Dick Van Dyke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dick Van Dyke
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Van Dyke in 2024
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Richard Wayne Van Dyke
December 13, 1925 West Plains, Missouri, U.S.
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| Education | Danville High School |
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| Years active | 1947–present |
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Works
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Full list |
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| Partner(s) | Michelle Triola Marvin (1976–2009; her death) |
| Children | 4, including Barry |
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| Awards | List of awards and honors |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Army Air Forces |
| Years of service | 1944–1946 |
| Rank | Staff sergeant |
| Unit | Armed Forces Radio Service |
| Wars |
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| Awards | Good Conduct Medal |
Richard Wayne Van Dyke (born December 13, 1925) is a famous American actor, entertainer, and comedian. He has worked in movies, TV shows, and on stage for many years. He has won many important awards, including six Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award, and a Tony Award.
Van Dyke was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1993. He was also added to the Television Hall of Fame in 1995. In 1998, he became a Disney Legend. Later, he received the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2013 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2020.
He started his career performing on radio, TV, and in nightclubs. He first appeared on Broadway in 1959. The next year, he starred in the musical Bye Bye Birdie (1960). This role earned him a Tony Award.
On television, Van Dyke became very well-known as Rob Petrie in The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961–1966). This show won him three Emmy Awards. He also starred in Diagnosis: Murder (1993–2001).
Van Dyke is also famous for playing Bert, the chimney sweep, in the Disney movie musical Mary Poppins (1964). He also starred in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968). In recent years, he has appeared in movies like Night at the Museum (2006) and Mary Poppins Returns (2018).
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Early Life and Education
Richard Wayne Van Dyke was born on December 13, 1925, in West Plains, Missouri. His mother, Hazel, was a stenographer, and his father, Loren, was a salesman. He grew up in Danville, Illinois. His younger brother, Jerry Van Dyke, also became an actor.
Van Dyke went to Danville High School in 1944. He was part of the choir and the drama club. Performing in plays with friends like Bobby Short helped him decide to become an entertainer.
He left high school early to join the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He wanted to be a pilot but was too light. He was accepted as a radio announcer and later entertained troops. He left the service in 1946 and received his high school diploma in 2004.
Career Highlights
Starting Out in Entertainment (1940s–1950s)
In the late 1940s, Van Dyke worked as a radio DJ in Danville, Illinois. In 1947, he formed a comedy duo called "Eric and Van—the Merry Mutes." They performed mime and lip-synced to music in nightclubs. They even had a local TV show in Atlanta.
Van Dyke's first national TV appearance was in 1954. He later signed a seven-year contract with CBS. He even worked on the CBS Morning Show with Walter Cronkite.
In November 1959, Van Dyke made his first appearance on Broadway in a show called The Girls Against the Boys.
Becoming a Star (1960s)
Bye Bye Birdie on Stage and Screen
In 1960, Van Dyke got the lead role of Albert Peterson in the Broadway musical Bye Bye Birdie. The show was a big hit and ran for over a year. Van Dyke won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical in 1961 for his performance.
He then played the same role in the movie version of Bye Bye Birdie (1963). The movie was also very successful.
The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961–1966)
From 1961 to 1966, Van Dyke starred in the popular CBS sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show. He played Rob Petrie, a comedy writer. The show also featured Mary Tyler Moore as his wife, Laura.
Van Dyke won three Emmy Awards for his role. The show itself won four Emmy Awards for Best Comedy Series. Critics loved the show for its humor and clever writing.
In 2004, the cast reunited for a special called The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited.
Mary Poppins (1964)
In 1964, Van Dyke played two roles in Walt Disney's movie Mary Poppins. He was Bert, the cheerful chimney sweep, and also the old bank chairman, Mr. Dawes Senior. For the chairman role, he wore heavy makeup to look much older.
One of the songs he performed, "Chim Chim Cher-ee", won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Van Dyke also won a Grammy Award in 1964 for his performance on the Mary Poppins soundtrack.
He also starred in the musical film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968). He played Caractacus Potts, an inventor. This movie also featured songs by the Sherman Brothers, who wrote the music for Mary Poppins.
