Dick Van Dyke Reveals the Surprising Secret to His 60-Year Career
In a candid interview for CBS’ “Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic,” the legendary entertainer shared an unexpected revelation about his successful career that spans over six decades.
Van Dyke, known for his iconic roles in classics like “Mary Poppins” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” confessed to not being a proactive seeker when it comes to landing roles. “I would do a movie or something and come home, and just sit down, wait for the phone to ring. I wasn’t aggressive,” he admitted. “So, I was out of work a lot because I didn’t go out and look for it.”
Surprisingly, the gaps in employment didn’t faze Van Dyke. “I didn’t mind it. I’m pretty lazy. When I’m having fun, you know, all right. But I’m a lazy person,” he chuckled. “I don’t have a lotta drive. I’ve been very lucky.”
The 98-year-old actor became a household name with his roles in the beloved “Mary Poppins” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” His luck continued with successful ventures like “The Carol Burnett Show,” his own comedy “The Van Dyke Show,” “Diagnosis Murder,” and more.
Reflecting on his storied career, Van Dyke nonchalantly stated, “It just happened!” However, he did acknowledge grappling with alcoholism during periods of unemployment in his younger years. “If I’d known I was going to live this long, I would’ve taken better care of myself,” he remarked. “I went through that whole period of alcoholism.” To maintain his health in later years, he has adopted a frequent gym routine.
Despite nearing the century mark, Van Dyke hasn’t formally retired, making appearances on “The Masked Singer” earlier this year, continuing to sing with the group The Vantastix, and more.
The key to his enduring career, according to Van Dyke, is his dedication to having fun. “My whole career has depended on (having fun). If I’m not enjoying myself, I’m really bad, I am,” he emphasized. “It’s such a blessing to find a way of making a living that you love, that you’d do for nothing. I feel so sorry for people who hate their job. I look forward to going to work every morning,” Van Dyke added.
For those eager to celebrate Dick Van Dyke’s remarkable journey, the CBS two-hour tribute special is scheduled to air on December 21 at 9 p.m. EST.