The Hollywood Walk of Fame, Hollywood, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke at the ceremony honoring posthumously Peter Falk with a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame on July 25, 2013, in Hollywood, California. Photo by Mark Sullivan.
School period
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1927
Illinois, United States
Loren Van Dyke, seen here holding his toddler son, Dick Van Dyke.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1932
Red Mask Theater, Danville, Illinois, United States
A young Dick Van Dyke is the tall boy in the third row, second from left, wearing a light-colored cap and coat.
College/University
Career
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1960
Los Angeles, California, United States
CBS television program, Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Episode: Craig's Will. Pictured is Casper the dog, majority inheritor of his dead master's fortune and Dick Van Dyke (as Thomas Craig) who was willed one dollar. Originally broadcast March 6, 1960.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1960
United States
Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1960
Los Angeles, California, United States
Two-hour CBS television special, The Fabulous Fifties. A review of the previous decade through musical and comedy skits, commentary and news clips. Pictured is comedian Dick Van Dyke, as a wall flower. Show date January 31, 1960.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1961
Los Angeles, California, United States
Mary Tyler Moore as Laura Petrie and Dick Van Dyke as Rob Petrie on the set of episode "To Tell or Not to Tell". Image dated August 29, 1961.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1961
United States
Dick Van Dyke promotional photo for the radio show 'Flair'.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1962
Disney Studios, Burbank, California, United States
American actor Dick Van Dyke clowns around as chimpanzee actor Dinky looks through a film camera, watched by producer Walt Disney (1901 - 1966) on the set of the film 'Lt Robin Crusoe, USN' (directed by Byron Paul) at Disney Studios, Burbank, California, January 1962. Photo by Tom Nebbia.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1963
United States
Close-up of American comedian and actor Dick Van Dyke in a red shirt, 1963.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1968
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, United States
Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Dick Van Dyke and wife Margie Van Dyke attend Eugene McCarthy Campaign Rally on June 2, 1968, at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California. Photo by Ron Galella.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1968
The Playboy Club, Beverly Hills, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke and Playboy Bunny at The Playboy Club in Beverly Hills, California. Photo by Ron Galella.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1969
United States
Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore in a wedding dress, with a piece of icing from a wedding cake on her finger, in a publicity portrait issued for the United States television special, 'Dick Van Dyke and the Other Woman' in 1969.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1974
Beverly Hills, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke is standing in front of a Christmas tree.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1976
United States
Dick Van Dyke and Carl Reiner.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1977
Americana, New York City, New York, United States
Actress Mary Tyler Moore and actor Dick Van Dyke during the 37th annual anniversary banquet of the International Radio and Television Society at the Americana. Photo by Bill Stahl Jr.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1977
New York City, New York, United States
Dick Van Dyke, a 51-year old grandfather now but still a kid at heart, gets a kick out of a Lone Ranger doll. Dick lives in San Diego and is waiting for another TV series to star in. Meanwhile, he's a toy addict. He even buys them for himself. It makes him perfect for his new job as spokesman for Gabriel Industries, Inc., manufacturers of toys, games, hobbies, crafts and home playground equipment.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1977
Chasen's Restaurant, Beverly Hills, California, United States
Carol Burnett and Dick Van Dyke at Chasen's Restaurant in Beverly Hills, California, United States.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1979
Los Angeles, California, United States
Comic Dick Van Dyke cracks up on Mary Tyler Moore's shoulder as the two appear together for the first time on national television since the Dick Van Dyke Show left the air in 1965. They came together on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson March 21 to announce they would again play the "Petries" from the old show during two skits on Mary's new show.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1980
New York City, New York, United States
Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore circa 1980s in New York City.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1985
United States
Dick Van Dyke lying on the floor.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1992
Westwood Marquis Hotel, Westwood, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke and his partner, actress Michelle Triola Marvin attend the nominees' luncheon for the 44th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards on August 25th, 1992 at the Westwood Marquis Hotel in Westwood, California.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1993
Pantages Theater, Hollywood, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke attends the opening of "Will Rogers Follies" on July 14, 1993, at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood, California. Photo by Ron Galella.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1993
Los Angeles, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke at The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on November 29, 1993. Photo by Margaret Norton.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1994
Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, United States
Honoree Mary Tyler Moore, presenter Dick Van Dyke held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on August 28, 1994.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1995
Los Angeles, California, United States
Moore and Van Dyke go the S&M route in a 1995 photo shot by Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair magazine's "TV Hall of Fame" issue.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
1999
Beverly Hills, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke accepts his Professional Dancers Society Award. Photo By David Keeler.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2000
Century Plaza Hotel, Century City, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke attends 45th Annual Thalians Ball on October 7, 2000, at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City, California. Photo by Ron Galella.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2000
Century Plaza Hotel, Century City, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke gives actress Mary Tyler Moore a kiss on the cheek at the "45th Thalians Annual Ball" honoring Mary Tyler Moore for her contributions to the world of entertainment and philanthropic efforts October 7, 2000, in Century City, California. Photo by David Keeler.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2000
Century Plaza Hotel, Century City, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke and actress Mary Tyler Moore attend the 45th Annual Thalians Ball on October 7, 2000, at the Century Plaza Hotel. Photo by Ron Galella.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2001
Malibu, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke smiles for a photograph September 23, 2001, in Malibu. Photo by Scott Alfieri.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2001
Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke Performs at the Academy of Television Arts and Science's "Television Night at the Bowl" at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Photo by Kevin Winter.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2001
Julie Andrews Stage, Burbank, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke during Julie Andrews Stage Dedication at Julie Andrews Stage in Burbank, California, United States. Photo by Ron Galella.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2001
Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke and Mickey Mouse during Grand Opening Celebration for Disney's California Adventure at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, United States. Photo by Ron Galella.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2004
El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke with chimney sweeps during "Mary Poppins" 40th Anniversary and Launch of Special Edition DVD - Arrivals at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, United States.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2004
Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, California, United States