Continuing Success (1969–2001)
In 1969, Van Dyke starred in the comedy-drama The Comic. He played a silent film comedian. He also appeared in the film Cold Turkey (1971).
From 1971 to 1974, Van Dyke had another sitcom called The New Dick Van Dyke Show. He played a TV talk show host.
In 1974, he was nominated for an Emmy for his role in the TV movie The Morning After. He also guest-starred in an episode of Columbo. In 1976, his sketch comedy show Van Dyke and Company won an Emmy Award. He also became a regular on The Carol Burnett Show in 1977.
In 1980, Van Dyke returned to Broadway in a revival of The Music Man. He also appeared in many TV movies. In 1990, he played a villainous character in the film Dick Tracy.
Diagnosis: Murder (1993–2001)
Van Dyke starred as Dr. Mark Sloan in the popular TV drama Diagnosis: Murder. The series ran from 1993 to 2001. His son, Barry Van Dyke, co-starred as Dr. Sloan's son, Steve.
Van Dyke became interested in computer animation and even created 3D effects used on Diagnosis: Murder. He is also a fan of a cappella music and has sung in a group called "Dick Van Dyke and The Vantastix" since 2000.
Recent Work (2002–Present)
After Diagnosis: Murder, Van Dyke continued to work in television. In 2003, he reunited with Mary Tyler Moore for a TV production of The Gin Game. He also guest-starred on Scrubs.
In 2006, he appeared in the animated movie Curious George and the live-action film Night at the Museum. He returned for the third Night at the Museum movie in 2014.
In 2018, Van Dyke played Mr. Dawes Jr. in Mary Poppins Returns. He had played Mr. Dawes Sr. in the original film. In 2023, at age 97, Van Dyke competed on The Masked Singer as "Gnome," becoming the oldest person to appear on the show.
In April 2023, it was announced that Van Dyke would guest-star on Days of Our Lives. In December 2023, CBS celebrated his 98th birthday with a special called Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic. In 2024, he starred in a music video for the band Coldplay.
Influences and Legacy
Van Dyke has often said that comedians like Stan Laurel, Buster Keaton, and Carl Reiner inspired him. Many famous entertainers, including Steve Martin and Jim Carrey, have said that Dick Van Dyke influenced their own comedy.
Personal Life
On February 12, 1948, Dick Van Dyke married Margerie Willett on a radio show. They had four children: Christian, Barry, Stacy, and Carrie Beth. They later divorced in 1984.
In 2012, at the age of 86, Van Dyke married make-up artist Arlene Silver. They had met six years earlier.
Van Dyke often included his children and grandchildren in his TV shows. His son Barry Van Dyke and grandsons Shane Van Dyke and Carey Van Dyke appeared in episodes of Diagnosis: Murder. He has seven grandchildren.
In 1987, his granddaughter, Jessica Van Dyke, passed away from Reye syndrome. This led him to create public service announcements to help people understand the dangers of aspirin for children.
Van Dyke has been a Sunday school teacher in the Presbyterian Church. In August 2013, he was rescued from his car after it caught fire on a freeway in California. He was not hurt. In December 2024, Van Dyke had to evacuate his home due to wildfires but his home survived.
Awards and Honors
Dick Van Dyke has received many awards throughout his career. These include a Grammy Award, six Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award.
In 1998, the Walt Disney Company honored him with their Disney Legends award. In 2013, he received the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award. In 2021, he was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors, where many famous performers paid tribute to him.
In 2024, at 98 years old, Van Dyke won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series for his role on Days of Our Lives. This made him the oldest person to win and be nominated for a Daytime Emmy.
Published Works
Van Dyke has written five books, including his memoir published in 2011:
- A humorous collection of photographs from Van Dyke's film and television career.
- The funny things kids say about religion, based on his experiences as a Sunday school teacher.
- A treasury of classroom laughter, a collection of funny stories from teachers.
- My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business (Van Dyke's memoir).
See also
In Spanish: Dick Van Dyke para niños
- List of members of the American Legion
- List of people from Missouri
