Dick Van Dyke recently attended the Vandy High Tea event in Malibu, California, and joked about his upcoming landmark 100th birthday this December. The icon said, “That’s right. I’m not officially 100 until December. Two months. Two months. It’ll be funny if I don’t make it.” (via People)
Reflecting on his milestone birthday in a more serious tone, Van Dyke added, “I sometimes brag about how I made it to 100, but the truth is, if I had known I would live this long, I would have taken better care of myself. And it’s frustrating because I don’t know what I did right. Other than her (wife Arlene), I didn’t do anything right.”
Mr. Van Dyke married Arlene Silver in 2012. The couple was attending the Vandy High Tea event to raise money for the Van Dyke Foundation for the Arts and the upcoming Dick Van Dyke Museum. Earlier this year, the actor made headlines when he skipped another fan event because he was apparently unwell.
“When you’re 99 and a half, you have good days and bad days, and when you’re 40, you have good days and bad days,” Silver explained at the time. “Unfortunately, today is not a good day for him. It hurts that he can’t be here.”
Last year, in an interview with Variety to commemorate his appearance on the CBS special “Dick Van Dyke: The Magic of ’98,” the actor spoke fondly of his Hollywood career, saying, “I’ve had fun in everything I’ve done. Not many people can say that.”
“I left a good example for the younger generation,” he added about how his legacy remains in Hollywood. “I think I’m a positive influence on kids, and the emails I get from kids show that I’m a positive influence. Kids want to emulate that behavior, and I think that’s why it’s really worth what we accomplish. I’m very happy that my influence has been a positive influence. I’m completely satisfied with that.”
Mr. Van Dyke will turn 100 years old on December 13th.
