Dick Van Dyke kicked off his 100th birthday celebration a little early, hosting a special two-hour sing-along charity event for fans on Nov. 30 in Malibu, California. The gathering — co-hosted with his wife, Arlene Silver — raised money for the Dick Van Dyke Museum and The Van Dyke Endowment of the Arts.
Speaking to the crowd, Van Dyke shared the inspiration behind the event:
“There are several reasons for doing this — all of them good — but for me, it’s about bringing back the art of conversation.”
He lamented how rarely people truly talk anymore, noting that everywhere he goes, folks — even couples at dinner — are absorbed in their phones.
Then he added, with his trademark charm:
“I may be the only person in the United States over 10 who does not have a cell phone. I don’t have a phone.”
A milestone birthday
Van Dyke turns 100 years old on December 13, and he celebrated early by performing some of the most beloved songs of his legendary career. Joined by his vocal group, The Vantastix, he opened with “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” the title tune from his 1968 classic, and closed with the joyful “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” from Mary Poppins. He also sang favorites like “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and “You Two.”
When asked by an audience member what he loved most about Christmastime, he immediately answered: “the singing, the caroling.” Fittingly, he and The Vantastix followed with a rendition of Nat King Cole’s “Caroling, Caroling.”
Other musical highlights included “Carolina in the Morning” and the instantly recognizable theme song from The Dick Van Dyke Show, the iconic sitcom that ran from 1961 to 1966.
Reflecting on a century of life
Earlier this fall, Van Dyke made fans laugh when he reflected on reaching 100:
“I brag about making it to 100, but honestly, if I knew I’d live this long, I would’ve taken better care of myself. I don’t even know what I did right — except marry Arlene. Everything else I did wrong.”
In a previous interview with Variety, recorded for his CBS special Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic, the entertainment legend spoke warmly about his Hollywood journey:
“I enjoyed everything I did, and not a lot of people can say that.”
When asked about his legacy, he emphasized the impact he hopes to leave behind:
“I set a good example for the younger generation. I had a positive effect on kids — I know it from the letters they send me. They want to emulate that behavior. That’s what makes our work worthwhile. I’m grateful that the mark I left was a positive one, and that’s enough for me.”
A century of laughter, music, and joy — and Dick Van Dyke is still giving.