As he inches closer to centenarian status, Dick Van Dyke continued his legacy of choosing happiness and leading with a smile.
Van Dyke indulged queries about his future following his Creative Arts Emmy win on Saturday, and when asked how he’d like to be remembered, the iconic actor had an easy answer.
“For laughter,” the “Mary Poppins” star said while holding his trophy for outstanding variety special for his “Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic,” per People magazine. “I hope for making people laugh for 75 years.”
Van Dyke’s win on Saturday earned him a tie as the oldest winner of a Creative Arts Emmy alongside the late comedic legend, Norman Lear. His wife, Arlene Silver, shared a clip of the standing ovation Van Dyke received upon winning the award.
DICK VAN DYKE, 98, ‘CAN’T FIGURE OUT’ SECRET TO LONGEVITY, BUT SAYS ONE THING IS KEY
Dick Van Dyke at day 1 of the 76th Creative Arts Emmy Awards held at the Peacock Theater on September 7, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images)
With more than seven decades of success in the entertainment industry, Van Dyke still has no plans for slowing down, either.
LEGENDARY ACTOR DICK VAN DYKE, 98, STILL HAS CAREER GOALS WITH NO PLANS TO RETIRE
The “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” actor reflected on his career for a moment after accepting his award, and said, “I’ve been in the business 75 years. I can’t believe that I’m still here and performing.”
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He paused briefly before showing off his notably spry comedic timing. “I’m looking for work if anybody has,” he said.
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When it came to any advice he’d offer younger actors in the industry, the answers were simple.
Van Dyke would still like to perform in a one-man-show. (Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty Images)
“You have to stick with it,” he said. “You’re gonna go through hard times and a lot of auditions … but you have to stay with it. Be patient if you’ve got the confidence in yourself, and it’s very important to believe that you can do it.”
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His wife, Arlene Silver, who is 46 years his junior and worked as a producer on the special, accompanied him on stage to receive the award.
Dick Van Dyke’s wife, Arlene Silver, says their age difference isn’t relevant in their relationship. (Paul Morigi)
“The young lady who got this award, you may think of the word nepotism and I would understand it, but this lady got the job all by herself as producer of the Dick Van Dyke special because she knows me inside and out, and knows how I work, and don’t take no sass from anybody,” Van Dyke said
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Earlier this year, he wowed audiences with an appearance on “The Masked Singer,” and is set to star in an upcoming movie titled “Capture the Flag,” about a group of vets competing for the privilege of raising the flag in their neighborhood each morning.
