Dick Van Dyke: A Journey Across Decades with 'Mary Poppins,' 'The Dick Van Dyke Show,' and Beyond
Discover the incredible journey of Dick Van Dyke, the iconic actor with an impressive collection of awards From his breakthrough in the 1940s to timeless classics like 'Mary Poppins' and 'The Dick Van Dyke Show,' explore his remarkable career in these captivating photos
Dick Van Dyke, known for his work on both stage and screen, has won the hearts of fans across generations. With four Emmys, a Grammy, and a Tony Award, he tied the knot with Arlene Silver in 2012. In a February 2023 interview with Yahoo! Music, the Mary Poppins star playfully remarked that having a "beautiful young wife half my age to take care of me" has helped him stay youthful.
Van Dyke married Margie Willet in 1948 before marrying Silver. They had four children together: Christian, Barry, Stacy, and Carrie Beth. Additionally, Van Dyke had undeniable chemistry with his onscreen wife Mary Tyler Moore on the Dick Van Dyke Show, which aired from 1961 to 1966 and won 15 Emmy Awards.
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Keep scrolling to see Van Dyke’s life and career in photos:
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Dick Van Dyke Through the Years: ‘Mary Poppins,’ ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show' and More
Dick Van Dyke, known for his success on stage and screen, has won four Emmys, a Grammy, and a Tony Award. In 2012, he married Arlene Silver and humorously credited her for keeping him young during a February 2023 interview with Yahoo! Music. He joked that having a beautiful young wife has helped take care of him and keep him feeling youthful.
Before marrying Silver, Van Dyke was married to his first wife, Margie Willet, in 1948. The couple had four children: Christian, Barry, Stacy, and Carrie Beth.
Van Dyke's onscreen chemistry with his fictional wife Mary Tyler Moore on the Dick Van Dyke Show, which aired from 1961 to 1966 and won 15 Emmy Awards, was also noteworthy.
Keep scrolling to see Van Dyke’s life and career in photos:
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1948
Van Dyke married his first wife, Willet, and together they had four children.
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1961
The role of Albert Petersen in the Broadway production of Bye Bye Birdie was originated by the Diagnosis Murder alum, who went on to win the Best Featured Actor in a Musical Tony Award for his performance. Two years later, Van Dyke reprised the award-winning part in the hugely successful film version.
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1961 to 1966
Van Dyke became a household name in the early ‘60s, thanks to his own titular sitcom — which earned 15 Emmy awards and one Golden Globe across its five-season run.
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1964
The actor from Divorce American Style was known for his role alongside Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins, a career highlight. In the beloved Disney movie he famously portrayed Bert the chimney sweep, with a Cockney accent that still gets him teased to this day. (He was also credited under a pseudonym for his role as villain Mr. Dawes.) Upon receiving the Britannia Award for Excellence in Television in 2017, he humorously apologized to the BAFTA members for his "atrocious" Cockney accent in the movie.
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1968
Four years after the enduring success of Mary Poppins, Van Dyke had another hit on his hands with the fantasy musical film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
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1970s
Van Dyke began dating Michelle Triola Marvin, whom he was in a decades-long relationship with until her death in 2009.
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1984
Despite splitting decades prior, Van Dyke and Willet officially divorced.
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Late 1980s
Following the tragic loss of his granddaughter Jessica to Reye’s Syndrome in 1987, Van Dyke began actively advocating for increased awareness of the potential dangers of administering aspirin to children, as it was a primary contributor to the illness. He participated in television commercials to help educate parents about this important issue.
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2006
Van Dyke became a part of the iconic Night at the Museum ensemble, which included Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, and others. He took on the pivotal (and nefarious!) character of the former Museum of Natural History security guard, Cecil Fredericks.
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2012
The Alfred Hitchcock Presents alum married Silver after meeting five years earlier at the 2007 SAG Awards, where she was doing his makeup.
Silver recalled meeting Dick Van Dyke in 2012, saying, "He said, ‘Hi, I’m Dick.’ The first thing I asked him was, ‘Weren’t you in ‘Mary Poppins?’ We got along immediately as friends, so it didn’t feel like he was so much older than me." Van Dyke also spoke highly of Silver, saying, "We share an attitude. She can go with the flow. She loves to sing and dance, which we do almost every day. She’s just delightful."
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2013
Van Dyke was awarded with the Life Achievement Award at the 2013 Screen Actors Guild Awards.
"I've been in this industry for 70 years, and I still haven't quite figured out what it is I do," he quipped during his acceptance speech. "But the years have been filled with surprises for me. And a lot of fun. Aren't we fortunate to have found a profession that doesn't require us to grow up?"
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2018
The actor from Illinois made an appearance in Mary Poppins Returns, not as Bert, but as Mr. Dawes, Jr. in a nod to his previous role as the villain Mr. Dawes Sr. in the original film.
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February 2023
Van Dyke's reveal as the Gnome on season 9 of The Masked Singer at age 97 not only shocked fans, but also impressed the judges, making him the oldest contestant to ever participate on the singing competition show.
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December 2023
As he approached his 98th birthday, Van Dyke was spotted making his way to the gym for a workout with Silver. He grinned widely for the cameras and quipped to the photographers that Silver was the one who "forces [him] to go to the gym," according to Page Six.
In addition, the actor made a playful remark about his impending birthday, stating, "Goodness gracious, no one should reach 98 years old."
