What you need to know
Carol Burnett and Dick Van Dyke first met in the late 1950s and developed a friendship throughout their respective decades-long careers.
At the premiere of Pluribus in West Hollywood on Nov. 4, Burnett, 92, opened up to PEOPLE about her bond with Van Dyke, who turns 100 on Dec. 13.
When asked what she likes most about her former Garry Moore Show co-star, the comedian and actress replied, “His kindness.”
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“His gentleness and…the way he moves. I mean, he’s very talented as a comedian and can do stunts and all kinds of things, but he’s also a very good dramatic actor,” says the six-time Emmy winner.
Van Dyke first appeared on The Carol Burnett Show, which ran for 11 seasons from 1967 to 1978, during season 10 in 1976, solidifying his friendship with the actress.
The Mary Poppins star’s body of work ranges from stage performances to television shows to iconic films, but Burnett points to one standout.
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“Remember what he did? I think it was called ‘The Morning After,’ and it was one of the best performances I’ve ever seen,” she told PEOPLE. “That was Dick Vandy. I mean, not only is he a great comedian, he’s a great actor.”
In 2024, the two friends reunited when Ms. Burnett cemented hand and footprints alongside Ms. Van Dyke at Hollywood’s famed TCL Chinese Theater.
Throughout her career, she has won six Emmy Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, one Grammy Award, and one Kennedy Center Award. Similarly, Van Dyke has won five Emmy Awards, one Grammy Award, and one Tony Award.
Mr. Van Dyke will turn 100 years old in one month. At the recent Vandy High Tea event at Vandy Manor in Malibu, California, he reflected on the upcoming milestone. The event raised funds to benefit the Van Dyke Foundation for the Arts and the Dick Van Dyke Museum currently under development.
“I don’t officially turn 100 until December,” he said at an event in October. “Two months, two months”
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He jokingly added, “It would be funny if it didn’t work out.”
“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,” he continued. “And it’s frustrating because I don’t know what I did right. Other than her (wife Arlene Silver), I didn’t do anything right.”
Pluribus is now streaming on AppleTV.