Lisa Mordente, Chita Rivera and Dick Van Dyke during Professional Dancers Society 'Gypsy' Awards arrive at Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, United States. Photo by Jun Sato.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2006
Ritz Carlton Huntington Hotel, Pasadena, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke and Barry Van Dyke during Hallmark Channel TCA Party - July 12, 2006, at Ritz Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, California, United States.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2006
Los Angeles, California, United States
Ben Stiller and Dick Van Dyke with a picture of British funnyman Ricky Gervais talk about their new comedy, Night at the Museum in which all the displays in the museum of natural history come alive after hours. October 20, 2006. Photo by Ken Hively.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2007
Los Angeles, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke chats with Skidrow resident Terri Hughes, 44, during the Midnight Mission's Thanksgiving Day meal service on November 22, 2007, in downtown Los Angeles. Photo by Myung J. Chun.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2007
Culver City, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke arrives at "A Fine Romance," a star-studded evening celebrating the love affair between Hollywood and Broadway to benefit the Motion Picture and Television Fund held on the Sony Pictures lot in Culver City. Photo by Paul Mounce.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2007
Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke and Brent Spiner during 15th Annual Alzheimer's Benefit "A Night At Sardi's" at Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, United States. Photo by M. Tran.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2007
Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke, presenter during TNT/TBS Broadcasts 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, United States. Photo by M. Caulfield.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2008
Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, United States
Actors Michael Chiklis and Dick Van Dyke perform a song from "Guys and Dolls" at the Alzheimers Association's 15th Annual "A Night at Sardis" benefit event on March 7, 2007, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. Photo by Vince Bucci.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2010
CBS studio, Studio City, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke dances on stage during the 2nd Annual T.J. Martell Foundation's Family Day at CBS studio on May 2, 2010, in Studio City, California.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2010
Ford's Theatre, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Dick Van Dyke poses on the red carpet during the Ford's Theatre Society Annual Gala at Ford's Theatre on June 6, 2010, in Washington, DC. Photo by Kris Connor.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2010
CBS studio, Studio City, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke attends the 2nd Annual T.J. Martell Foundation's Family Day at CBS studio on May 2, 2010, in Studio City, California.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2010
The Grove, Los Angeles, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke (back row center) poses with children attending the "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" Los Angeles Screening And DVD Launch at The Grove on October 30, 2010, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Paul Redmond.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2011
Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, California, Unted States
Actor Dick Van Dyke arrives at the premiere of 20th Century Fox's "Mr. Popper's Penguins" held at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on June 12, 2011, in Hollywood, California. Photo by Kevin Winter.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2011
NBC Studios, Burbank, California, United States
TV personality Khloe Kardashian Odom backstage with actor Dick Van Dyke on May 11, 2011. Photo by Paul Drinkwater.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2011
NBC Studios, Burbank, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke in the car from the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on May 11, 2011. Photo by Paul Drinkwater.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2011
NBC Studios, Burbank, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke and TV personality Khloe Kardashian Odom during an interview on May 11, 2011. Photo by Paul Drinkwater.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2011
California, United States
Television and movie legend Dick Van Dyke visits "THE VIEW," 5/4/11 (11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon, ET) airing on the Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Television Network. Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters, Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Sherri Shepherd.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2011
Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre, North Hollywood, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke attends at The Academy Of Television Arts & Sciences Presents "An Evening Honoring Carl Reiner" at the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre on October 13, 2011, in North Hollywood, California. Photo by Paul Archuleta.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2012
The Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke arrives at the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 29, 2012, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Steve Granitz.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2012
The Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
Arlene Silver and Dick Van Dyke arrive at the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 29, 2012, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Frazer Harrison.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2012
The Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke presents the Life Achievement Award to actress Mary Tyler Moore onstage during the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 29, 2012, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Kevin Winter.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2012
Disney Studios, Burbank, California, United States
Legendary actor and comedian Dick Van Dyke records the role of Captain Goof-Beard, Goofy's long-lost Grandpappy, for an upcoming episode of Disney Junior's hit animated series "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse." Photo by Todd Wawrychuk.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2013
TCL Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke and wife Arlene Silver attend the AFI FEST 2013 presented by Audi 50th Anniversary Commemoration Screening of Disney's "Mary Poppins" at the TCL Chinese Theatre on November 9, 2013, in Hollywood, California. Photo by David Livingston.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2013
TCL Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke attends the AFI FEST 2013 presented by Audi 50th Anniversary Commemoration Screening of Disney's "Mary Poppins" at the TCL Chinese Theatre on November 9, 2013, in Hollywood, California. Photo by David Livingston.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2013
TCL Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke attends the 50th-anniversary commemoration screening of Disney's "Mary Poppins" during AFI FEST 2013 presented by Audi at TCL Chinese Theatre on November 9, 2013, in Hollywood, California. Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2013
The Hollywood Walk of Fame, Hollywood, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke at the ceremony honoring posthumously Peter Falk with a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame on July 25, 2013, in Hollywood, California. Photo by Mark Sullivan.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2013
The Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
Life Achievement Award Winner Dick Van Dyke (R) and wife Arlene Silver attend the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2013, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Christopher Polk.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2013
The Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke, the recipient of the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, poses in the press room during the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at The Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2013, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Jennifer Graylock.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2013
The Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke backstage at the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2013, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Michael Kovac.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2013
The Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke backstage attends the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2013, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Michael Kovac.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2015
