The phrase “they don’t do things like they used to” has never been more accurate than when it comes to the legendary actor and comedian Dick Van Dykewhich completes 100 years this Saturday (13).
Despite his advanced age, the “Mary Poppins” actor’s passion for comedy and acting has shown no signs of aging.
Van Dyke appears frequently as part of Vandy Camp, a performance group he created with his wife, Arlene Silver, in Malibu, California, near his home. The group performs dance, a cappella and songs from the star’s works, including hits from his 1960s musical films, “” e “The Magical Jalopy”.
Vandy Camp and Van Dyke often work together with charitieshelping local causes in Malibu and Los Angeles as part of the programming.
A new documentary celebrating the actor’s life, titled “Dick Van Dyke: A 100th Celebration”is being shown this weekend in the United States.
The production features interviews with Van Dyke and several famous colleagues and personalities – including the late Betty White, Carl Reiner, Chita Rivera and Mary Tyler Moore. The documentary follows the actor’s career from the beginning — from success on the Broadway stage in shows like “Bye, Bye Birdie” to the greatest comedies in the history of cinema.
The Legend Likes to Keep Busy
In 2023, Van Dyke lent his voice to the series “The Simpsons”playing himself, and also made an unexpected appearance in the season 9 premiere of “The Masked Singer”. The oldest contestant in the show’s history, Van Dyke was masked as Gnome and sang a rendition of Billie Holiday’s “When You’re Smiling.”
Then, last year, the Emmy winner appeared in the song’s music video “” by Coldplay, in which he was seen dancing barefoot, singing alongside Coldplay singer Chris Martin, and even doing some physical comedy.
Filmed at Van Dyke’s home, the video is interspersed with vintage photographs and props from the beloved artist’s seven-decade career, including publicity shots alongside Mary Tyler Moore for “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and one of his four Emmy statuettes — one of which he won in 2024 for “Day of Our Lives”, when he became the oldest person to win an award.
The comedian also demonstrated his still refined sense of humor when an interviewer asked him, in the video, to close his eyes and think about all the people who meant something to him throughout his life. After a moment with his eyes closed, Van Dyke says, “I’m too old for this, I’m going to pass out and go to sleep,” as he pretends to fall asleep in his chair.
Days after the music video’s release, Van Dyke went public, which affected parts of Malibu about a month before the Palisades Fire that occurred in January.
“I think I’m one of those lucky people who was able to do as a profession what they would have done anyway”, commented Van Dyke in last year’s Coldplay video, while scenes from his career were shown. “When I think about how lucky I am – I was able to do what I do, play and act crazy.”
