Beloved Hollywood icon Dick Van Dyke has candidly shared that he believes he would not be on the cusp of his 100th birthday if he had not abandoned his most perilous habits many years ago.
The Secret to a Century: Shelving Dangerous Habits
The star, famed for his role in Mary Poppins, will celebrate his centenary on December 13. During a private gathering at his Malibu home, Van Dyke stated that giving up alcohol and tobacco is "probably why I'm still here." Reflecting on his past, the Emmy winner admitted to having an addictive personality, which he only recognised in middle age. "If I liked something, I was going to overdo it," he confessed.
This self-awareness led to a pivotal life change. In 1972, he voluntarily checked into a hospital to address his alcoholism. While quitting drink was a brutal process, he has revealed that giving up cigarettes was "twice as hard" and took him "forever." He has consistently maintained that smoking was a much tougher vice to conquer than alcohol.
More Than Habits: The Philosophy of a Long Life
Van Dyke credits his remarkable longevity not just to quitting his vices, but also to a conscious decision to avoid harbouring resentment and hatred. "I've always thought that anger is one thing that eats up a person's insides," he explained. He believes his inability to cultivate hateful feelings is a chief factor in his sustained vitality.
He contrasts his outlook with that of his father, who he says was "constantly upset by the state of things" and died at the age of 73. This personal history reinforced Van Dyke's conviction that bitterness can be deadly.
Looking Forward Without Fear
As he nears the milestone of 100 years, the screen legend has spoken openly about mortality, expressing no fear. "When you expire, you expire. I don't have any fear of death for some reason," he told People magazine. He attributes this peace to a "wonderfully full and exciting life," adding that he never wakes up in a bad mood.
He also humourously noted that if he had known he would live this long, he "would've taken better care of" himself. On a more serious note, he insists the best decision he ever made was marrying makeup artist Arlene Silver, 54, in 2012. He gushes that she keeps him happy and in the moment, and their 46-year age gap does not faze them.
However, approaching a century comes with profound heartbreak. "I've lost a lot of friends," he said, reminiscing about unmade projects with departed peers like Ed Asner. His wife, Arlene, poignantly summarised the bittersweet reality: "He's outlived everybody. That's the curse of living to almost 100."