Disney California Adventure Park, Anaheim, California, United States
In this handout photo provided by Disney Parks, Mary Poppins, Arlene Silver Van Dyke, actor and Disney legend Dick Van Dyke and Disneyland Resort Ambassador, Allie Kawamoto celebrate Dick Van Dyke's 90th birthday at Disneyland on December 13, 2015, in Anaheim, California. Photo by Paul Hiffmeyer.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2015
Disney Studios, Burbank, California, United States
Disney Legend Dick Van Dyke, who portrays Bert, the carefree Cockney chimney sweep in "Mary Poppins," hosted interstitials throughout Walt Disney Television. Photo by Rick Rowell.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2015
Disney Studios, Burbank, California, United States
Disney Legend Dick Van Dyke, who portrays Bert, the carefree Cockney chimney sweep in "Mary Poppins," hosted interstitials throughout Walt Disney Television. Photo by Rick Rowell.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2015
Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke is presented with a lifelike marionette of his character from Mary Poppins as a 90th birthday surprise presented by his wife Arlene Van Dyke at The Midnight Mission's Golden Heart Awards Gala at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on October 1, 2015, in Beverly Hills, California. Photo by Tasia Wells.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2015
Disney California Adventure Park, Anaheim, California, United States
D23 EXPO, the ultimate Disney fan event, brought together all the past, present and future of Disney entertainment under one roof. Taking place August 14-16, this year marked the fourth D23 EXPO at the Anaheim Convention Center which was attended by Dick Van Dyke and his spouse.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2015
Hollywood Post, Los Angeles, California, United States
Commander Don Schilling and Actor Dick Van Dyke attend the American Legion's "Red, White, And Blue" Annual Flag Day Breakfast at Hollywood Post 43 on June 14, 2015, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Cameron Devon.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2016
Malibu, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke and wife, Arlene Silver photographed at home during a photo shoot on April 21, 2016, in Malibu, California. Photo by Roxanne McCann.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2016
Disney California Adventure Park, Anaheim, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke dances at the Disney Diamond Anniversary event. Photo by Eric McCandless.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2017
The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke and wife Arlene Silver arrive at the 2017 AMD British Academy Britannia Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 27, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2017
HBO, Beverly Hills, California, United States
Tom Bergeron, Dick Van Dyke, Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, and Norman Lear speak onstage at the LA Premiere of "If You're Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast" from HBO Documentaries on May 17, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California. Photo by Jeff Kravitz.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2018
El Capitan Theatre, Los Angeles, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke and Emily Blunt attend the Premiere Of Disney's 'Mary Poppins Returns' at El Capitan Theatre on November 29, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Rich Fury.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2018
El Capitan Theatre, Los Angeles, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke arrives at the premiere of Disney's "Mary Poppins Returns" at the El Capitan Theatre on November 29, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Amanda Edwards.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2018
El Capitan Theatre, Los Angeles, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke and Emily Blunt attend the Premiere Of Disney's 'Mary Poppins Returns' at El Capitan Theatre on November 29, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Rich Fury.
Gallery of Dick Van Dyke
2019
Feinstein's at Vitello, Studio City, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke arrives at the debut of the Southern California location of Michael Feinstein's new supper club Feinstein's at Vitello's on June 13, 2019, in Studio City, California. Photo by Amanda Edwards.
Achievements
1993
7021 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7021 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood, California, United States. Photo by Ron Galella.
Membership
Awards
Emmy Award
1964
Los Angeles, California, United States
American actors Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore smile while holding the Emmy Awards they won for Best Actor and Actress for the television series, 'The Dick Van Dyke Show,' backstage at the Emmy Awards, Los Angeles, California. Van Dyke wears a tuxedo. Moore wears a sleeveless cocktail dress with a pearl necklace and bracelet. Photo by M. Garrett.
American Comedy Award
1994
United States
Actors Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke holding their award in Press Room at American Comedy Awards.
Golden Heart Award
2005
Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, United States
The Midnight Mission Honors Dick Van Dyke with its Golden Heart Award at Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, United States. Photo by L. Cohen.
Screen Actors Guild Award
2013
The Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke attends the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2013, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Kevin Winter.
Britannia Award
2017
Los Angeles, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke is photographed at the 2017 AMD British Academy Britannia Awards on October 27, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Emma McIntyre.
CBS television program, Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Episode: Craig's Will. Pictured is Casper the dog, majority inheritor of his dead master's fortune and Dick Van Dyke (as Thomas Craig) who was willed one dollar. Originally broadcast March 6, 1960.
Two-hour CBS television special, The Fabulous Fifties. A review of the previous decade through musical and comedy skits, commentary and news clips. Pictured is comedian Dick Van Dyke, as a wall flower. Show date January 31, 1960.
Disney Studios, Burbank, California, United States
American actor Dick Van Dyke clowns around as chimpanzee actor Dinky looks through a film camera, watched by producer Walt Disney (1901 - 1966) on the set of the film 'Lt Robin Crusoe, USN' (directed by Byron Paul) at Disney Studios, Burbank, California, January 1962. Photo by Tom Nebbia.
American actors Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore smile while holding the Emmy Awards they won for Best Actor and Actress for the television series, 'The Dick Van Dyke Show,' backstage at the Emmy Awards, Los Angeles, California. Van Dyke wears a tuxedo. Moore wears a sleeveless cocktail dress with a pearl necklace and bracelet. Photo by M. Garrett.
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, United States
Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Dick Van Dyke and wife Margie Van Dyke attend Eugene McCarthy Campaign Rally on June 2, 1968, at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California. Photo by Ron Galella.
Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore in a wedding dress, with a piece of icing from a wedding cake on her finger, in a publicity portrait issued for the United States television special, 'Dick Van Dyke and the Other Woman' in 1969.
Actress Mary Tyler Moore and actor Dick Van Dyke during the 37th annual anniversary banquet of the International Radio and Television Society at the Americana. Photo by Bill Stahl Jr.
Dick Van Dyke, a 51-year old grandfather now but still a kid at heart, gets a kick out of a Lone Ranger doll. Dick lives in San Diego and is waiting for another TV series to star in. Meanwhile, he's a toy addict. He even buys them for himself. It makes him perfect for his new job as spokesman for Gabriel Industries, Inc., manufacturers of toys, games, hobbies, crafts and home playground equipment.
Comic Dick Van Dyke cracks up on Mary Tyler Moore's shoulder as the two appear together for the first time on national television since the Dick Van Dyke Show left the air in 1965. They came together on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson March 21 to announce they would again play the "Petries" from the old show during two skits on Mary's new show.
Westwood Marquis Hotel, Westwood, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke and his partner, actress Michelle Triola Marvin attend the nominees' luncheon for the 44th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards on August 25th, 1992 at the Westwood Marquis Hotel in Westwood, California.
Pantages Theater, Hollywood, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke attends the opening of "Will Rogers Follies" on July 14, 1993, at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood, California. Photo by Ron Galella.
