As he approaches his landmark 100th birthday, legendary entertainer Dick Van Dyke is taking a candid look back at his life and career, acknowledging the personal sacrifices made on his path to stardom.
A Father's Honest Reflection
The beloved actor and comedian, who turns 100 on December 13, recently spoke with People magazine about the challenges of balancing his demanding early career with family life. Van Dyke shared four children – Christian, 75, Barry, 74, Stacy, 70, and Carrie, 64 – with his late ex-wife, Margie Willett.
He openly admitted that his relentless work schedule in the early days left little room for his family. 'In the beginning I was [raising] in a family with no money, so the whole thing was getting some money together and getting a home,' he explained. Reflecting on his wife and children, he added, 'They probably got neglected at some point, because I was really working hard to get out of poverty, so to speak, but I haven't had any complaints from anybody.'
The Grind to Success
Van Dyke described an exhausting routine as he struggled to build his career and provide for his young family. 'I bought a home on the GI Bill, finally, but I think the toughest was I did game shows,' he recalled. 'I played nightclubs. I did about everything. At one point, I was doing a disc jockey show at 5 in the morning, and then at night I was working with a partner in nightclubs.'
This punishing schedule meant he was surviving on minimal sleep. 'I was getting like three or four hours sleep in between, but that's the only thing I can remember, is working so hard to get going, to get a foothold,' he shared. Despite the hardship, the Hollywood icon expressed deep gratitude for his long career, noting, 'After that I've enjoyed every minute of it.'
Life Lessons at 100
Ahead of his centennial celebration, Van Dyke has published a new book titled 'Keep Moving: And Other Tips and Truths About Aging', in which he reflects on his extraordinary life and decades in show business. He remains profoundly thankful for his vocation. 'I think of how rare it is that a person gets to do for a living what they love to do,' he mused. 'Most people have to go sit in an office. I never forgot that I look forward to getting up every morning and going to work, because it's what I would've done for nothing.'
The comedian also credits his wife, 54-year-old Arlene Silver, whom he married in 2012, for keeping his spirit young. 'She's responsible for keeping me in the moment,' he said about his spouse. 'She 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... I'm just lucky.'
In a poignant reflection on longevity, Van Dyke acknowledged the pain of outliving many friends, including his late pal Ed Asner, with whom he had planned to remake The Odd Couple before Asner's death in August 2021 at age 91. When asked about his secret to staying positive despite such losses, the soon-to-be centenarian offered a simple, powerful perspective: 'Well, life's been good to me. I can't complain.'
