Dick Van Dyke, born as Richard Wayne Van Dyke is an American actor, singer, dancer, comedian, and producer. The elder brother of the late artist Jerry Van Dyke and father of actor Barry Van Dyke, he has worked for about seven decades in the entertainment industry. He first got fame from his radio and stage career and then went on to play his breakthrough role of Rob Petrie in CBS’s ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show,’ a sitcom that ran from 1961 to 1966. Besides Television, Dyke also made prominent appearances in musical films and movies, such as ‘Bye Bye Birdie’, ‘Curious George’, ‘Mary Poppins’, ‘Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb’ and ‘Curious George’, to name a few. He also served in the United States Air Force during World War II. Born to Loren Wayne “Cookie” Van Dyke, a salesman, and Hazel Victoria, a stenographer, the future actor grew up in Danville, Illinois, along the side of his brother Jerry.
He went on to visit Danville High School where his schoolmates were Bobby Short and Donald O’Connor, both of whom would go on to become successful entertainers. Dyke became a computer animation believer in 1991. His passion was seen in ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited’ and ‘Diagnosis: Murder’ where he used his own 3D-rendered effects. He has also revealed his computerized symbolism work at SIGGRAPH. A father of four, the American actor has been married twice. The veteran actor is the beneficiary of numerous awards including the SAG Life Achievement Award.
Dick Van Dyke Bio/Wiki
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Dick Van Dyke Family, Education & More
Van Dyke was born on December 13, 1925, in West Plains, Missouri, to Hazel Victoria (née McCord; 1896 – 1992), a stenographer, and Loren Wayne “Cookie” Van Dyke (1898–1976), a salesman. He grew up in Danville, Illinois. He is the older brother of actor Jerry Van Dyke (1931–2018), who sometimes appeared as his brother in The Dick Van Dyke Show but is best known for a role in the TV series Coach. Van Dyke is a Dutch surname, although he has English, Irish, and Scottish ancestry as well. His family line traces back to Mayflower passenger John Alden.
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Among Van Dyke’s high school classmates in Danville were Donald O’Connor and Bobby Short, both of whom would go on to successful careers as entertainers. One of his closest friends was a cousin of Gene Hackman, the future actor, who also lived in Danville in those years. Van Dyke’s mother’s family was very religious, and for a brief period in his youth, he considered a career in ministry, although a drama class in high school convinced him that his true calling was as a professional entertainer. In his autobiography, he wrote, “I suppose that I never completely gave up my childhood idea of being a minister. Only the medium and the message changed. I have still endeavored to touch people’s souls, to raise their spirits and put smiles on their faces.” Even after the launch of his career as an entertainer, he taught Sunday school in the Presbyterian Church, where he was an elder, and he continued to read such theologians as Buber, Tillich, and Bonhoeffer, who helped explain in practical terms the relevance of religion in everyday life.
Dick Van Dyke Age, Personal Life & More
On February 12, 1948, while appearing at the Chapman Park Hotel on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, he and the former Margerie Willett were married on the radio show Bride and Groom. They had four children: Christian, Barry, Stacy, and Carrie Beth. They divorced in 1984 after a long separation. Van Dyke lived with longtime companion Michelle Triola for more than 30 years, until her death in 2009.
He incorporated his children and grandchildren into his TV endeavors. Son Barry Van Dyke, grandsons Shane Van Dyke, and Carey Van Dyke along with other Van Dyke grandchildren and relatives appeared in various episodes of the long-running series Diagnosis: Murder. Although Stacy Van Dyke was not well known in show business, she made an appearance in the Diagnosis: Murder Christmas episode “Murder in the Family” (season 4) as Carol Sloan Hilton, the estranged daughter of Dr. Mark Sloan.
All of Van Dyke’s children are married; he has seven grandchildren. His son Chris was a district attorney for Marion County, Oregon, in the 1980s. In 1987, Van Dyke’s granddaughter Jessica Van Dyke died from Reye’s syndrome, which led him to do a series of commercials to raise public awareness of the danger of aspirin to children.
