Happy 97th Birthday Dick Van Dyke!
December 13th is a special day for us because we get to celebrate a very special entertainer. Happy 97th Birthday Dick Van Dyke!
He was born in 1925 and became a household name with his performances on the small and big screens in the 1960’s and 1970s.
Many of us may associate this great actor with the beloved film, Mary Poppins (1964), where he plays the loveable, laughable Bert opposite Julie Andrews.
Disney capitalized on Dick’s talents once again in the movie’s sequel, Mary Poppins Returns (2018).
Van Dyke in the role of Mr. Dawes Jr. in Mary Poppins Returns
Other roles Van Dyke has portrayed include The Dick Van Dyke Show, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Night at the Museum, many guest appearances on TV Series, made for TV movies, and his own show, Diagnosis Murder.
Van Dyke with his animatronic counterparts
After The Great Movie Ride shut down, it looks like Van Dyke claimed his alter egos for himself! The animatronics appeared in a 2020 campaign ad for Bernie Sanders.
We’re glad to see they’re being well taken care of!
One fun fact regarding Dick Van Dyke, he was also in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which is often mistaken for a Disney movie because the Sherman Brothers composed its songs.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was the first movie that the brothers composed for that wasn’t a Disney production.
And one more fun fact… Van Dyke was never trained as a dancer and did not begin dancing until he was in his thirties. Happy 97th Birthday Dick Van Dyke!!! May you continue to laugh loud and long and clear.
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Feature Image: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images
