Legendary entertainer Dick Van Dyke has opened up about the secret behind his successful marriage to wife Arlene Silver, despite their notable 46-year age difference. The Mary Poppins star, who is set to celebrate his 100th birthday in December, shared intimate details about their relationship in a recent interview with People magazine.
The Secret to a Happy Union
According to Van Dyke, he and Silver, 54, are an ideal match, and their significant age gap has never been a point of contention. The actor, who married Silver in 2012, humorously attributed their compatibility to his own youthful disposition. "We thought it might be [a problem] in some regard, to some extent, but it hasn't really," he confessed. "I'm infantile to start with."
He elaborated further on their dynamic, stating, "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." This charming self-assessment highlights the couple's unique connection, which bridges the generational divide.
Staying Young and Living in the Moment
Van Dyke credits his wife for playing a pivotal role in keeping him feeling vibrant and youthful. "She's responsible for keeping me in the moment," the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang star revealed with evident affection. He went on to praise Silver's joyful influence on his life, adding, "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."
This is not the first time the couple has addressed public curiosity about their relationship. Back in April, Van Dyke also told People that their age gap was ironically the very reason they "get along so well." Silver echoed this sentiment, chiming in, "We just care about each other so much."
Defying the Doubters
The couple acknowledged that their relationship was met with scepticism from others. "Everybody said it wouldn't work," Van Dyke recalled. His wife agreed, noting the almost uncanny strength of their bond: "Yeah. I mean it's like eerie how well it works. People the same age don't last."
Their love story began at the 2006 Screen Actors Guild Awards. Silver was working at the event, while Van Dyke was a guest. Although he was 81 and she was 35 at the time, a romance did not spark immediately. They only became a couple after the passing of Van Dyke's long-term partner, Michelle Triola Marvin, who died from lung cancer in 2009.
Van Dyke was previously married to Margie Willett from 1948 until their divorce was finalised in 1984. Willett passed away in 2008. Together, they had four children: Christian, 75, Barry, 74, Stacy, 69, and Carrie, 63.
As he promotes his new book, 100 Years of Living to 100, Van Dyke has also shared his broader philosophy for a long and fulfilling life. He believes that avoiding anger and hate is a cornerstone of his longevity. "I've always thought that anger is one thing that eats up a person's insides – and hate," he explained. "There were things I didn't like, people I don't like and disapprove of. But I never really was able to do a white heat kind of hate."
Despite his positive outlook, the actor recently confessed in a health diary for The Times that he sometimes feels "diminished" both "physically and socially." He poignantly revealed that "every single one of my dearest lifelong friends is gone, which feels just as lonely as it sounds," adding a layer of vulnerability to the life of the beloved performer as he approaches his centenary.