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Dick Van Dyke Net Worth
Dick Van Dyke is a legendary actor, comedian director, and producer who has a net worth of $56 million. Dick Van Dyke Net Worth through his acting roles in many successful films, musicals, TV sitcoms, and dramas, as well as his abilities as a director and producer.
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His younger brother Jerry Van Dyke is known for his role on the TV show Coach. Dick was a radio announcer in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. He got married to Margerie Willett on the radio show Bride and Groom. In 1960 and 1961 he starred on Broadway in Bye Bye Birdie and won the Best Featured Actor Tony.
Career
- During the late 1940s, American Dick Van Dyke served as a radio DJ in Danville. In 1947, he formed a comedy duo with pantomime performer Phil Erickson called “Eric and Van the Merry Mutes”. The duo first toured the West Coast nightclub circuit and then brought their act to Atlanta in the early 1950s. Then they performed in a local TV show featuring original skits and music titled “The Merry Mutes.”
- Dyke then started his career on American television through a comedy program on WDSU-TV New Orleans Channel 6 (now NBC). His first appearance on the American network TV was in ‘James’ Chance of a Lifetime’ in 1954. During his early career, the actor also appeared on NBC’s ‘The Polly Bergen Show’ and ABC’s ‘The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom.’
- In November 1959, he made his Broadway debut in the play ‘The Girls against the Boys’. From April 1960 to October 1961, he played the lead role of Albert Peterson in the play ‘Bye Bye Birdie’.
- In 1961, Dyke was approached for the sitcom ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’. He eventually agreed to appear in the drama as Rob Petrie alongside veteran actors Morey Amsterdam, Rose Marie, Richard Deacon, Ann Morgan Guilbert, and Carl Reiner.
- He landed his first film role in 1963 when he played the lead role of Albert Peterson in the movie version of ‘Bye Bye Birdie’. Soon after this, Dyke was cast in two roles in Walt Disney’s ‘Mary Poppins’. He next had a role in the comedy-drama ‘The Comic’ which was written and directed by Carl Reiner.
- The American legend starred in the sitcom ‘The New Dick Van Dyke Show’ from 1971 to 1974 where he played a local television talk show host. In 1973, he lent his voice to the final episode titled ‘Scooby-Doo Meets Dick Van Dyke’ in Hanna-Barbera’s ‘The New Scooby-Doo Movies.’
- Dyke then returned to comedy in the year 1976 with a sketch comedy show called ‘Van Dyke and Company.’
- In 1980, he played the title role in the Broadway revival of ‘The Music Man’. During the rest of the decade, he did mostly TV films. One of the artist’s roles was as a murdering judge on an episode of the series ‘Matlock.’
- In 1987, he guest-starred in an episode of the TV series ‘Airwolf’ with his son Barry Van. Two years later, Dyke appeared on NBC’s ‘The Golden Girls’. In 1990, he took a minor but villainous role as DA Fletcher in Warren Beatty’s movie ‘Dick Tracy’.
- He portrayed a doctor in the media drama ‘Scrubs’ in 2003. After this, the actor made a guest appearance as Dr. Jonathan Maxwell in the series ‘Murder 101.’
- In 2006, he returned to motion pictures and appeared in the movie ‘Night at the Museum.’ Three years later, he reprised his role in the film’s sequel called ‘Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian’. Dyke played the role once again in the third movie ‘Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb’ in 2014.
- In 2010, he appeared in the children’s album ‘Rhythm Train.’ He rapped on one of the album’s songs.
- In 2017, he released his first solo album ‘Step (Back) In Time’. He also recorded a duet single with actress Jane Lynch. This song titled “We’re Going Caroling” was released as a Christmas track that year.
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Awards and nominations
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FAQ’s
How Old Is Dick Van Dyke?
98 Years, December 13, 1925
How Tall Is Van Dyke?
6′ 1″
How Much Is Dick Van Dyke Net Worth?
$56 Million
How Many Children Does Dick Van Dyke Have?
Four(Christian, Barry, Stacy, Carrie Beth)
