Comedy icon Dick Van Dyke celebrated his one centesimal birthday on Saturday, hitting the century mark some six many years after he sang and danced with Julie Andrews in “Mary Poppins” and starred in his self-titled sitcom.
“The funniest factor is, it’s not sufficient,” Van Dyke stated in an interview with ABC Information at his Malibu, California dwelling. “100 years isn’t sufficient. You need to reside extra, which I plan to.”
Van Dyke grew to become one of many largest actors of his period with “The Dick Van Dyke Present,” which ran from 1961-66 on CBS; appeared with Andrews as a chimney sweep with a Cockney accent within the 1964 Disney traditional “Mary Poppins” and, in his 70s, performed a physician-sleuth on “Prognosis: Homicide.”
Additionally a Broadway star, Van Dyke gained a Tony Award for “Bye Bye Birdie” to go along with a Grammy and 4 Primetime Emmys. In 1963, he starred within the movie model of “Bye Bye Birdie.”
Simply final yr, he grew to become the oldest winner of a Daytime Emmy, for a visitor function on the cleaning soap “Days of Our Lives.”
Within the Nineteen Seventies, he discovered sobriety after battling alcoholism, and spoke out about it at a time when that was unusual to do.
Now that he has hit triple digits, Van Dyke stated he’s gotten some perspective on how he used to play older characters.
“, I performed outdated males loads, and I all the time performed them as offended and cantankerous,” he informed ABC Information. “It’s not likely that approach. I don’t know every other 100-year-olds, however I can communicate for myself.”
He not too long ago imparted knowledge about reaching the century mark in his guide, “100 Guidelines for Residing to 100: An Optimist’s Information to a Completely satisfied Life.” He credited his spouse, 54-year-old make-up artist and producer Arlene Silver, with maintaining him younger.
“She offers me power. She offers me humor, and every kind of help,” he informed ABC Information.
Van Dyke was born in West Plains, Missouri, in 1925, and grew up “the category clown” in Danville, Illinois, whereas admiring and imitating the silent movie comedians.
He informed ABC Information he began performing when he was about 4 or 5 years outdated in a Christmas pageant. He stated he was the newborn Jesus.
“I made some form of crack, I don’t know what I stated, but it surely broke the congregation up,” he stated. “And I favored the sound of that laughter.”
And what’s onerous about being 100?
“I miss motion,” he informed ABC Information. “I’ve received one recreation leg from I don’t know what.”
“I nonetheless attempt to dance,” he stated with fun.
Dick Van Dyke is placing the phrase “you’ll be able to’t educate an outdated canine new methods” to mattress.
