Dick Van Dyke, the entertainment legend, is “praying” to see his next birthday.
The 98-year-old screen star was noticeably missing from the recent Emmy Awards ceremony although he had been slated to act as a presenter. Having also withdrawn from a fan convention, Van Dyke has shared with PageSix his simple wish: “Just praying that I make it. I’m pretty old.”
The beloved actor from Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang fame was meant to attend FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention on Saturday. However, fans were informed through a social media update that the near-centenarian could not tackle the journey from California.
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A heartfelt post on X/ Twitter confirmed the news: “We are sorry to announce that Dick Van Dyke is not able to travel to FanX. He expresses his gratitude to all of those who support him but, at almost 99 years of age, traveling and interacting with thousands of people is more than he is able to do at this time,” reports the Mirror.
Last year’s Creative Arts Emmy Awards saw Van Dyke honoured for his enchanting 2023 birthday special titled ‘Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic’. At the event, the veteran actor reflected on his longevity in the spotlight, attributing it to simply “sticking with it” throughout the years.
He commented: “I hope for making people laugh for 75 years. I’ve been in the business 75 years. I can’t believe that I’m still here and performing. I’m looking for work if anybody has. You have to stick with it. You’re gonna go through hard times and a lot of auditions… but you have to stay with it. Be patient if you’ve got the confidence in yourself, and it’s very important to believe that you can do it.”
(Image: Getty Images for NATAS)
The screen icon, boasting a career spanning over seven decades, recently poured out about his life and career highs in an exclusive chinwag with Deadline. The actor admitted the difficulty in viewing himself as a ‘legend’, ‘icon’, or ‘hero’: “I don’t see myself that way and I can’t comprehend myself as that.”
During his heart-to-heart with the publication, he also claimed that luck played the lead role in his storybook career, confessing: “has been pure kismet” and sharing his surprise at not having a driving force behind his success: “never had any real drive.”
He illuminated the conversation by insisting on the joy his profession brings him, stating “Well, it was a matter of just enjoying myself,” said the nonagenarian actor. “I always loved what I was doing. If it had felt like work, I probably would have stopped it a long time ago,” followed by a chuckle, “But I just loved it.”
Dick’s career has been nothing short of illustrious, with his big break coming in 1960 with Bye Bye Birdie on Broadway, which he later reprised in the 1963 film version. He’s also known for his roles in Mary Poppins (1964) and its 2018 revival, Mary Poppins Returns, as well as his own TV sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-1966).
More recent credits include Night at the Museum (2006), a 2020 TV show called Kidding, and a guest appearance on The Masked Singer in 2023.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