Century Plaza Hotel, Century City, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke attends 45th Annual Thalians Ball on October 7, 2000, at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City, California. Photo by Ron Galella.
Century Plaza Hotel, Century City, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke gives actress Mary Tyler Moore a kiss on the cheek at the "45th Thalians Annual Ball" honoring Mary Tyler Moore for her contributions to the world of entertainment and philanthropic efforts October 7, 2000, in Century City, California. Photo by David Keeler.
Century Plaza Hotel, Century City, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke and actress Mary Tyler Moore attend the 45th Annual Thalians Ball on October 7, 2000, at the Century Plaza Hotel. Photo by Ron Galella.
Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke Performs at the Academy of Television Arts and Science's "Television Night at the Bowl" at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Photo by Kevin Winter.
Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke and Mickey Mouse during Grand Opening Celebration for Disney's California Adventure at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, United States. Photo by Ron Galella.
El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke with chimney sweeps during "Mary Poppins" 40th Anniversary and Launch of Special Edition DVD - Arrivals at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, United States.
Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, California, United States
Lisa Mordente, Chita Rivera and Dick Van Dyke during Professional Dancers Society 'Gypsy' Awards arrive at Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, United States. Photo by Jun Sato.
Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, United States
The Midnight Mission Honors Dick Van Dyke with its Golden Heart Award at Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, United States. Photo by L. Cohen.
Ritz Carlton Huntington Hotel, Pasadena, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke and Barry Van Dyke during Hallmark Channel TCA Party - July 12, 2006, at Ritz Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, California, United States.
Ben Stiller and Dick Van Dyke with a picture of British funnyman Ricky Gervais talk about their new comedy, Night at the Museum in which all the displays in the museum of natural history come alive after hours. October 20, 2006. Photo by Ken Hively.
Actor Dick Van Dyke chats with Skidrow resident Terri Hughes, 44, during the Midnight Mission's Thanksgiving Day meal service on November 22, 2007, in downtown Los Angeles. Photo by Myung J. Chun.
Actor Dick Van Dyke arrives at "A Fine Romance," a star-studded evening celebrating the love affair between Hollywood and Broadway to benefit the Motion Picture and Television Fund held on the Sony Pictures lot in Culver City. Photo by Paul Mounce.
Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke and Brent Spiner during 15th Annual Alzheimer's Benefit "A Night At Sardi's" at Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, United States. Photo by M. Tran.
Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke, presenter during TNT/TBS Broadcasts 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, United States. Photo by M. Caulfield.
Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, United States
Actors Michael Chiklis and Dick Van Dyke perform a song from "Guys and Dolls" at the Alzheimers Association's 15th Annual "A Night at Sardis" benefit event on March 7, 2007, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. Photo by Vince Bucci.
CBS studio, Studio City, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke dances on stage during the 2nd Annual T.J. Martell Foundation's Family Day at CBS studio on May 2, 2010, in Studio City, California.
Ford's Theatre, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Dick Van Dyke poses on the red carpet during the Ford's Theatre Society Annual Gala at Ford's Theatre on June 6, 2010, in Washington, DC. Photo by Kris Connor.
Actor Dick Van Dyke (back row center) poses with children attending the "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" Los Angeles Screening And DVD Launch at The Grove on October 30, 2010, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Paul Redmond.
Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, California, Unted States
Actor Dick Van Dyke arrives at the premiere of 20th Century Fox's "Mr. Popper's Penguins" held at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on June 12, 2011, in Hollywood, California. Photo by Kevin Winter.
Television and movie legend Dick Van Dyke visits "THE VIEW," 5/4/11 (11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon, ET) airing on the Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Television Network. Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters, Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Sherri Shepherd.
Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre, North Hollywood, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke attends at The Academy Of Television Arts & Sciences Presents "An Evening Honoring Carl Reiner" at the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre on October 13, 2011, in North Hollywood, California. Photo by Paul Archuleta.
The Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke arrives at the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 29, 2012, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Steve Granitz.
The Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
Arlene Silver and Dick Van Dyke arrive at the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 29, 2012, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Frazer Harrison.
The Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke presents the Life Achievement Award to actress Mary Tyler Moore onstage during the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 29, 2012, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Kevin Winter.
Disney Studios, Burbank, California, United States
Legendary actor and comedian Dick Van Dyke records the role of Captain Goof-Beard, Goofy's long-lost Grandpappy, for an upcoming episode of Disney Junior's hit animated series "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse." Photo by Todd Wawrychuk.
TCL Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke and wife Arlene Silver attend the AFI FEST 2013 presented by Audi 50th Anniversary Commemoration Screening of Disney's "Mary Poppins" at the TCL Chinese Theatre on November 9, 2013, in Hollywood, California. Photo by David Livingston.
TCL Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke attends the AFI FEST 2013 presented by Audi 50th Anniversary Commemoration Screening of Disney's "Mary Poppins" at the TCL Chinese Theatre on November 9, 2013, in Hollywood, California. Photo by David Livingston.
TCL Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke attends the 50th-anniversary commemoration screening of Disney's "Mary Poppins" during AFI FEST 2013 presented by Audi at TCL Chinese Theatre on November 9, 2013, in Hollywood, California. Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame, Hollywood, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke at the ceremony honoring posthumously Peter Falk with a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame on July 25, 2013, in Hollywood, California. Photo by Mark Sullivan.
The Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
Life Achievement Award Winner Dick Van Dyke (R) and wife Arlene Silver attend the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2013, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Christopher Polk.
The Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke, the recipient of the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, poses in the press room during the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at The Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2013, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Jennifer Graylock.
The Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke backstage at the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2013, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Michael Kovac.
The Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke attends the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2013, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Kevin Winter.
The Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke backstage attends the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2013, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Michael Kovac.
Disney California Adventure Park, Anaheim, California, United States
In this handout photo provided by Disney Parks, Mary Poppins, Arlene Silver Van Dyke, actor and Disney legend Dick Van Dyke and Disneyland Resort Ambassador, Allie Kawamoto celebrate Dick Van Dyke's 90th birthday at Disneyland on December 13, 2015, in Anaheim, California. Photo by Paul Hiffmeyer.
