Last week, Dick Van Dyke was spotted in Malibu, California, where he spoke with fans and said he was “happy to be up and about.”
Dick Van is an American singer, dancer, and actor who has appeared in several films and TV shows. His seven-decade-long career in film, TV, and theatre has earned him several accolades. The part of Rob Petrie on C.B.S.’s “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” a sitcom that ran from 1961 to 1966, propelled him to fame, though he had already established himself in radio and theatre.
Who is Dick Van Dyke?
Richard Wayne Van Dyke is a famous American actor, comedian, and entertainer. He was born on December 13, 1925. His seven-decade-long career in film, television, and the stage has earned him numerous accolades. Five Primetime Emmys, a Golden Globe, a Tony, and a Grammy are among Van Dyke’s many accolades.
He is a Disney Legend, was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1995, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012. After receiving the SAG Life Achievement Award in 2013 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2021, he has continued to receive accolades for his work in the industry.
| Full Name | Richard Wayne Van Dyke |
| Born on | December 13, 1925 |
| Birth Place | West Plains, Missouri, U.S. |
| Occupation |
|
| Children | 4, including Barry Van Dyke |
| Gender | Male |
| Spouse |
Arlene Silve
(m. 2012) |
| Age | 97 |
How Old is Dick Van Dyke?
On December 13, 1925, Richard Wayne Van Dyke was born in West Plains, Missouri, to stenographer Hazel Victoria (née McCord; 1896-1992) and salesman Loren Wayne “Cookie” Van Dyke (1898-1976). His hometown as a child was Danville, Illinois.
Currently, Dick Van Dyke is 97 years old. He will turn 98 in December 2023. He celebrates his birthday every year in December with his Loved ones.
In 2004, at the age of 89, he completed his high school education. The Girls Against the Boys was Van Dyke’s first Broadway show, which opened in November 1959, when he was 34. When he was 55, Van Dyke played the lead role in The Music Man’s first Broadway revival in 1980.
Van Dyke made his acting debut in the film adaptation of Bye Bye Birdie, portraying the part of Albert J. Peterson (1963). Both Van Dyke and Julie Andrews won a Grammy in 1964 for their work on the Mary Poppins soundtrack.
Career of Dick Van Dyke
During World War II, Van Dyke served in the United States Army Air Corps. He was a radio announcer for the special services unit. After serving for one year, he received his discharge in 1945. The late great Van Dyke got his start in show business as a radio disc jockey before moving on to the stage.
It wasn’t until 1959 that his play “The Girls Against the Boys” debuted on Broadway. In 1961, for his performance in the musical Bye Bye Birdie, he was awarded the Tony for Best Featured Actor. The Music Man (1980) and Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life (both directed by him) are also among his stage credits (2006).
The Dick Van Dyke Show was a CBS sitcom in which Van Dyke portrayed “Rob Petrie.” Totaling 158 episodes over its run from 1961–1966. The New Dick Van Dyke Show (1971–1974), The Carol Burnett Show (1977), and Diagnosis Murder are a few other popular TV shows (1993-2001).
Sally Ann Howes co-starred with Van Dyke in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, in which Van Dyke played the role of Caractacus Potts (1968). His supporting appearance as “Cecil Fredricks” in Shawn Levy’s Night in the Museum films is notable. Also starring alongside Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins (1964) and Warren Beatty in Dick Tracy (1990) are Van Dyke’s film roles.
Van Dyke has garnered multiple accolades over his career. He got the SAG Life Achievement Award in 2013, and he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1995.
