Dick Van Dyke, 99, shares rare insight into 'curse' of living until almost 100
The legendary actor is set to turn 100 in December, and has shown no signs of slowing down just yet.
During an appearance at a Q&A session in Malibu beside his wife, Arlene Van Dyke, the 99-year-old reflected on his decades-long career as one of the biggest names in Hollywood.
Shedding light on projects that didn't see the light of day, the Mary Poppins icon touched on the downside of aging.
According to People Magazine, he explained that he was set to team up with Ed Asher for a remake of beloved sitcom The Odd Couple before his pal's death in 2021, at the age of 91.
'That would've been such fun, and we lost it. I've lost a lot of friends,' he told the crowd at the Dick and Arlene Van Dyke Present Vandy Camp event.
'He's outlived everybody,' Arlene, 53, interjected. 'That's the curse of living to almost 100.'
Although the star, who has also appeared in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Diagnosis Murder, has lost so many loved ones over the years, Arlene shared that he has kept a 'positive' outlook on life.
'Well, life's been good to me,' he noted. 'I can't complain.'
Speaking to People Magazine at the event, Dick touched on why he has shunned the idea of a quiet retirement and some much-deserved rest.
'I'm a ham,' he added of his reign in the spotlight. 'I love it. I get a jolt of energy from an audience.'
Dick began his career in the late 1940s and has never looked back – he landed a string of roles on the small screen before going on to make his Broadway debut in 1959 with a stint in The Girls Against The Boys.
He starred in both the stage and film adaptations of Bye Bye Birdie in the early 60s, while also helming his own CBS series, the Dick Van Dyke show – which won a string of Emmys.
The superstar stole the show as chimney sweep Bert in Mary Poppins, in 1964, and delighted fans when he popped up in the 2018 remake sequel Mary Poppins Returns, beside Emily Blunt, Ben Whishaw, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Dame Julie Walters.
Throughout his impressive career, he has been celebrated a number of times, winning big at the Golden Globes and claiming a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
He also has a Tony Award and a Grammy in his trophy cabinet – meaning he is only an Oscar away from landing the coveted EGOT status. More Trending
Just last year, Dick made history by becoming the oldest Daytime Emmy winner ever at 98, after taking home the gong for his guest spot on Days of Our Lives.
In a brief stint in the long-running soap opera, he played amnesiac Timothy Robicheaux – but only agreed to appear after a friend suggested he should take part.
'I said great and it snowballed into this,' the star quipped at the award ceremony, while performing a jig with his newly acquired hardware.
'I'm 98 years old. Can you believe it?'
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