Comedy icon Dick Van Dyke celebrated his 100th birthday Saturday, hitting the century mark about six decades after he sang and danced with Julie Andrews in "Mary Poppins" and starred in his self-titled sitcom.
Dick Van Dyke has spent nearly eight decades in show business, beginning in Illinois radio before moving to Broadway, television, and film. Though he’s best known for ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’ and ‘Mary Poppins,’ his career includes beloved hits and overlooked gems that show his remarkable range. His breakout came with ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show,’ where he played Rob Petrie alongside Mary Tyler Moore. The warm ensemble helped make the sitcom an enduring classic. His first major film, ‘Bye Bye Birdie,’ let him bring his Tony-winning Broadway role to the screen. It became a major success and a top-grossing film of 1963. That momentum continued with ‘Mary Poppins,’ where he played Bert opposite Julie Andrews. The role showcased his singing, dancing, and playful energy in a film he called “the perfect Walt Disney movie.” In ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,’ he played inventor Caractacus Potts, choosing a family-friendly project his children could enjoy. Though not a huge hit at first, it became a cherished classic in the following decades. Wanting to take on more dramatic roles, Van Dyke starred in ‘The Comic,’ portraying silent film star Billy Bright. Although it remains one of Van Dyke’s lesser-known projects, the 1969 film showcased his ability to tap into audiences' emotions. In more recent times, Van Dyke surprised fans by appearing on the soap opera ‘Days of Our Lives’ at age 97, playing a hospital patient with amnesia who’s ultimately revealed as John Black’s long-lost father.
People are also reading…
Dick Van Dyke accepts the award for outstanding guest performance in a daytime drama series for "Days of our Lives" on June 7, 2024, during the 51st Daytime Emmy Awards at the Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles.
Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews dance June 25, 1963, in a scene from the Disney movie "Mary Poppins" in Hollywood, Calif.
Photos: Dick Van Dyke through the years
1960: Dick Van Dyke and Chita Rivera star in "Bye Bye Birdie"
Dick Van Dyke, left, and Chita Rivera, second from right, stars of the Broadway musical "Bye Bye Birdie", visit with Nashville theater fans backstage at the 54th Street Theater in New York, Nov. 5, 1960.
1963: Dick Van Dyke and wife Margie
Dick Van Dyke, left, and his wife, Margie arrive for the Television Academy's Emmy presentation show in Los Angeles, May 26, 1963. He is one several nominated in the category of best actor in a series. (AP Photo/David F. Smith)
1963: Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews in musical "Mary Poppins"
Dick Van Dyke, left, is airborne during a dance with co-star Julie Andrews, right, for the new Hollywood musical "Mary Poppins," June 25, 1963. (AP Photo/Don Brinn)
1963: Dick Van Dyke and Jerri Markwell in "What a Way To Go"
With the temperature well over 100 on an outside movie set, comedian Dick Van Dyke, left, decided he'll just stay in the mud and cool off with an assist from actress Jerri Markwell, wielding the hose on the set in Los Angeles, Sept. 27, 1963 during filming of "What a Way To Go". (AP Photo/Don Brinn)
1964: Dick Van Dyke at "Mary Poppins" premiere
Actor Dick Van Dyke poses with a carousel horse at the Los Angeles premiere of his movie "Mary Poppins," Sept. 4, 1964. (AP Photo/Ed Widdis)
1964: Dick Van Dyke
Television and movie star, Dick Van Dyke, September 1964.
1964: Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore win Emmys
Dick Van Dyke, left, and Mary Tyler Moore co-stars of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" pose backstage at the Palladium with the Emmys they won at the 16th annual awards show in Los Angeles, May 25, 1964. They won the best actor and actress in a series.