Disney Studios, Burbank, California, United States
Disney Legend Dick Van Dyke, who portrays Bert, the carefree Cockney chimney sweep in "Mary Poppins," hosted interstitials throughout Walt Disney Television. Photo by Rick Rowell.
Disney Studios, Burbank, California, United States
Disney Legend Dick Van Dyke, who portrays Bert, the carefree Cockney chimney sweep in "Mary Poppins," hosted interstitials throughout Walt Disney Television. Photo by Rick Rowell.
Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke is presented with a lifelike marionette of his character from Mary Poppins as a 90th birthday surprise presented by his wife Arlene Van Dyke at The Midnight Mission's Golden Heart Awards Gala at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on October 1, 2015, in Beverly Hills, California. Photo by Tasia Wells.
Disney California Adventure Park, Anaheim, California, United States
D23 EXPO, the ultimate Disney fan event, brought together all the past, present and future of Disney entertainment under one roof. Taking place August 14-16, this year marked the fourth D23 EXPO at the Anaheim Convention Center which was attended by Dick Van Dyke and his spouse.
Hollywood Post, Los Angeles, California, United States
Commander Don Schilling and Actor Dick Van Dyke attend the American Legion's "Red, White, And Blue" Annual Flag Day Breakfast at Hollywood Post 43 on June 14, 2015, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Cameron Devon.
Actor Dick Van Dyke and wife, Arlene Silver photographed at home during a photo shoot on April 21, 2016, in Malibu, California. Photo by Roxanne McCann.
Actor Dick Van Dyke is photographed at the 2017 AMD British Academy Britannia Awards on October 27, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Emma McIntyre.
The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke and wife Arlene Silver arrive at the 2017 AMD British Academy Britannia Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 27, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California.
Tom Bergeron, Dick Van Dyke, Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, and Norman Lear speak onstage at the LA Premiere of "If You're Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast" from HBO Documentaries on May 17, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California. Photo by Jeff Kravitz.
El Capitan Theatre, Los Angeles, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke and Emily Blunt attend the Premiere Of Disney's 'Mary Poppins Returns' at El Capitan Theatre on November 29, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Rich Fury.
El Capitan Theatre, Los Angeles, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke arrives at the premiere of Disney's "Mary Poppins Returns" at the El Capitan Theatre on November 29, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Amanda Edwards.
El Capitan Theatre, Los Angeles, California, United States
Dick Van Dyke and Emily Blunt attend the Premiere Of Disney's 'Mary Poppins Returns' at El Capitan Theatre on November 29, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Rich Fury.
Feinstein's at Vitello, Studio City, California, United States
Actor Dick Van Dyke arrives at the debut of the Southern California location of Michael Feinstein's new supper club Feinstein's at Vitello's on June 13, 2019, in Studio City, California. Photo by Amanda Edwards.
(Faith, Hope and Hilarity: The Child's Eye View of Religio...)
Faith, Hope and Hilarity: The Child's Eye View of Religion. According to the modern child, the Ninth Commandment is: "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife in vain." A little Jewish boy wrote to thank his Rabbi, after he was Bar-Mitzvahed - "Thank you, Rabbi, for the nice things you said about me Saturday. My mother didn't believe a word of it." And many other stories of the awe and innocence of children int he words of one of America's greatest comedian/actors.
(A heartfelt memoir from one of Hollywood's greatest icons...)
A heartfelt memoir from one of Hollywood's greatest icons Dick Van Dyke, indisputably one of the greats of the golden age of television, is admired and beloved by audiences the world over for his beaming smile, his physical dexterity, his impeccable comic timing, his ridiculous stunts, and his unforgettable screen roles. His trailblazing television program, The Dick Van Dyke Show (produced by Carl Reiner, who has written the foreword to this memoir), was one of the most popular sitcoms of the 1960s and introduced another major television star, Mary Tyler Moore. But Dick Van Dyke was also an enormously engaging movie star whose films, including Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, have been discovered by a new generation of fans and are as beloved today as they were when they first appeared. A colorful, loving, richly detailed look at the decades of a multilayered life, My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business, will enthrall every generation of reader, from baby-boomers who recall when Rob Petrie became a household name, to all those still enchanted by Bert’s “Chim Chim Cher-ee.” This is a lively, heartwarming memoir of a performer who still thinks of himself as a “simple song-and-dance man,” but who is, in every sense of the word, a classic entertainer.
Keep Moving: And Other Tips and Truths About Aging
(Show-business legend Dick Van Dyke is living proof that l...)
Show-business legend Dick Van Dyke is living proof that life does get better the longer you live it. Who better to offer instruction, advice, and humor than someone who's entering his ninth decade with a jaunty two-step? Van Dyke isn't just a born song-and-dance man; his irrepressible belief in embracing the moment and unleashing his inner child has proved to be the ultimate elixir of youth. When he was injured during the filming of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, his doctor warned him he'd be using a walker within seven years, but Dick performed a soft shoe right there and never looked back. In Keep Moving, Dick Van Dyke offers his own playful anecdotes and advice, as well as insights from his brother, actor Jerry Van Dyke; his friend and creator of The Dick Van Dyke Show, Carl Reiner; and other spirited friends and family.
(This black comedy opens with Louisa Foster donating a mul...)
This black comedy opens with Louisa Foster donating a multimillion dollar check to the IRS. The tax department thinks she's crazy and sends her to a psychiatrist. She then discusses her four marriages, in which all of her husbands became incredibly rich and died prematurely because of their drive to be rich.
(Directed by Norman Jewison. With James Garner, Dick Van D...)
Directed by Norman Jewison. With James Garner, Dick Van Dyke, Elke Sommer, Angie Dickinson. Struggling artist fakes his own death so his works will increase in value.
(The laughs begin as Dick Van Dyke, an eccentric philanthr...)
The laughs begin as Dick Van Dyke, an eccentric philanthropist's dutiful servant, resorts to thievery in order to keep his now-penniless employer living in style.
(When a struggling actor is mistaken for a gangster, his e...)
When a struggling actor is mistaken for a gangster, his earnest attempts to set the record straight only escalate his involvement in a daring museum robbery.
