Radio breakfast show listeners were taken aback when Dick Van Dyke was mistakenly reported as deceased during a live broadcast.
The Hollywood icon recently marked his 100th birthday and is celebrated as a legendary figure in the entertainment industry.
However, fans were left in disbelief during their breakfast on the morning of February 12 when Ashley Roberts accidentally announced that Van Dyke had died.
The former Pussycat Dolls member intended to mention Dawson’s Creek actor James Van Der Beek, who tragically passed away at age 48 on Wednesday, February 11, from bowel cancer.
“Dawson’s Creek’s Dick Van Dyke has passed away,” Roberts mistakenly stated on air, prompting her co-host Jamie Theakston to rectify the error by clarifying: “Not Dick Van Dyke – come on. If you’re going to do a sensitive moment, if you’re going to do an obituary, you can’t just say Dick Van Dyke.”
Co-host Amanda Holden reassured listeners by confirming that Dick Van Dyke is ‘alive’ to eliminate any misunderstandings.
After realizing her blunder, Roberts laughed and acknowledged: “Yes, [he’s alive] – he’s 100 years old! Oh my gosh, we spoke about this, I’m so sorry.”
In good spirits, Van Dyke recently discussed his aspirations for a long, healthy life, sharing insights after hitting the century mark.
“The funny thing is, it’s not enough. 100 years is not enough. You want to live more,” Van Dyke expressed on Good Morning America.
He also credits his wife, Arlene Silver, for invigorating his life with renewed energy.
“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,” he shared in his latest book.
In a conversation with Good Morning America following the milestone birthday, Silver expressed her joy about being married to the actor.
“It’s like a privilege and an honour to take care of him and make him happy,” she spoke of her husband.
So, what’s Van Dyke’s secret to longevity and vitality?
According to him, it involves having a good singalong.
“Singing is the best thing you can do for yourself,” he said. “Usually I wake up with an old tune going through my head.”