1965: Dick Van Dyke
Actor Dick Van Dyke shows a 12-pound weighted belt which he wears a couple of hours a day, in his Hollywood studio, Aug. 23, 1965, Los Angeles, Calif. He says it has reduced his midriff about one inch in six weeks. (AP Photo/Ellis R. Bosworth)
1966: Dick Van Dyke and Carl Reiner
Carl Reiner, who plays the role of Big Bad Brady, left, dresses in white for the part while star Dick Van Dyke, right, as a small town sheriff, dresses in black, April 1, 1966, Los Angeles, Calif. Here they rehearse a scene in which they have a shoot-out and shoot each other accidentally. The scene is from an episode of the CBS-TV Dick Van Dyke Show called The Gunslinger. (AP Photo/David F. Smith)
1967: Dick Van Dyke and Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II of England meets American actor Dick Van Dyke and British actress Diane Cilento at London's Leicester Square Odeon Theater on June 12, 1967, after world charity premiere of the James Bond spy thriller, "You Only Live Twice." Star of the film, Sean Connery, right, sports mustache. (AP Photo)
1968: Dick Van Dyke and Sally Ann Howes
Actor Dick Van Dyke, left, and his female lead, Sally Ann Howes dance on stage of the ball room of the Americana Hotel in New York, with the original car from "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", their opening movie, Dec. 18, 1968. (AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler)
1977: Dick Van Dyke and Carol Burnett
Dick Van Dyke and Carol Burnett toast the contract they signed on Monday, Feb. 1, 1977 to co-star in "Same Time, next year," at Hollywood's Huntington Hartford Theater, Los Angeles. (AP Photo/DFS)
1979: Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore on "Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson
Entertainer Dick Van Dyke, left, wiggles his ears as entertainer-producer Mary Tyler Moore, right, laughs during their reunion on the "Tonight Show" hosted by Johnny Carson in Los Angeles, March 22, 1979. Moore and Van Dyke co-starred in "The Dick Van Dyke Show" which ran previously on television, before the successful "Mary Tyler Moore Show." (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
1987: Dick Van Dyke wins People's Choice Award
Dick Van Dyke is photographed with his People's Choice Award after the awards ceremonies in Los Angeles, March 15, 1987. (AP Photo/Mark Avery)
1988: Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore
Dick Van Dyke breaks up as Mary Tyler Moore yells “Oooooh Rob,” something she used to do during their years together on “The Dick Van Dyke” show, at the 40th annual Emmy awards in Pasadena, Calif., Aug. 29, 1988. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
2004: Dick Van Dyke at 40th anniversary of "Mary Poppins"
Dick Van Dyke poses with actors dressed as chimney sweeps during arrivals at the 40th anniversary and re-premiere of the film "Mary Poppins" at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2004. Van Dyke starred in the film. (AP Photo/Ann Johansson)
2007: Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews, left, accepts the 43rd annual life achievement award as presenter Dick Van Dyke looks on at the 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2007, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
2008: Dick Van Dyke
Actor Dick Van Dyke presents the legend award on stage at the TV Land Awards on Sunday June 8, 2008 in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
2009: Dick Van Dyke, Dick Van Patten and Michael Gross
Actors Dick Van Patten, left, Dick Van Dyke, center, and Michael Gross pose during the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' "A Father's Day Salute to TV Dads" in the North Hollywood section of Los Angeles on Thursday, June 18, 2009. They played fathers on the "Eight is Enough," "Dick Van Dyke Show" and "Family Ties," television comedy series. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
2011: Dick Van Dyke
Actor Dick Van Dyke attends the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Presents: "An Evening Honoring Carl Reiner" at the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre on October 13, 2011 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup)
2012: Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore
Dick Van Dyke, left, presents the Life Achievement award onstage to Mary Tyler Moore at the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday Jan. 29, 2012 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
2013: Dick Van Dyke accepts Lifetime Achievement Award at SAG Awards
Dick Van Dyke accepts the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award at the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Sunday Jan. 27, 2013. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)
2013: Dick Van Dyke
Dick Van Dyke arrives at the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
2014: Dick Van Dyke
Actor Dick Van Dyke accepts the Prince Rainier III Award during the 2014 Princess Grace Awards Gala at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
2016: Dick Van Dyke and Bryan Cranston
Dick Van Dyke, right, presents Bryan Cranston with the award for Best Actor for "Trumbo" at the 15th Annual Movies for Grownups Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on Monday, Feb. 8, 2016, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)
2017: Dick Van Dyke
Kevin Spacey, right, presents the award for excellence in television to Dick Van Dyke at the BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
2018: Dick Van Dyke and Lin-Manuel Miranda
Lin-Manuel Miranda, left, and Dick Van Dyke, cast members in "Mary Poppins Returns," pose together on the red carpet at the premiere of the film at the Dolby Theatre, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018, in Los Angeles. Van Dyke was also a cast member in the original 1964 film "Mary Poppins." (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
2020: Dick Van Dyke
Actor and comedian Dick Van Dyke speaks before the arrival of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., at a campaign event at Los Angeles Convention Center Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
2021: Kennedy Center honoree Dick Van Dyke
2020 Kennedy Center honoree Dick Van Dyke hugs former Kennedy Center honoree Chita Rivera during the 43nd Annual Kennedy Center Honors at The Kennedy Center on Friday, May 21, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
