Dick Van Dyke is turning 100 years old and instead of quietly slipping into the background, he’s giving the world a playbook on how to grow old with style, humor, and zero self‑pity.
The Emmy, Tony, and Grammy-winning icon behind The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is marking the milestone with a new book, a TV celebration, and a message that getting older doesn’t have to mean giving up.
A Century of Laughs, And He’s Still Not Done
In a new sit‑down at his Malibu home with
Good Morning America, Van Dyke jokes that he used to play cranky old men on screen — and now that he’s actually 100, he’s nothing like them.
He turns
100 on December 13 and insists he’s “so lucky” to feel as good as he does.
> “I don’t know any other 100‑year‑old, but I can speak for myself,” he told ABC News, adding that he has
“no ache or pain” as he reaches triple digits.
He still hits the gym
three days a week, crediting both exercise and his wife Arlene Silver — a self‑described “health nut” — with keeping him moving and motivated.
Inside His New Book: “100 Rules for Living to 100”
Van Dyke isn’t just celebrating; he’s teaching.
He recently released a new book,
“100 Rules for Living to 100,” published in November, aimed at younger generations and anyone curious about how to age actively and optimistically.
He says he wrote it because he had “a few more things” he wanted to say — and he wanted to
pass down his hard‑earned wisdom.
While the full list of rules lives in the book, the themes he highlights in interviews include:
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Keep moving – Physical activity several times a week to avoid pain and stiffness.
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Stay curious and playful – He still loves dancing and performing, even if, as he admits, he has “one game leg” now.
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Lean on love and support – He repeatedly credits his wife for keeping him young, energetic, and emotionally grounded.
His central message: 100 years isn’t an ending — it’s just another chapter.
> “The funniest thing is, it’s not enough. A hundred years is not enough. You wanna live more, which I plan to,” he said.
A Love Story That Keeps Him Young
Van Dyke married
Arlene Silver in 2012, and he doesn’t shy away from saying she changed his life.
“She kept me young,” he says, explaining that her
energy, humor and support are a big part of why he’s thriving at 100.
Silver calls taking care of him “a privilege and an honor,” and says her mission is simple:
make him happy.
Their relationship has become part of his public blueprint for aging well: surround yourself with people who lift you up, and don’t underestimate the power of joy in staying healthy.
A Documentary Tribute: “Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration”
Hollywood isn’t letting this milestone pass quietly either.
Filmmaker
Steve Boettcher has created a new documentary,
“Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration,” spotlighting Van Dyke’s life, career and enduring influence.
The special leans into:
- His early days in theater and television
- His star‑making turns in
“Mary Poppins” and
“Bye Bye Birdie”- His status as one of the few performers with major awards across TV, film, stage and recording
Television segments and retrospectives across networks are also celebrating his legacy as he reaches the century mark, with clips, tributes and commentary revisiting some of his most beloved performances.
The Dark Moments He Refuses to Hide
Van Dyke is candid that his journey wasn’t all song‑and‑dance numbers.
He has long been open about his past struggle with
alcoholism, and in his latest interview he notes how important that transparency has been.
He says he heard from many people dealing with drinking problems who thanked him for “bringing it out into the sunlight.”
It’s a thread that runs through his new public appearances: aging with grace is not pretending life was perfect, but owning the hard parts and using them to help others.
Why Dick Van Dyke Still Matters in 2025
In a culture obsessed with youth, Van Dyke’s 100th birthday isn’t just nostalgia — it’s a quiet rebellion.
He’s:
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Redefining aging – Showing that 100 can mean gym visits, creative work, and future plans, not just rocking chairs.
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Reframing celebrity – Using his platform to talk honestly about addiction and recovery.
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Reinforcing joy as a life skill – From slapstick falls in
The Dick Van Dyke Show to dancing cameos well into his 90s, his career is one long argument for not taking yourself too seriously.
If there’s a “secret” he’s offering the world, it’s this:
keep moving, keep laughing, keep loving, and don’t stop planning for tomorrow — even at 100.What to Watch For Next
For fans, here’s what to keep an eye on:
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His new book –
100 Rules for Living to 100 is now on shelves, packed with his personal philosophy and life lessons.
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TV tributes and specials – Including Steve Boettcher’s documentary
Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration and network retrospectives around his birthday.
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Ongoing appearances – Given his own declaration that 100 “is not enough,” don’t be surprised if Van Dyke keeps popping up on screens and stages, reminding everyone that joy ages better than anything else.
Sources
1. Dick Van Dyke prepares to turn 100: 'I'm so lucky'
2. Dick Van Dyke celebrates 100 years of laughter, life and legacy
3. Dick Van Dyke prepares to celebrate his 100th birthday - ABC News
4. Dick Van Dyke turns 100 on Dec. 13 - YouTube
