telling you: You can keep going for a long time— I'm still dancing! And singing!"

Closer Weekly reported that the star was still visiting the gym in 2019, going up to three times a week. "I've always been an exerciser and still am… I get in the pool and exercise," Van Dyke said. "At my age, they say to keep moving. Put me on solid ground and I'll start tapping."

To Van Dyke, age is really just a number. In his memoir from 2015, "Keep Moving: And Other Tips and Truths About Living Well Longer," he wrote, "If I am out shopping and hear music playing in a store, I start to dance. If I want to sing, I sing. I read books and get excited about new ideas. I enjoy myself. I don't think about the way I am supposed to act at my age — or at any age."

According to The Independent, Van Dyke was spotted engaging with some fans in Malibu, California, in mid-June 2022. The iconic star appeared to be in good spirits and happy to still be moving and grooving. "I'm just glad to still be here," he said.

At 96, Van Dyke shows no signs of slowing down. "I'm looking forward to 100," he told CBS This Morning. "George Burns made it, and I'm gonna do it too." Hopefully, we get many more years with the beloved performer. 

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