(A bank teller is stung on the chin by a bee. He cannot sh...)
A bank teller is stung on the chin by a bee. He cannot shave. His beard grows. He is abused for his non-conformity. Now he can shave. But he doesn't. After all the aggravation he has received from his peers, he is in rebellion.
(A tobacco tycoon offers a $25-million prize to any town t...)
A tobacco tycoon offers a $25-million prize to any town that can entirely give up smoking. It's a publicity stunt to get the tobacco company a billion dollars worth of publicity. A small-town parson (Dick Van Dyke) wants to put his town - and himself - on the map by winning this challenge.
(With Dick Van Dyke, Barry Van Dyke, Tracey Needham, Willi...)
With Dick Van Dyke, Barry Van Dyke, Tracey Needham, William Allen Young. When a local successful executive is murdered in an explosion at his mansion, suspicions point to an attractive female investigative reporter who was close to the man and working undercover on a story about corporate scandal. Brought in by the police to help solve the crime, Dr. Maxwell has a mind that outwits the apparent. He throws himself into a world of corporate schemes to uncover a long.
(Ben Stiller leads an all-star cast including Robin Willia...)
Ben Stiller leads an all-star cast including Robin Williams and Dick Van Dyke in this hilarious blockbuster hit! When good-hearted dreamer Larry Daley (Stiller) is hired as night watchman at the Museum of Natural History, he soon discovers that an ancient curse brings all the exhibits to life after the sun sets.
(Criminology professor Jonathan Maxwell investigates a mur...)
Criminology professor Jonathan Maxwell investigates a murder at a new age retreat where the leader is killed in a locked room surrounded by people in a deep trance.
(This is the best Night At the Museum yet as Larry (Ben St...)
This is the best Night At the Museum yet as Larry (Ben Stiller) spans the globe, uniting favorite and new characters on an epic quest to save the magic before it is gone forever.
(From complicated relationships to dysfunctional family dy...)
From complicated relationships to dysfunctional family dynamics, these uniquely funny love stories starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Dick Van Dyke, Peri Gilpin, and many others are linked together by one common element - they are "No Ordinary Love."
Dick Van Dyke is an American actor and comedian. He is known for his affable charm, comedic timing, and loose-limbed physical comedy. These traits contributed to the enduring popularity of the television show The Dick Van Dyke Show.
Background
Ethnicity:
Van Dyke has Dutch, English, Irish, and Scottish ancestry, with a family line that traces back to Mayflower passenger John Alden.
Dick Van Dyke was born Richard Wayne Van Dyke on December 13, 1925, in West Plains, Missouri, United States. His father, Loren "Cookie" Van Dyke was a travelling salesman for the Sunshine Biscuit Co. His mother, Hazel, stayed at home to care for Van Dyke and his younger brother, Jerry, who also became an actor, starring in the 1990's TV sitcom Coach. The Van Dyke brothers say their good-natured parents helped shape their comic sensibilities.
Van Dyke grew up in Danville, Illinois, and was a terribly shy kid, though he appeared in countless school plays and community theatre productions. By high school, the gangly, six-foot-tall Van Dyke was using humour as a tool for working through his shyness to connect with people.
Education
Dick Van Dyke was introduced to theatre while he was in high school. He almost graduated from Danville High School in Danville, Illinois, in 1944. He received his high school diploma in 2004 when he was 78. Among Van Dyke's high school classmates in Danville were Donald O'Connor and Bobby Short, both of whom would go on to successful careers as entertainers.
In 1944, Van Dyke enlisted in the Army Air Corps to help with the war effort. He was stationed in Frederick, Oklahoma. While there, Van Dyke met Byron Paul, a fellow Air Force cadet and radio showman who was looking for an announcer. Van Dyke easily got the job and spent time on a United States Air Force radio show called "Flight Time." Consequently, Van Dyke never saw combat during World War II. After two years in the service, Van Dyke returned to Danville and opened an ad agency with a good friend. They went bankrupt a year later.
In 1947, Van Dyke hit the road with an old hometown buddy named Philip Erickson. Calling themselves "The Merry Mutes," the two put together a comedy-pantomime act and toured nightclubs from coast to coast. Their act revolved around miming routines to records by such greats as Bing Crosby, Buddy Clark and Doris Day.
Some audiences thought they were corny; others liked the act. Sometimes, they completely bombed. Speaking to C. Robert Jennings of Ladies' Home Journal, Van Dyke reminisced about a time "nobody laughed" when they appeared at a club called Slapsie Maxie's. "We opened with the dinner show and were fired before supper," Van Dyke recalled. "They even towed my car away. I found it in a field sunk to the hub caps in mud, spent the rest of the night getting it out."
Making a living on the nightclub circuit was brutal, and Van Dyke and his partner had many ups and downs. In 1949, Van Dyke and his wife were living in a tiny cottage in Malibu, California. Money was tight because Van Dyke had not worked in a while. "Margie was pregnant," Van Dyke recalled to the Ladies' Home Journal. "She lost the baby. And she came home from the hospital to find we'd been evicted."
Van Dyke and his show partner split in 1953, partly because Van Dyke needed more steady work to raise his family - he and his wife had two sons by then. They later had two daughters. Van Dyke spent the next several years working as a TV talk-show moderator in Atlanta and New Orleans. In the mid-1950s, Van Dyke's former Air Force buddy, Byron Paul, got him an audition at CBS-TV in Manhattan. CBS offered Van Dyke a contract and he spent the next several years bouncing around CBS programs, filling various spots.
Van Dyke subbed for Jack Paar and Garry Moore. In 1955, he became the host of The Morning Show, which featured up-and-coming newsman Walter Cronkite. The CBS program continued to struggle after Van Dyke came aboard, and he was demoted to host of the Cartoon Show in 1956, introducing "Heckle and Jeckle" cartoons. Van Dyke eventually landed on NBC's Laugh Line and appeared on ABC in a bomb called Mother's Day. Van Dyke never seemed to click on any of the shows and told his wife he had better try acting.
