Dick Van Dyke on Turning 100: Other Than Wife, ‘I Didn’t Do Anything Right’
Beloved cinematic icon Dick Van Dyke is on the brink of celebrating a major milestone. On December 13, the Mary Poppins and The Dick Van Dyke Show star will mark his 100th birthday, a century of laughter, song, and timeless performances that have made him one of Hollywood’s most enduring treasures.
And apparently, a dark sense of humor.
While at the Vandy High Tea event at the Vandy Manor in Malibu, California, Van Dyke talked about his upcoming birthday with a bit of impish glee. “That’s right. I’m not officially a hundred until December,” said the actor. “Two months. Two months.”
Then he added, “It’d be funny if I didn’t make it.”
A macabre bit of humor, but perfectly in line with his trademark wit, the would-be centenarian has built a career on finding laughter in life’s most unexpected moments.
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Van Dyke then said, “I brag sometimes about how I made it to a hundred, and the truth is, if I had known I was going to live this long, I would’ve taken better care of myself. And it is frustrating because I don’t know what I did right. Other than her [his wife Arlene], I didn’t do anything right.”
In a video posted to Instagram, Van Dyke continued to show devotion to his wife, Arlene. The caption on the post read: “At today’s Vandy High Tea at Vandy Manor, a fan asked Dick Van Dyke his secret to youth — without missing a beat, he pointed to Arlene and said, ‘Right here beside me.'”
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At the tribute, actress and singer Michele Lee gave a beautiful tribute to the actor. “Mr. Van Dyke and I did The Comic together,” began the actress. “Don’t applaud, stand up.”
“When I first met Mr. Van Dyke, it was…1969? We managed to stay friends for all these years. And when I heard that Mr. Van Dyke was going with this…’girl,’ Young. And he never looked at me ever!,” joked Lee. “So I thought this was never going to work. She’s too young…But I will say, and everybody has said this, this woman…,” then Lee began to cry. “She is spectacular.”
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