Dick Van Dyke was born on 13 December 1925 in West Plains, Missouri. 100 years ago today.
Happy birthday, Dick Van Dyke!
What Dick Van Dyke thoughts do you have? I remember him from The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961–1966). I remember watching him on the TV in black and white. Now, I was born in 1961 and probably watched his show in the late 1960s in Upstate New York where I grew up, so I’m guessing those were reruns.
I’m pretty sure I saw him first in Mary Poppins and Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang before I watched any reruns of his TV show. He’s more of a big screen musical memory for me than a TV character.
I’m a big fan of the Dick Van Dyke Show.
Imagine him having the notion, back in 1961 while filming that show, that he would still be alive in 2025.
mmm
I binged the show about six months ago, when it popped up on one of the many free, small streaming services that are attached to Roku-- I bought a Roku TV because it was on sale, and ended up cancelling my cable and just using streaming services.
It is still very funny, and to me, relevant, because even though it was a little before my time, it was only a few years, and the fashion, furniture, and manners are those of my early childhood, and so spot-on, that when it was new, it must have been very real to people.
The killer in my all-time favorite COLUMBO episode: a guy who can cheerfully say, oh, uh, this isn’t a whodunit; I shot the guy!
I first encountered him on the DVD show during its original run, as my mom was a big follower of the show. I also remember vividly being excited to recognize him in Mary Poppins when that came out. Way to go, Mr. Van Dyke!!
Oh, it’s a jolly holiday with you, Dick! Gentlemen like you are few.
I started watching the Dick Van Dyke show as a kid in the 1970s. This was back in the days when a lot of stations would show reruns of older sitcoms during the afternoon (kids, ask your parents!). Even then, I think I was able to recognize that the quality of the writing and many of the performances was a cut above some of the other syndicated reruns, like F Troop or Gilligan’s Island. It was my favorite sitcom back then, and remained so for quite some time.
It was only later that I came across Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, or saw any of the other things that Dick van Dyke did. And I also remember, perhaps oddly, the series of TV commercials that he did for Kodak cameras back in the 70s as well. He looked a little different than he had as Rob Petrie, which puzzled me a bit, but it was obviously him, so I loved those commercials as well.
Happy birthday, Dick.
I think The Dick Van Dyke show is probably the most lasting of all sitcoms. It is 65 years old and at least 50% of the episodes hold up well. I feel like Lucy is closed to 5% as a counter example.
I watched part of the PBS celebration last night and will probably watch the rest tonight.
He is always a bright spot in guest appearances. Even as late as Scrubs, his episode was exceptional.
Mary Poppins is of course an all time classic movie and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is not too far behind.
For those looking for advice, Dick Van Dyke still works out. And he credits giving up alcohol and cigarettes for his longevity.
Hoping the ottomans in his home are carefully placed to avoid tripping hazards.
And no one tells him the joke about the man with a wooden leg named Smith.
Congratulations Mr Van Dyke
His brother Jerry lived to 86.
Link Dick Van Dyke’s Brother: Tribute To Jerry Van Dyke’s Humor
Thanks. I’ll have to look for this.
Good one!
One of the best things about Van Dyke is how vibrant he still is. Not only is he still physically fit, but he has not lost his mind at all, as far as I can tell.
ETA: Same with Mel Brooks, who turns 100 in June. Along with Carl Reiner (who lived to 98), they prove laughter keeps us young.
I watched The Dick Van Dyke show when it was new and I was a young teen. What a great cast and writing crew that was, and the introduction of Mary Tyler Moore was god’s gift to pubescent teens. I always looked forward to the seldom seen Richard Deacon (as Mel Cooley) interacting with Morey Amsterdam (Buddy). Much of that cast lived to a ripe old age.
Agree completely. I find the majority of the Lucy episodes are either cringe or stupid. I’m a fan of Lucile Ball – but mostly because of her wisecracking sidekick roles in her many movies. It’s a shame she’s not remembered more for those.
I watched DVD shows when they were new, and I always laughed my butt off. My favorites are the one where Laura reveals on live TV that Alan Brady was bald, and the one with Danny Thomas and the trilobytes.
Dick Van Dyke belongs on the very short list of national treasures. I’ve been a fan since watching the first run of The Dick Van Dyke Show in the ’60s. Later, I looked forward to the best perk of being home sick from school: catching the reruns during the morning sitcom lineup.
Happy birthday, Dick. And thanks for decades of effortless joy.
He’s still incredibly sharp, modest, and genuinely funny here at 99 years old.
Maybe 25 years ago I was walking aimlessly through the Santa Monica (California) Mall. There was a place where shoppers were solicited to take surveys and get a bit of cash for doing so, They asked me to come in and take a survey about applesauce (really), complete with samples, for $10.00. Sure, I said. We go in to a room full of cubicles. Sit down, get a sample of applesauce. Across the room there was a cubicle which had been sort of surrounded with chairs etc so no one could see in. Couple of minutes later I hear a laugh. A big, hearty laugh. I said to the person interviewing me, that sounds a lot like Dick Van Dyke, and she said yes it is. OMG. They picked him to be interviewed? Interviewer said, yes, one of the girls recognized him and as a joke asked him if he would like to participate. Sure, he said. The whole time I was in the place we kept hearing that perfectly infectious laugh. What a guy. I think he said something like, I’ll try anything once! So now he’s trying being 100. Good for him.
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Wow, I wonder if that was the Lawrence Interviewing Service (I’m pretty sure that was the name). My older sister worked for them in the late 60s. I was a subject once, too, when she recruited me and some high school friends to do a survey (complete with sample!) for Dr. Pepper. We all called it carbonated prune juice before we knew who sponsored the survey.
Oh, and Dick van Dyke’s first big splash was in Bye, Bye Birdie. He and Chita Rivera were great in that.