Dick Van Dyke has opened up about facing mortality as his 100th birthday approaches on December 13, revealing he feels “at peace” with the end of life drawing near.
The legendary actor, comedian, singer, dancer and writer has enjoyed a career spanning more than seven decades, becoming widely recognised for his physical comedy and charm through iconic sitcom and musical film roles.
Mr Van Dyke starred in the hit sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show, earning multiple Emmy Awards.
He also famously played the dual role of Bert and Mr Dawes Sr in the 1964 classic Mary Poppins, later returning for a cameo in the 2018 sequel.
Dick Van Dyke’s career on screen has spanned over seven decades
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Mr Van Dyke went on to portray Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, before taking on the lead role of Dr Mark Sloan in the long-running medical crime drama Diagnosis: Murder.
On Broadway, Mr Van Dyke won a Tony Award for his performance in Bye Bye Birdie.
“The end of my life is so much closer,” the 99-year-old Hollywood legend admitted in his new book, 100 Rules For Living to 100: An Optimist’s Guide to a Happy Life.
Speaking to People magazine, Mr Van Dyke expressed a remarkable acceptance of death. “When you expire, you expire. I don’t have any fear of death for some reason. I can’t explain that but I don’t,” he said.
Mr Van Dyke credits his peaceful outlook to living fully. “I’ve had such a wonderfully full and exciting life. I can’t complain,” he reflected, acknowledging he has reached an age few experience.
Dick Van Dyke will turn 100 on December 13
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As for the secret behind reaching nearly a century, Mr Van Dyke believes it lies in avoiding negative emotions. “I’ve always thought that anger is one thing that eats up a person’s insides – and hate,” he said.
“And I never really was able to work up a feeling of hate. I think that is one of the chief things that kept me going.”
Mr Van Dyke describes himself as naturally optimistic, saying he was born with a brighter outlook than most.
Even approaching a century, he insisted he never wakes up in a bad mood. “I feel really good for 100. Sometimes I have more energy than others – but I never wake up in a bad mood. I feel like I’m about 13,” he said.
Dick Van Dyke starred in the 1968 movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
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Mr Van Dyke said his wife Arlene Silver, 54, plays a vital role in maintaining his zest for life.
“Without question, our ongoing romance is the most important reason I have not withered away into a hermetic grouch,” he wrote in a recent health diary for The Times.
The couple, who share a 46-year age gap, met backstage at the 2006 Screen Actors Guild Awards where she was working as a makeup artist.
Their friendship turned into a romance after the death of his long-term partner, Michelle Triola, in 2009.
Ms Silver helped him through his grief by bringing him food and support, and Van Dyke said he fell in love with her during this time. The pair wed in 2012.
Mr Van Dyke said Ms Silver makes him feel decades younger. “Arlene is half my age, and she makes me feel somewhere between two-thirds and three-quarters my age, which is still saying a lot,” he explained.
He credits her with keeping him joyful and present. “She’s responsible for keeping me in the moment. She kept me happy every day of my life, every day. She’s a joy,” he told People magazine.
The actor’s commitment to physical fitness remains unwavering. Mr Van Dyke visits the gym three times a week, maintaining a routine that would challenge many who are much younger. “I still try to hit the gym three times a week,” he wrote in his book extract for The Times.
His workout includes circuit training, moving between machines without breaks, beginning with sit-ups before progressing to leg exercises, upper-body work, stretching and yoga.
Dick and Arlene Van Dyke in November 2015
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He often dances between machines while singing show tunes. “By the end I’m in a sweaty rush, the blood flowing from fingertips to toes, and my spirits are soaring,” he said.
Mr Van Dyke admitted skipping sessions leaves him feeling stiff, motivating him to maintain the routine despite the challenges of ageing.
Fans of Mr Van Dyke quickly took to social media to respond to the star’s comments.
“Dick Van Dyke is such a legend, even more so to make it to such a monumental age milestone!” one fan posted on X, while another said: “God bless him, I hope he has a great birthday.”
A third fan penned: “Wow! How great does Dick Van Dyke look and sound for someone who was born when Calvin Coolidge was president?”
“I cannot think of anyone in this world, more wonderful, more beloved, more remarkable, more full of life in all its variety and ability, than Dick Van Dyke,” added another.
Mr Van Dyke revealed he finds comfort in the lasting impact of his work, particularly the songs from Mary Poppins which continue to delight new generations.
“For as long as children are proudly belting out their new word, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, or singing and skipping along to Chim Chim Cher-ee, the most important part of me will always be alive,” he reflected.
Yet reaching such an advanced age brings deep loneliness. “Every single one of my dearest lifelong friends is gone, which feels just as lonely as it sounds,” he tsaid.
His wife acknowledged this harsh reality, saying: “He’s outlived everybody. That’s the curse of living to almost 100.”
Despite these losses, Mr Van Dyke remains focused on his musical legacy rather than how he will personally be remembered.