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| Birth Name(s) : Dick Van Dyke |
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Full Dick Van Dyke Biography
Van Dyke began his film career by reprising his stage role in the film version of Bye Bye Birdie in 1963. Although Van Dyke was unhappy with the adaptation because the focus was shifted to Ann-Margret's character, the film was a major success. He followed that up with Walt Disney's Mary Poppins in 1964, in which he played Bert, a Cockney chimney sweep, and also, in heavy disguise, the bank's elderly chairman. Van Dyke's attempt at a cockney accent (lapsing out of it at times) was nonetheless widely ridiculed and is still frequently parodied. It is still often cited as one of the worst attempts at a British accent by an American actor, a fact acknowledged with good humour by Van Dyke himself on the 2004 DVD release of the film. But the film was very popular and innovative and also showed his versatility as a singer and dancer. One of his showcase songs, "Chim Chim Cher-ee", won the Oscar for the Sherman Brothers, the film's songwriting team.
In 1969, Van Dyke appeared in the comedy-drama The Comic, which was written and directed by Carl Reiner. Van Dyke plays a silent-film era comedian who struggles with alcoholism and depression. Reiner wrote the film especially for Van Dyke, who would often talk of his admiration for silent film era comedians such as Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Ben Turpin and his hero, Stan Laurel. He also began starring in a series of commercials as a spokesperson for Kodak.
In 1973, Van Dyke voiced his animated likeness for the October 27, 1973 installment of Hanna-Barbera's The New Scooby-Doo Movies, "Scooby-Doo Meets Dick Van Dyke" (aka "The Haunted Carnival"), the series' final first run episode.
In 1975, he played another atypical role as a murdering photographer in an episode of the popular series Columbo. He also began doing public service announcements for the National Fire Protection Agency through 1984. Van Dyke returned to comedy in 1976 with the sketch comedy show Van Dyke and Company which also starred Andy Kaufman and Super Dave Osborne. Despite being cancelled after only three months, the show won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy-Variety Series, beating Saturday Night Live. In 1977, Van Dyke then joined the cast of The Carol Burnett Show after Harvey Korman left the show. Unfortunately, his comedy style did not work as well with Burnett's, and he left the show after three months. For the next decade, he appeared mainly in low-rated TV movies. One exception was another atypical role as a murdering judge on the first episode of the TV series Matlock in 1986 starring Andy Griffith. In 1988, Van Dyke returned with another sitcom called The Van Dyke Show which co-starred his son, Barry. The show was cancelled after just five episodes.
Van Dyke returned to motion pictures in the 2006 film Curious George as Mr. Bloomsberry. His most recent role is Cecil in the Ben Stiller film Night at the Museum, released in December 2006. In January 2007 Van Dyke reprised his role as Dr. Jonathan Maxwell in Murder 101: College Can Be Murder for the Hallmark Channel . In an interview included on the DVD release of Night at the Museum, Van Dyke jokes that he keeps trying to retire but something seems to always come up. Van Dyke's latest Murder 101 movie is set to air in August 2007.
Van Dyke was a great admirer of Stan Laurel and even gave the eulogy at his funeral. He also produced a TV special soon afterward, A Salute to Stan Laurel. He once met Laurel and told him he had copied a great deal from him. He said Laurel only laughed and said, "I've noticed that." Van Dyke once did a sketch on his sitcom in which he imitated Laurel. After the show aired, he phoned Laurel to ask what he thought of it. To Van Dyke's surprise, Laurel said he still owned one of "Stanley's" bowler hats and would have lent it to Van Dyke for the sketch if he had only asked.
Van Dyke is the older brother of actor Jerry Van Dyke, who is best known for his role on the TV series Coach.
He married Margie Willett in 1948, with whom he had four children: Christian, Barry, Carrie Beth and Stacy. They divorced in 1984 after a long separation. Van Dyke's son Barry Van Dyke and grandson Carey Van Dyke are also actors; both, along with other Van Dyke relations and grandchildren, appeared in various episodes of the long-running Diagnosis: Murder series. All of Van Dyke's children are married, and he has seven grandchildren. He currently resides with girlfriend, Michelle Triola.
In 1987, his granddaughter Jessica Van Dyke died from Reye's Syndrome which caused him to do a series of television commercials to raise public awareness of the danger to children. He is still the National Spokesman of the National Reye's Syndrome Foundation .
During The Dick Van Dyke Show, he fought alcoholism, which he is in a successful recovery from. He has also served as an elder in the Presbyterian Church.
As an A cappella enthusiast, Van Dyke has sung in a group called "The Vantastix" since September, 2000. The Quartet has performed several times in Los Angeles as well as on Larry King Live, The First Annual TV Land Awards, and sung the National anthem at three Los Angeles Lakers games including a nationally televised NBA Finals performance on NBC. |
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