Van Dyke appeared in a few area productions, then landed on Broadway, starring in the light, romantic musical Bye Bye Birdie from 1960-1961. Van Dyke had found his niche. He was a hit onstage and earned a Tony Award for his performance. He also caught the eye of television scriptwriter Carl Reiner. At the time, Reiner was searching for a light-hearted comic to play himself in a TV pilot about a good-natured TV comedy writer named Rob Petrie. Reiner had originally written the show for himself and had starred in the initial pilot, though it failed. Reiner cast Van Dyke in the title role for another pilot and Van Dyke drew in Procter and Gamble as a sponsor after he did his famous drunk sketch.
The Dick Van Dyke Show hit the airwaves in 1961. "It was called that for lack of a better name," Van Dyke recalled to People magazine's Michael Lipton. "And because no one had ever heard of me, it almost buried us that first year." The show was actually cancelled after the first year, but the producer talked CBS and Procter and Gamble into keeping it on the air. The show was pure middle-class comedy aimed at middle-class audiences - there was always marital mischief going on between Van Dyke and TV wife Mary Tyler Moore. Soon, hordes of people were watching.
Van Dyke was so richly talented in acting out his character's foibles that fans never tired of the old ottoman act. Viewers tuned in every week to see if Van Dyke would trip or sidestep the ottoman in the lounge. Reiner credited Van Dyke's versatility for the show's success. Speaking to Ladies' Home Journal writer Jennings, Reiner put it this way: "Dick can play lover and fall funny into a barrel of cement too." In one episode, Van Dyke's character secluded himself in a mountain cabin hoping to write. Instead, he developed writer's block, which Van Dyke portrayed in comic hilarity. Using his unparalleled pantomime skills, Van Dyke acted out 35 variations of wasting time.
The show also broke new television ground. Though Van Dyke and his TV wife were still shown sleeping in separate beds - as was the norm at the time - their physical relationship was eluded to and even shown at times. The show proved wildly popular and in the mid-1960s, Van Dyke pulled in 1,000 fan letters a week. Van Dyke also earned three Emmys for the show. The Dick Van Dyke Show went off the air in 1966 after just five seasons and 158 episodes. Reiner quit while he was ahead, fearing the show might get stale.
Though best-known for his television work, Van Dyke also starred in several movies - some great successes; some utter failures. He was a sensation as Bert, the joyful chimney sweep, in the 1964 Disney movie Mary Poppins. He starred alongside Julie Andrews as the two frolicked with cartoon penguins, sheep and ponies, much to moviegoers' delight. In 1968, Van Dyke scored with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, another children's classic.
Around 1970, the Van Dykes left the high-paced Hollywood life and relocated to a 180-acre ranch in the desert town of Cave Creek, Arizona. Van Dyke discovered a new studio in the area, which had been built to attract the motion picture industry. CBS had been urging Van Dyke to come up with a new series. He agreed to do one if it could be filmed at the new studio near his Arizona home. Van Dyke was eager to give his fans something new. The old show was still popular and continued running in syndication. By the early 1970s, some episodes had already been shown 100 times.
Van Dyke brought back his old pal Reiner to help write the series, which was called The New Dick Van Dyke Show. There were some changes, however. In this series, Van Dyke played talk-show host Dick Preston. Moore, his former brunette TV wife, was replaced by the blond-headed Hope Lange. Speaking to Life magazine, Van Dyke fretted about the changes shortly before the first episode aired in 1971. "If I'm worried about anything, it's getting people to accept me with another wife. Everyone was so sure I was married to Mary Tyler Moore that I could hardly check into a hotel with my real wife."
Viewers accepted the changes and the show was rated among the top 15 that first year. It soon faltered, however, and Van Dyke came to realize that he could not get the help he needed out in Arizona. No one wanted to work there. The technical crew was flown in from Hollywood each week. The show was halted after 1974.
For Van Dyke, the 1970s were filled with ups and downs. He re-appeared on television in 1976, earning an Emmy nomination for best writing in a comedy-variety or music series for his work on Van Dyke and Company. In 1977, Van Dyke joined The Carol Burnett Show, but lasted only 12 weeks as Harvey Korman's replacement. Between TV appearances, he found time to write, publishing three books, Altar Egos, Faith, Hope and Hilarity and Those Funny Kids, between 1967 and 1975.
By the early 1980s, Van Dyke's marriage was over. "It just ran out of gas somehow," he told People magazine. "To this day I don't have a clue why." He later started a relationship with his agent's secretary, Michelle Triola Marvin. By the mid-1980s, they were living together.
In the 1980s, Van Dyke's face continued to be a staple on the television screen. The Van Dyke Show aired in 1988. He also appeared in several made-for-TV movies, including Drop-Out Father, 1982; Found Money, 1983; and Ghost of a Chance, 1987.
In the 1990s, Van Dyke began his fifth decade in television. In 1991, he played crime-solving physician Mark Sloan on the CBS show Jake and the Fat Man. The role was reprised in 1992 for a TV movie called Diagnosis Murder. It became a television show and Van Dyke starred alongside his son, Barry Van Dyke, in the series, which ran from 1993-2002. Van Dyke was in his 70s, but could still draw a crowd. The show consistently ranked among the top 30. In 2004, Van Dyke became Rob Petrie again for a television special, The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited, which brought together the original cast. As the 21st century began, The Dick Van Dyke Show continued its run on the television channel Nick at Nite, a testament to its classic timelessness.
Van Dyke returned to motion pictures in 2006 with Curious George as Mr. Bloomsberry and as villain Cecil Fredericks in the Ben Stiller film Night at the Museum. He reprised the role in a cameo for the sequel, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009), but it was cut from the film. It can be found in the special features on the DVD release. He also played the character again in the third film, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014).
Van Dyke later made an appearance in Mary Poppins Returns (2018), cast as Mr. Dawes Junior - a descendant of Mr. Dawes Senior, whom he had played in the original musical.
