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Dick’s tenth decade has proven as busy and as fulfilling as one would expect from a legend who attributes his longevity to staying physically active and spiritually young.
On December 13, 2015, Dick celebrated his 90th birthday as the jolly holiday it was. The previous day, he was greeted with a flash mob at The Grove shopping center in Los Angeles. Around 50 dancers in costume performed selections from Mary Poppins. Dick later joined them in a rendition of “Let’s Go Fly a Kite.”
On December 14, Dick enjoyed a numerous festivities at Disneyland, including a parade, the dedication of a silhouette of Bert at the Jolly Holiday Bakery, a performance by the Vantastix, and fans singing “Happy Birthday” while Dick and Arlene looked on from a balcony of the Dream Suite in New Orleans Square.
Dick published a book entitled, appropriately, Keep Moving: And Other Tips and Truths About Aging, an engaging collection of reminiscences and advice for living fully...at any age.
On June 23, 2016, Dick returned to his hometown of Danville, Illinois. The purpose
of the brief trip was two-
Dick arrived in a replica of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and was greeted by the Danville High School show choir. A musical tribute at DHS and a reception were held, raising approximately $50,000 for the foundation and the house where Dick lived in the 1930s. It had been 12 years since he last visited Danville.
A 24-
Restoration on the house is slated to begin in mid-
Dick was honored with the inaugural “America’s Clown Award” at the 2017 Red Skelton Festival in Vincennes, Indiana, the hometown of Skelton. Dick will provide a video acceptance speech. Anne Pratt, executive director of the Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy, says Dick’s “comedic body of work and the joy he has brought to so many over the years” embodies Skelton’s spirit.
Fans young and old agree, Dick still has the moves. One can’t help but smile when witnessing his zest for life. Each and every day is a jolly holiday with Dick Van Dyke.
Dick is also featured in the HBO documentary If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast, hosted by Carl Reiner, the title actually inspired by Reiner’s motto for getting up and getting on with life.
Other featured nonagenarians include Tony Bennett, Mel Brooks, Kirk Douglas, Norman Lear, Stan Lee, and Betty White. Reiner describes Dick as “the most agile human being I’ve ever seen in my life.” That legendary agility is on display in the music video “Never Had to Go” by The Dustbowl Revival.
In Februrary 2023, Dick stunned judges and fans of The Masked Singer when he appeared
as a Gnome and sang “When You’re Smiling,” a tune made famous by Billie Holliday,
Frank Sinatra, and Judy Garland. When the panel (Robin Thicke, Ken Jeong, Nicole
Scherzinger, and Jenny McCarthy-
In September 2023, Dick made his soap opera debut on Peacock’s Days of Our Lives,
portraying an amnesiac war veteran mystery man named Timothy Robicheaux, who turned
out to be the father of Days favorite John Black. It was Dick’s friendship with
actor Drake Hogestyn (John), his frequent workout buddy at the gym, which made the
cameo possible. Dick’s performance was magical, charming Days fans and the DOOL
family alike. On day two, the 97-
More recently in April 2024, Dick, at age 98, received an Emmy nomination for his
guest performance in the daytime drama series -
On June 7, 2024, Dick became the oldest actor ever to win a Daytime Emmy Award for his guest appearance on Days of Our Lives. This marks his sixth competitive Emmy Award (three Primetime Emmys for The Dick Van Dyke Show, one Primetime Emmy for Van Dyke & Company, one daytime Emmy for The Wrong Way Kid, and this most current Daytime Emmy for DOOL).
With Arlene by his side, he took the stage and said, "I don't believe this. I feel like a spy from nighttime television." He concluded his heartfelt acceptance speech by relating how this award had topped off "eighty years in the business. I love you. God bless."
Move over Tootle, Scuffy the Tugboat, and the Poky Little Puppy. Dick Van Dyke is the newest Little Golden Book subject. Part of its biography series, the book by author Christy Webster and illustrator Hollie Hibbert, covers the highlights of Dick’s life—from his youth in Danville, Illinois, and early career in radio, in the Air Force, and on the road to his legendary work on Broadway, on television, and in film. It is sure to entertain readers of all ages.