As legendary American actor Dick Van Dyke prepares to celebrate his 100th birthday on December 13, the beloved entertainer shows no signs of slowing down, sharing the remarkable secrets behind his enduring vitality and youthful spirit.
The Centenarian's Daily Routine
The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang star maintains an impressive fitness regimen that would challenge people decades younger. He visits the gym three times weekly, completing circuit training sessions that include weight machines, sit-ups, leg exercises and upper body workouts. Following his gym sessions, he rewards himself with a smoothie, caffeine treat, or well-deserved nap.
Van Dyke's dietary habits blend healthy choices with personal indulgences. While he watches his sugar levels and eats blueberries every morning, he famously adds five cubes of sugar to his morning coffee and enjoys ice cream every night. The non-smoker and former alcoholic has maintained his sobriety for nearly 50 years, having received treatment for alcoholism in 1972.
The Power of Love and Positivity
Van Dyke credits his second wife, 54-year-old make-up artist Arlene Silver, whom he married in 2012, as a crucial factor in maintaining his youthful energy. "Without question, our ongoing romance is the most important reason I have not withered away into a hermetic grouch," he revealed. "Arlene is half my age, and she makes me feel somewhere between two thirds and three quarters my age."
The couple often sing and dance their way to the kitchen together, embodying Van Dyke's philosophy that romance, doing what he loves, and laughter are the three essential ingredients for a joyful life. Despite declining travel invitations and mostly socialising within his $8 million Malibu mansion, he remains active in his a capella group, the Vantastix, and continues taking guest spots on television, advertisements, and videos.
A Life Well Lived
In his latest book, 100 Rules for Living to 100, Van Dyke attributes his longevity to stubbornly refusing to surrender to life's challenges. "I've made it to 99 in no small part because I have stubbornly refused to give into the bad stuff in life: failures and defeats, personal losses, loneliness and bitterness, the physical and emotional pains of ageing," he explained.
The father-of-four emphasises the importance of continuing activities you enjoy, whether that's exercising, singing, or dancing. "The point is to enjoy," he told NPR. "You have to pick what you enjoy doing, what fulfills you, what interests you. I can't handle the tennis court anymore. But I can still run and dance and sing."
As he approaches his centenary celebration next month, Dick Van Dyke's remarkable vitality serves as an inspiration, proving that age truly is just a number when combined with positivity, movement, and love.
