The iconic actor Dick Van Dyke has shared two key projects he hopes will define his legacy as he approaches his 100th birthday on December 13.
Born in 1925, Van Dyke has witnessed significant historical events, including numerous wars, technological advancements, and the leadership of over a dozen U.S. presidents.
Amidst these changes, he has established a legendary career in entertainment with notable works such as Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and The Dick Van Dyke Show.
In anticipation of his 100th birthday, Van Dyke has been reflecting on his life and career, offering insights in his new book, 100 Rules for Living to 100.
Van Dyke attributes his longevity partly to his wife, Arlene Silver. He writes in the book: “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. Every day she finds a new way to keep me up and moving, bright and hopeful and needed.”
Regular physical activity also plays a role in his youthful spirit, as Van Dyke revealed on the Everybody Knows Your Name podcast that he continues to hit the gym ‘three days a week’.
With vitality still very much a part of his life, Van Dyke has given thought to the projects he cherishes most from his career and would like to be remembered for.
Steve Boettcher, who directed an upcoming documentary titled Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration, shared with The New York Post that two works stand out to the actor.
“The two blessings that came to him were The Dick Van Dyke Show and Mary Poppins,” Boettcher noted. “Those two are really the iconic things that he wants to be remembered for.”
The comedy series The Dick Van Dyke Show first aired in 1961, spotlighting Van Dyke as Rob Petrie, a comedy writer for the fictional Alan Brady Show, living with his family in New Rochelle, NY.
Just a few years later, in 1964, Van Dyke became part of another cherished project with the release of Mary Poppins.
Van Dyke starred opposite Julie Andrews, who played the titular role in the beloved musical film. He reminisced about the movie’s production in an interview with People magazine last month.
“I knew way before we started that we had a wonderful movie,” Van Dyke commented. “There was something…everybody was kind of affected by it.
“We knew we had something really valuable, really good to do. So we all did our best and enjoyed as much as we could. I can’t think of one thing that actually went wrong.”
The documentary Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration is scheduled for a limited release in select theaters on December 13 and December 14.