Dick Van Dyke turns 100 crediting daily ritual for keeping him youthful

Dick Van Dyke has some pep in his step on the red carpet for Carol Burnett’s hand and footprint ceremony. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

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New documentary ‘Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration’ explores the star’s decadeslong career in Hollywood

 

Dick Van Dyke celebrates his 100th birthday on Dec. 13, and he credits his milestone to a simple yet powerful daily routine maintained by his wife.

The legendary actor, known for classics like Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, is the focus of a new documentary, Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration, which will screen in theaters over his birthday weekend on Dec. 13 and 14.

Filmmaker Steve Boettcher told Fox News Digital that Van Dyke’s secret to staying youthful at 100 is surprisingly straightforward: music, movement, and the unwavering support of his wife, Arlene Silver.

“Arlene is a key force — I truly believe that,” Boettcher said. “They’re like kids together. They wake up singing, they dance, they perform together. She’s been an influential force keeping him vibrant, entertaining, and connected to music. That’s part of the key to living so long.”

Van Dyke, 100, and Silver, 54, have been married since 2012. Despite their 46-year age gap, Van Dyke says they are a perfect match.

“One magical thing about their relationship is he admits, ‘I’m pretty immature,’” Boettcher said with a laugh. “They balance each other perfectly. They’re just two big kids who love being together. You can see he lights up when she’s around.”

Van Dyke’s daily routine includes music, laughter, and regular exercise — whether dancing at home or working out at the gym — along with plenty of sunshine.

“He smiles, he sings, he works out — he just lives a perfect life,” Boettcher said. “He’s in Malibu, which is magical for him. That’s part of the key. He’s living his perfect life.”

Van Dyke himself has emphasized the importance of staying active. Writing for The Times U.K., he explained, “I still try to hit the gym three times a week. If I miss too many days, I feel it — stiffness creeps in. At the gym, I usually do a circuit from one machine to the next without a break. The secret ingredient is the music. I dance and sing as I move between machines, sometimes belting Broadway tunes.”

He also quit smoking and drinking decades ago and makes it a point to find something to be grateful for each day.

“Coming from a small Midwestern town, he learned to focus on the positives in life,” Boettcher said. “He sees the great in every day — 90% is wonderful, 10% less so — and he always focuses on that 90%.”

Van Dyke has long been celebrated as one of Hollywood’s nicest figures, avoiding scandals and leaving a lasting mark through his work and character.

Over decades of entertainment, Boettcher interviewed many of Van Dyke’s close friends and collaborators, including Mary Tyler Moore, Carl Reiner, and Chita Rivera, all of whom have passed. Among the fun discoveries: Van Dyke once auditioned for The Price Is Right and was offered the chance to play James Bond after Sean Connery left the role — an opportunity he declined, fearing audiences wouldn’t accept his British accent.

“He was really meant for family entertainment,” Boettcher said. “CBS tried to find him a place in news or early children’s shows, but he found his calling on Broadway in Bye Bye Birdie, where Walt Disney and Carl Reiner noticed him. That led to The Dick Van Dyke Show and iconic films.”

Despite decades of success, Van Dyke says his legacy lies in the joy his work has brought to generations.

“When you ask him how he wants to be remembered, it’s all about the work,” Boettcher said. “‘Mary Poppins,’ Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and The Dick Van Dyke Show will live on. That’s his legacy.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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