Dick Van Dyke has opened up about his marriage to Arlene Silver, revealing that their 46-year age difference has never been an issue. The actor, who turns 100 in December, told People magazine that he and his wife are the perfect pair despite the gap.
“We thought it might be [a problem] in some regard, to some extent, but it hasn't really,” Van Dyke explained. “I'm infantile to start with. I think I'm about 13, so that's been a problem and she's quite mature for her age, so I don't think we haven't had any problem with age at all.”
The Mary Poppins star, who married Silver in 2012, credits his wife for keeping him young. “She's responsible for keeping me in the moment,” he said. “She's kept me happy every day of my life, every day. She's a joy. She can get me singing or dancing and she carries so much responsibility.”
Van Dyke previously addressed the age gap in April, telling People that it was the reason they “got along so well.” Silver added, “Yeah. I mean it's like eerie how well it works. People the same age don't last.”
The couple met at the 2006 Screen Actors Guild Awards, but did not begin a romance until after Van Dyke's longtime partner, Michelle Triola Marvi, died in 2009. Van Dyke was previously married to Margie Willett, with whom he had four children.
In his new book, 100 Rules for Living to 100, Van Dyke shares his secrets to longevity, including avoiding anger and hate. “I've always thought that anger is one thing that eats up a person's insides – and hate,” he said. However, he confessed to The Times that he feels “diminished” physically and socially, noting that “every single one of my dearest lifelong friends is gone.”
