Dick Van Dyke
Dick Van Dyke
Richard Wayne "Dick" Van Dykeis an American actor, comedian, writer, singer, dancer, and producer whose career in entertainment has spanned almost seven decades. He is the older brother of Jerry Van Dyke and father of Barry Van Dyke...
ProfessionTV Actor
Date of Birth13 December 1925
CityWest Plains, MO
retirement retired stills
I'm always announcing my retirement. I'm still not retired.
people
We all know we're going to die. We're all circling the drain. Some of us are closer than others. I'm 90, I know I'm closer to the drain than most people.
exercise eighty seventies
In my seventies, I exercised to stay ambulatory. In my eighties, I exercise to avoid assisted living.
mother father ham
[My mother] once cooked a ham and later found it in my father's shirt drawer. I am not kidding.
home people shy
I wasn't a falling-in-the-gutter type. I drank at home because it relaxed me. I was shy around new people, but after a drink or two, I became more sociable.
couple home night
No, I did night clubs right here in Los Angeles. My partner, Phil Erickson, put me in the business, a guy from my home town, a dear friend who we just lost a couple of months ago.
ambition kids going-out
When I was a kid, I had ambitions for being a television announcer, which was before television took off, you know, in the late 40s. And just through necessity, going out looking for work, I was starting to sing, and dance, and act, and I never expected to do that, nor to have any success at it at least.
kids lucky want
I was lucky to get the kinds of parts I wanted. I always said I didn't want to do anything my kids can't see.
I could probably play an alcoholic. I've had some experience with that.
nuts play ties
I was a 'Laurel and Hardy' nut. I got to know Laurel at the end of his life, and it was a great thrill for me. He left me his bow tie and derby and told me that if they ever made a movie about him, he'd want me to play him.
play missing littles
I do miss the rhythms of comedy. And I've never been able to perform very well without an audience. The sitcoms I've done had them. It was like doing a little play.
children mean kids
I cannot tell you what it means when children recognize. This is about the third generation for me. And when kids that small recognize me, it really pleases me, very gratifying.
tarantino
I'm the anti-Quentin Tarantino.
hurt age said
I asked Fred Astaire once when he was about my age if he still danced, and he said 'Yes, but it hurts now.' That's exactly it. I can still dance, too, but it hurts now!