Approaching his milestone 100th birthday on December 13, Hollywood icon Dick Van Dyke has unveiled one of the keys to his remarkable longevity and vibrant spirit.
Throughout his career spanning over fifty years, Van Dyke has captivated audiences with his performances in 14 films and numerous TV shows. One might expect him to slow down as he approaches his centennial year, but he continues to engage in public appearances and has even penned a new book, 100 Rules for Living to 100.
In this recently released work, the 99-year-old shares insights from his illustrious career and the lessons learned from his long life. The book is filled with stories from his time working on legendary productions like the Dick Van Dyke Show, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Mary Poppins.
He also describes how his wife, Arlene Silver, has been a revitalizing force in his life.
In his book, he writes, “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.”
Their paths crossed in 2006 at an event where Silver was applying makeup for another celebrity. Van Dyke, then 80, was immediately captivated by Silver and disregarded one of his own personal rules, as reported by The New York Post.
He felt an instant connection with Silver and took a chance, reaching out to her, as he recounts in 100 Rules, marking the first time he approached a woman he didn’t know.
He initiated contact with a charming email, stating, “Arlene, I’m afraid I was so smitten with you last night I couldn’t think of anything to say. Still, when the project at Hallmark starts, I’d like to give you a chance to talk with them. Would that be OK?”
Despite being a first-time move for the octogenarian, it led to a successful partnership as Van Dyke refers to her as his ‘soulmate and love of my life’.
The couple tied the knot in 2012, with Van Dyke acknowledging her as ‘the most important reason I have not withered away into a hermetic grouch,’ due to her active participation in his daily life.
“Arlene is my partner in love, life, and logistics. She has two phones and is often on both, scheduling and juggling more gigs and get-togethers than you could possibly imagine,” Van Dyke shared.
He added, “Arlene knows how much performing and being social nourishes my spirit and brings me alive. I would absolutely be origami guy if she didn’t have me singing and dancing.”
Although he credits his younger wife for his vitality, Van Dyke has also previously emphasized the importance of regular exercise as a factor in his longevity.
“Three days a week, we go to the gym, still. Three days a week,” he mentioned on the Everybody Knows Your Name podcast earlier this year.