Dick Van Dyke's mother's family was very religious, and for a brief period in his youth, he considered a career in ministry, although a drama class in high school convinced him that his true calling was as a professional entertainer. In his autobiography, he wrote, "I suppose that I never completely gave up my childhood idea of being a minister. Only the medium and the message changed. I have still endeavored to touch people's souls, to raise their spirits and put smiles on their faces." Even after the launch of his career as an entertainer, he taught Sunday school in the Presbyterian Church, where he was an elder, and he continued to read such theologians as Buber, Tillich, and Bonhoeffer, who helped explain in practical terms the relevance of religion in everyday life.
Politics
Dick Van Dyke is a lifelong supporter of the United States Democratic Party. He is a self-described Roosevelt New Deal Democrat. He strongly opposed the United States involvement in the Vietnam War and actively campaigned in Democrat Pierre Salinger's losing 1964 fight for senator against Republican George Murphy. He endorsed Bernie Sanders in the 2016 presidential election of the United States and announced he would vote for Hillary Clinton after Bernie Sanders failed to win the Democratic nomination. He also accused CNN of "extreme bias" in its coverage of the 2016 presidential election. In that race for the White House, Van Dyke said he was willing to do "anything to keep Trump out of there."
Views
Dick Van Dyke is a major supporter of the NOH8 Campaign (NOH8 meaning "No Hate"), a charitable organization whose mission is to promote LGBT marriage, gender, and human equality through education, advocacy, social media, and visual protest.
Quotations:
"Last night CNN International CNN gave me ten minutes live to talk about Bernie Sanders who has been scantily covered by them in favor of the Donald J. Trump circus. It was pre-empted completely to cover another outburst by Trump. This pandering to the scandal hungry public is a total lack of responsible journalism. I accuse CNN of extreme bias."
"[on Donald Trump] He has been a magnet to all the racists and xenophobes in the country. I haven't been this scared since the Cuban Missile Crisis. I think the human race is hanging in a delicate balance right now, and I'm just so afraid he will put us in a war. He scares me."
"[on the death of Mary Tyler Moore]: There are no words. She was the best! We always said that we changed each other's lives for the better."
"People in the UK love to rib me about my accent, I will never live it down. They ask what part of England I was meant to be from and I say it was a little shire in the north where most of the people were from Ohio. I was working with an entire English cast and nobody said a word, not Julie, not anybody said I needed to work on it so I thought I was alright."
"I appreciate this opportunity to apologize to the members of Bafta for inflicting on them the most atrocious cockney accent in the history of cinema."
"My whole generation has disappeared on me. My contemporaries, not in talent but in age, were Paul Newman, Jack Lemmon, Rock Hudson. All gone."
"I've retired so many times now it's getting to be a habit."
"[on quitting smoking] I almost killed myself stopping. I got the gum and I was chewing the gum and I was wearing the patch. My heart rate was about 140 all the time. Thank God I survived that."
Personality
Dick Van Dyke is ambidextrous but writes mainly left-handed. He didn't start dancing until he was 34. He's the surrogate grandfather to all 3 of Charlie Schlatter's children: Julia Marie, Quinn, and Beck Fredrick.
During the early 1970s, Van Dyke battled alcoholism. Speaking to the Saturday Evening Post, Van Dyke recalled that he and his wife one day realized that their social drinking had gotten out of hand. "I was proud of the fact that I could hold my liquor pretty well, and I think both Marge and I were on the verge of going into heavier, compulsive drinking where it becomes a necessity rather than a form of relaxation, and we got worried." Van Dyke spoke with people in recovery at Alcoholics Anonymous and realized his lack of energy and concentration, as well as his dip in sense of well-being, were being caused by his drinking. So he quit. "I had a kind of withdrawal period where it was hard to get to sleep at night," he told the Post, "but the difference was startling. He was a heavy smoker for fifty years, smoking up to two packs of cigarettes a day. He finally managed to quit using gum and patches. He claimed that quitting smoking was much harder than quitting drinking.
Quotes from others about the person
"Dick is a dream to work with. In the five years, we were on the show, I never heard him say, 'No, I won't do that.' I never saw him lose his temper or get angry." - entertainer Rose Marie in her memoir, Hold the Roses.
Interests
spending time with his family, dancing, traveling, comedy, playing piano, using the computer, Bible, praying, singing
Philosophers & Thinkers
Martin Buber, Paul Johannes Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Politicians
Bernie Sanders, Pierre Salinger, Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Sport & Clubs
golf, sailing
Connections
Dick Van Dyke married Margerie Willett on February 12, 1948. The had four children: Christian, Barry, Stacey, and Carrie Beth. The pair lived separate lives for years, before officially divorcing in 1984. The actor became involved with Michelle Triola, an ex-girlfriend of Lee Marvin, in the late 1970s. Trioia had been working as Van Dyke's agent's secretary when they first met. Van Dyke stayed with Triola for nearly 30 years, until her death in 2009. In March 2012, the 86-year-old actor wed 40-year-old makeup artist Arlene Silver.
Father:
Loren "Cookie" Van Dyke
Mother:
Hazel McCord
Brother:
Jerry Van Dyke
ex-wife:
Margerie Willett
Son:
Christian Van Dyke
Son:
Barry Van Dyke
Daughter:
Carrie Beth Van Dyke
Daughter:
Stacy Van Dyke
Wife:
Arlene Silver
companion:
Michelle Triola
Friend:
Charlie Schlatter
Partner:
Mary Tyler Moore
References
Contemporary Authors, Vol. 166
This volume of Contemporary Authors contains biographical information on approximately 300 modern writers.
The Dick Van Dyke Sho
The Dick Van Dyke Show (CBS 1961-1966) was a uniquely self-reflexive sitcom that drew on vaudevillian tropes at a time when vaudeville-based comedy variety was disappearing from television.
To Twilo and Beyond! My Walnut Adventures with The Dick Van Dyke Show Cast
By doggedly going about contacting everyone ever connected with The Dick Van Dyke Show, David Van Deusen has unearthed information and anecdotes about those good old days and the good, young actors and directors who made it work.
Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series, 1964
Outstanding Individual Achievements in Entertainment, 1965
Best Lead Actor in a Drama, 1974
Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Series, 1977
Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming, 1984
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, 1990
Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series, 1964
Outstanding Individual Achievements in Entertainment, 1965
Best Lead Actor in a Drama, 1974
Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Series, 1977
Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming, 1984