Celebrity
Dick Van Dyke, 99, Reflects On The ‘Curse’ Of Outliving Friends As He Nears 100
One of the major drawbacks of living for almost a century is revealed by legendary actor Dick Van Dyke in his reflections on his decades-long career.
Van Dyke is renowned for his decades-long roles in comedies, films, and television shows, all of which helped him establish himself as one of the most admired actors of our time.
Naturally, he is well-known to many of us from his roles in beloved children’s shows like Mary Poppins, Curious George, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and The Secret Squirrel Show.
He nearly seems to have been in Hollywood all his life, which is likely due to the fact that he is not that much younger than Hollywood itself.
He was born in 1925 and will turn 100 in December. He has seen various difficulties throughout his life.
In an interview with People, the celebrity disclosed all, stating that he was working on a very unique project with his late, close friend Ed Asner.
He said that he and Asner were planning to adapt the classic The Odd Couple during a Q&A session with his wife, Arlene Van Dyke.
However, the idea was halted by Asner’s death in 2021.
Things like friends and loved ones who age tend to come and go, just like time itself.
Van Dyke commented on his situation of having lost a close friend at the Dick & Arlene Van Dyke Present Vandy Camp event: “That would’ve been such fun, and we lost it. I’ve lost a lot of friends.”
“He’s outlived everybody,” Arlene, 53, noted of her husband. “That’s the curse of living to almost 100.”
She did, however, add that even though he has lost a lot of friends, he is still “positive.”
To this, Van Dyke said: “Well, life’s been good to me. I can’t complain.”
In 1965, Neil Simon’s Broadway production, The Odd Couple, was first presented to the public.
Three years later, Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau starred in the film adaptation.
In essence, it shows Oscar, a very messy man following his divorce, and Felix, a neat freak.
A series of amusing exchanges ensue as the two argue about how clean they are.
In 1970, it also became a television series, with Tony Randall as Felix and Jack Klugman playing Oscar.
Thus, the idea has been well-liked for a while.
After taking stock of his lengthy career, Van Dyke talked about his popular movie, Mary Poppins, in which he costarred with 89-year-old Julie Andrews.
Having portrayed both Bert and the bank chairman in the film, he continued by saying that Andrews was “as sweet as she could be and so patient with me,” whereas he found singing difficult.
“I’m not a real singer, so I tend to be under, fighting to get up there and sing on top of the note. Just took me forever in the recording,” he said. “But [Andrews] was just patient as could be and kept helping me, saying, ‘Think high. Think up there.’ And it turned out great. She was wonderful. We had a wonderful time together.”
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