At 99 years old, Dick Van Dyke is still cracking jokes, singing, dancing, and proving that time may pass—but his sense of humor never will.
The legendary entertainer, who turns 100 on December 13th, made fans laugh and cringe just a little during a recent appearance at the Vandy High Tea event in Malibu. Surrounded by fans and his wife Arlene, Dick joked:
“That’s right, I’m not officially a hundred until December. Two months. Two months. It’d be funny if I didn’t make it.”
Fans roared, though the collective prayer afterward was definitely “please make it.”
The event, which benefited The Van Dyke Endowment of the Arts and the upcoming Dick Van Dyke Museum, featured music, stories, and performances by Dick, Arlene, and his singing group The Vantastic. True to form, Dick led a singalong for a six-year-old fan’s birthday and treated the audience to classics like “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”, and even “The Dick Van Dyke Show” theme.
When the conversation turned to his upcoming centennial, Dick got reflective—well, as reflective as Dick Van Dyke gets.
“I brag sometimes about how I made it to a hundred,” he said. “The truth is, if I had known I was going to live this long, I would’ve taken better care of myself. And it is frustrating because I don’t know what I did right. Other than [my wife Arlene], I didn’t do anything right.”
Dick and Arlene, who’s 54, have been married since 2012. The two are often seen together in cheerful clips and public appearances that show off Dick’s energy, wit, and that signature dance step that hasn’t faded in the slightest.
In fact, Rick Springfield recently spotted him at the gym, of all places, working every machine at 99. Springfield joked, “I thought I was doing well at 76, but Dick got up from the chest press and did a little dance step before I left! Amazing!”
Even as he approaches 100, Van Dyke’s career hasn’t slowed. In June 2024, he became the oldest-ever Daytime Emmy winner for his guest role on “Days of Our Lives”, adding to his already glittering collection of six Emmys, a Grammy, and a Tony.
After accepting the award, he summed up his legacy perfectly: “I hope to be remembered for laughter. I’ve been making people laugh for 75 years—and I can’t believe I’m still here and performing.” Then, with a classic twinkle in his eye, he added, “I’m looking for work if anybody has some.”
At nearly a century old, Dick Van Dyke isn’t just surviving—he’s thriving, singing, dancing, and reminding everyone that joy is the real secret to longevity.