Beloved Hollywood entertainer Dick Van Dyke has candidly discussed the challenges of approaching his centenary year, admitting he feels increasingly 'diminished' physically and socially as his 100th birthday looms next month.
The Reality of Approaching 100
The legendary performer, who turns 100 on December 13, revealed he must now decline most invitations requiring travel, with almost all socialising confined to his $8 million Malibu mansion where he's lived for approximately three decades. Speaking to the Sunday Times magazine, Van Dyke expressed his frustration at this life adjustment, stating that while he receives offers for work and events in cities like New York and Chicago, the travel demands have become too taxing.
"It's frustrating to feel diminished in the world, physically and socially," the Mary Poppins star confessed. "I get invites to events or offers for gigs in New York or Chicago, but that kind of travel takes so much out of me that I have to say no. Almost all of my visiting with folks has to happen at my house."
Secrets to Longevity and Happiness
Despite these challenges, the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang actor maintains an remarkably positive outlook, attributing much of his continued vitality to his 54-year-old wife Arlene Silver, whom he married in 2012 after meeting in 2006. Van Dyke described Silver as his "soulmate and the love of my life," crediting their ongoing romance as the primary reason he hasn't "withered away into a hermetic grouch."
"Arlene is half my age, and she makes me feel somewhere between two thirds and three quarters my age, which is still saying a lot," the actor revealed with apparent affection for his wife of over a decade.
Staying Active Against the Odds
The nonagenarian maintains an impressive fitness regimen, visiting the gym three times weekly to preserve his physical condition. Last month, his dedication caught the attention of fellow celebrity Rick Springfield, who shared an Instagram photo of their unexpected gym encounter.
Springfield marvelled at encountering the 99-year-old actor "working out on every machine" and described how Van Dyke "got up from the chest press machine and did a little dance step before I left!" The Grammy-winning singer praised Van Dyke as "an awesome human being" who inspired him despite their 23-year age difference.
Van Dyke's commitment to performance continues to drive him, with the actor admitting "I'm a ham. I love it. I get a jolt of energy from an audience" during a recent Q&A event. His passion remains undimmed, as evidenced by his joking comment at last year's Creative Arts Emmys that he's still "looking for work" after winning Outstanding Variety Special for his birthday special Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic.
The star, who tied Norman Lear's record as the oldest Emmy winner at 98, reflected on his 75-year career by saying he hopes to be remembered "for making people laugh for 75 years. I've been in the business 75 years. I can't believe that I'm still here and performing."
When discussing what his wife called "the curse of living to almost 100" - having outlived many contemporaries - Van Dyke maintains philosophical: "Well, life's been good to me. I can't complain." His remarkable career includes iconic roles in Mary Poppins (1964) and his eponymous sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-1966), establishing him as one of Hollywood's most enduring and beloved figures.
