Dick Van Dyke Is More Than Song & Dance, He Is Also an Artist
“I never wanted to be an actor, and to this day I don’t,” Dick Van Dyke once said. “I can’t get a handle on it. An actor wants to become someone else. I am a song-and-dance man and I enjoy being myself, which is all I can do.”
“All he can do” and then some, as Dick’s talents extend beyond the singing, dancing and acting — he’s also quite an artist.
Early in his television career, Dick often demonstrated his artistic abilities as he hosted various daytime and children’s shows. In the 1960s, Dick did many drawings that were included in episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show. At the time, most fans were unaware that these were his original creations. Astute fans likely discern that Dick is actually ambidextrous. “I write with my right hand, but draw with my left hand,” Dick once told me about his talent. “You can see me drawing with my left hand in a couple episodes of The Van Dyke Show — and when I’m doing the chalk paintings in Mary Poppins.”
His Art Appeared On His Show
Screen Grab
Dick was responsible for a caricature of Mel Cooley (a role played by Richard Deacon on The Dick Van Dyke Show) that was pinned to a dartboard in The Alan Brady Show writers room on the series. Alan Brady, of course, was played by writer Carl Reiner. Mel was also the subject of a punching bag that hung in the office.
In Dick’s role as Rob Petrie, Rob attended an art class where he was encouraged to do a drawing of another classmate (his wife), which resulted in an exaggerated rendering of Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) — much to Laura’s dismay!
Probably his most notable creation seen on the show was a drawing he did on the shell of a turtle’s back in the Season 3 “Turtles, Ties, and Toreadors” episode, which aired in 1963. This artwork depicted the entire Petrie family — Ritchie, Laura and Rob. Rob’s original dialogue in reference to the drawing was supposed to be, “We look just like the Kennedys.” The line ultimately had to be excised from this December 1963 episode due to the horrific assassination of John F. Kennedy only 10 days or so before the airing.
Some Received His Art As Gifts
Cast and crew members of The Dick Van Dyke Show were often given Christmas gifts that proudly displayed Dick’s talent and creativity. One year, a wonderful drawing of the main cast was imprinted on an ashtray. The drawing subsequently appeared on a set of playing cards.
Also during The Dick Van Dyke Show era, Dick gifted Jerry Paris’ (who played the dentist and next-door neighbor to Rob and Laura) children with a wonderful drawing of the cast of The Wizard of Oz. This drawing still exists today as a treasured keepsake of the family.
As a favor to Morey Amsterdam (who played comedy writer Buddy Sorrell on the series), Dick did a drawing of Morey to be used as the cover art for Morey’s record Funny You Should Ask! The album included the talents of Richard Deacon and Rose Marie.
A Self-Portrait
Dick’s self-caricature has adorned many items throughout the years, including the logo of his Van Dyke and Company TV show, as well as his own personal stationery. As time has passed, Dick has taken the liberty of updating his caricature to reflect more current times (and his more current look!). As recent as his 90th birthday in 2015, Dick did a self-portrait of himself as Bert, the chimney sweep, from Mary Poppins!
David Van Deusen is writer, producer and director of The Dick Van Dyke Show – Celebrating the 60th Anniversary documentary and author of To Twilo and Beyond! My Walnut Adventures with The Dick Van Dyke Show Cast. He was also the editor and publisher of The Walnut Times, The Dick Van Dyke Show newsletter.
Remind 
100 Years of Dick Van Dyke
April 2025
Dick Van Dyke is a trailblazer like no other and one of the greatest of the golden age of television.
Buy This Issue