Dick Van Dyke To Receive Kennedy Center Honors
We’ve got some exciting news regarding the Legendary Dick Van Dyke! Earlier this week it was announced that the 95 year old actor was among the five artists who will receive the 43rd Kennedy Center Honors for a lifetime of artistic achievement!
According to a recent piece by the New York Times, Van Dyke called his family to share the good news immediately after being nominated. Though most of us Disney fans have a fondness for Van Dyke for his turn as Bert in Mary Poppins, it should also be noted that he also had a starring role in the Dick Van Dyke show which helped shape American sitcoms for decades! One of his most recent acting credits was in the role of Mr. Dawes Jr. in Mary Poppins Returns.
My wife took the call and the instructions were, ‘Congratulations but do not tell anybody,’” Van Dyke said in a phone interview on Tuesday. “You can’t do that! I called all my relatives right away. I couldn’t hold that in.”
Van Dyke now adds to his résumé one of the country’s highest artistic honors. The other recipients, announced by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, include the singer-songwriter and activist Joan Baez; the country music star Garth Brooks; the actress, choreographer and producer Debbie Allen; and the violinist Midori.
“The Kennedy Center Honors serves as a moment to celebrate the remarkable artists who have spent their lives elevating the cultural history of our nation and world,” said Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein. “Debbie Allen moves seamlessly between artistic disciplines and is a cultural ambassador for all while having a monumental impact on dancers of color everywhere; folk icon Joan Baez breathed new life into the genre and powered rock music’s turn toward social and political consciousness; as one of the world’s best-selling music artists, Garth Brooks heightened country music’s profile like no other singer before him; with an international presence for over 35 years, violinist Midori combines graceful precision and expression for performances building connections between art and the human experience; with a charm that has made him one of the most cherished performers in show business history, Dick Van Dyke has brought us beloved film, stage, and TV characters adored by generations of fans, for more than seven decades.”
Produced by Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry Entertainment, the Honors Gala will be recorded for broadcast on CBS for the 43rd consecutive year as a two-hour primetime special, airing June 6.
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Source: New York Times