Last week Dick Van Dyke was trending on Twitter, and someone said there needs to be a special category for older celebrities that are trending for a fun reason and not because they’ve died. I agree. Fortunately, Mr. VD was trending because he’d announced his intention to stick around until he’s 100 years old. And I say good for him. Dick is 95 years old presently. He just received the Kennedy Center Honors, presented to him by his Bye Bye Birdie co-star, Chita Rivera. Dick recently told CBS This Morning he has a morning workout routine that allows him to keep dancing. Dick said if he has it his way, he’s going to keep on dancing and singing until he’s hit his century mark.
Dick Van Dyke isn’t slowing down!
In a new interview with CBS This Morning, the 95-year-old movie star shows off his at-home workout routine, including doing sit-up exercises in his Malibu home’s backyard. During the chat, Van Dyke proudly says he’s “still dancing” as he talks about staying active while aging.
“I’m 95, and a lot of my friends won’t do these,” he says, demonstrating his fitness regimen on the ground. “… So all you old guys out there, listen to me, I’m telling you: You can keep going for a long— I’m still dancing! And singing!”
Van Dyke goes on to say that he views himself as an “active” actor, looking back on his role in 2018’s Mary Poppins Returns when he did an intricate dance sequence. He says he was given “three versions and I took the hardest one. I had to prove I could do it.”
“I’m looking forward to 100,” he says later in the interview. “George Burns made it, and I’m gonna do it too!”
I posted the clip from CBS This Morning below. In it, Dick demonstrates some of his exercises. That, coupled with his sharp mind during the interview, make it easy to believe he will reach his 100th birthday. I’ve always been a fan of his and it’s so obvious how much he loves being a song and dance man, which is how he refers to himself rather than an actor. He’s incredibly talented, but what he brings to his art is pure joy. It’s a big part of why I love to watch him dance, because you become infected with his enthusiasm. Who else but Dick Van Dyke could use that terrible cockney accent in Mary Poppins and still nail that role?
And remember that Dick was considered the most wholesome person. He came clean in the 70s about being an alcoholic and championed recovery even though his career took a hit for it.
Another thing keeping Dick young is his 49-year-old wife, Arlene Silver. They’ve been married for nine years. Arlene is his second wife. He was married to Margie Willet for almost 20 years at the start of his career, but he was with his partner Michelle Triola for 30 years until her death in 2009. There’s 46 years between Arlene and Dick, which is a lot, but they seem absolutely smitten with each other and neither ever thought they’d end up with anyone else. They address their age difference frequently, poking fun at it and generally saying they didn’t expect to fall for each other either. Good for them. I hope they get to dance at their 15th anniversary.
WATCH: @AnthonyMasonCBS spoke to legendary award-winning actor #DickVanDyke, who found success with his own brand of singing, dancing and physical comedy. The beloved entertainer is 1 of 5 artists being honored by the @KenCen for their immense contribution to American culture. pic.twitter.com/MpU8omFZ78
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) June 1, 2021
Photo credit: Getty Images, Twitter and Avalon Red
I loved every sentence of this article! Yay DVD and his adorable wife!
The interview was such a delight, too. What a remarkable man.
As a kid, I loved watching reruns of the DVD Show every night. He and Mary Tyler Moore were magic.
Utterly love, love, LOVE this man. Never mind living till 100 Dick, live till at least 120! 🥰
All I saw at first was Dick VD and my heart dropped, then I read the rest of the title and breathed again. Love DVD
Nice! Good for him, he seems so cheerful and he is in very good health.
Dick Van Dyke is a sweetheart.
OH MY GOSH, Y’all! I got to see Dick Van Dyke perform here in LA in a TINY club, and he sang and danced and it was the most magical evening of celebrity that I have ever experienced. He is EXACTLY what you think he is, and so charming and lovely it made me cry. I have been around a lot of celebrities and don’t really care about all that at this point in my life, but I was literally shaking at seeing him live. He IS my childhood AND my son’s. And so many stars disappoint when you meet them. He was the opposite. Every bit as delightful as you would think!!! ( Like Dolly!) Watching him do soft shoe live was heaven. He lights up a room.
loved this piece. we need more pieces like this. positive and inspiring.
Wow, what a great man and testament to the power and benefits of exercise!
He really is Exhibit A for why people should keep physically fit. This is my new motivation to keep moving. His dance scene when he was 91, amazing!
Love him!!!!! 😍😍😍
I do too!! I watched him yesterday morning and he is just a delight from the top of his head down to his toes!! Always been a big fan of his movies!! I have Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on BluRay for the grandkids!
I really love him. My kids watch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and that’s one of my favorites with him. He is so warm and sweet and so funny and exciting, his face shines! He’s a special guy and it’s awesome to see his happiness and longevity. I bet having that lovely wife around helps him stay happy, too!
“It’s a big part of why I love to watch him dance, because you become infected with his enthusiasm.”
I will often turn on Mary Poppins and fast forward straight to the “Steppin Time” scene. One of the best dance scenes in any musical ever!
I love him and wish him his hearts desires.
Now if his partner died 12 years ago, how does he have 9 years of marriage and 6 years of dating with this wife (15 years)?
They were friends for six years, not dated. That’s my mistake – thank you for catching it. I’ll fix.
Ok thanks. I only asked because he seemed devoted to his partner until her death.
What a legend. Can’t stand Mary Poppins, but he’s the best part of it lol. And Chitty was a favorite of mine. In fact, I just love him and his staying power. It’s important to see some elders have their heads screwed correctly and have maneuvered life respectfully and without malice.
I heard he was consulted for Wandavision and people got interested in his older work becsuse of it.
He has a really great memoir, Keep Moving. I highly recommend it as an audio book
Thanks for the rec! That’ll be my next audiobook.
What a gorgeous couple! I want to have a smile on my face like him.
The power of being both mentally and physically active is amazing – my grandparents are polar opposites and it really does come down to keeping busy! I love the idea of normalising life and adventure continuing well into our 80s and beyond
Grandpa!!!! (Not really) Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke are my ideas of the perfect grandparents.
I got into streaming the dick van dyke show years ago when i was stuck at home for a week recovering from a procedure, back when that seemed like a long time to be stuck at home Lol
If id been around in the 60s i would’ve had such a crush on him not just because hes funny and talented but his character was portrayed as really loving his wife not treating her like ‘the old ball and chain’ he didnt hesitate to talk about & show how much he loved her
Amazing energy. Love him!
DVD is up there with Mr Rogers for me. So pure.
I spent my childhood watching Mary Tyler Moore, DVD, I love Lucy ect