Actor and comedic icon Dick Van Dyke is 100 years younger as we speak.
The famed star sang and danced his means into America’s coronary heart by way of his illustrious profession that has spanned practically eight a long time.
As a part of the celebration this weekend, theaters throughout the nation are exhibiting a brand new documentary about his life, “Dick Van Dyke: a centesimal Celebration.”
Van Dyke’s work helped outline a technology. He grew to become one of many largest actors of his period with the eponymous present “The Dick Van Dyke Present,” which ran for 5 years on CBS.
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Early in his profession, Van Dyke was quoted as saying he wished to make movies his kids might watch. And he received his dream when Walt Disney solid him in “Mary Poppins” – unhealthy cockney accent and all – alongside the incomparable Julie Andrews. He additionally appeared within the equally kid-friendly “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.”
“Yeah, I might have been James Bond. When Sean Connery left, the producer stated, ‘Would you wish to be the following Bond?’ I stated, ‘Have you ever heard my British accent?’ Click on! That is a real story!” Van Dyke advised CBS Sunday Morning in 2023.
Silver Display screen Assortment / Hulton Archive / Getty Photos 
Throughout his profession, Van Dyke received 4 Primetime Emmy Awards, a Tony Award and a Grammy Award. He was inducted into the Tv Corridor of Fame in 1995.
Simply final yr, he grew to become the oldest winner of a Daytime Emmy, for a visitor position on the cleaning soap “Days of Our Lives.”
“I will be darned. I believe I am the final of my technology. I am 98. I’ve — virtually — all my marbles. I am unable to keep in mind what I had for breakfast,” he advised Leisure Tonight earlier than his win.
AP Photograph/Chris Pizzello, File 
Van Dyke, who’s simply an Oscar shy of the elusive EGOT title, stated he would love a shot on the Academy Award.
“I hope it isn’t posthumous,” he joked.
Within the Seventies, Van Dyke discovered sobriety after battling alcoholism.
“I am on my third technology,” he advised CBS Sunday Morning in 2023. “I am getting letters from little children, and that’s what I really like, that they watch the films again and again. I am getting a lot extra mail as we speak than I did throughout the heyday of my profession.”
Now that he has hit triple digits, Van Dyke stated he is gotten some perspective on how he used to play older characters.
“You realize, I performed previous males so much, and I all the time performed them as indignant and cantankerous,” he advised ABC News forward of his milestone birthday. “It is probably not that means. I do not know every other 100-year-olds, however I can converse for myself.”
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He has lengthy credited his spouse, 54-year-old make-up artist and producer Arlene Silver, with protecting him younger.
“As I’ve stated, if I had recognized I used to be gonna reside this lengthy, I might’ve taken higher care of myself!” Van Dyke advised CBS Sunday Morning. “Yeah, ‘trigger I went by way of that entire interval of alcoholism. However my spouse, God bless her, makes positive that I’m going to the health club three days every week and do a full exercise.”
Van Dyke was born in West Plains, Missouri, in 1925, and grew up “the category clown” in Danville, Illinois, whereas admiring and imitating the silent movie comedians.
5 years in the past, whereas celebrating getting a Kennedy Center Honor, Van Dyke advised CBS Mornings that he was wanting ahead to hitting the 100-year-old mark.
“George Burns made it, and I am gonna do it too,” he stated.
And now, he advised ABC Information that he feels fortunate about turning 100. However what’s arduous about being 100?
“I miss motion,” he advised the outlet. “I’ve received one recreation leg from I do not know what.”
“I nonetheless attempt to dance,” he stated with amusing.
