Copyright Parade
Dick Van Dyke has never been one to sit still. From his groundbreaking sitcom to his legendary role in Mary Poppins, he has always been a bundle of joyous energy. As he approaches his 100th birthday, the star is the subject of a new documentary, and in an exclusive interview with People on Monday, its director has revealed one surprising “key force” to the Hollywood icon’s vibrancy at nearly 100 years old. It is not a new diet, a miracle pill, or even a workout regime. According to Steve Boettcher, the director of the upcoming film Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration, the “key force” to Van Dyke’s impressive longevity is none other than his beloved wife, Arlene Silver, 54. Boettcher, who spent 30 years working on the project, witnessed their relationship up close. “I think they just want to play,” he said in the same interview, describing them as “big kids”. “I really feel that that love affair is amazing,” he continued. “And honestly, I think she’s been a key force in keeping him so vibrant and alive today.” Van Dyke himself is the first to credit his wife for his incredible health and happiness. When a fan at a Vandy High Tea event on Oct. 5 asked for his secret to looking young, in a clip posted to Instagram he pointed to Silver and said, with his signature grin and a fond chuckle, that the secret was “right here beside me.” He has been even more direct in the past, telling Yahoo Entertainment in Feb. 2023 that one of his secrets to a long live is, “Having a beautiful young wife half my age to take care of me– that works!” Reflecting further on his longevity at the Vandy High Tea event in October, Van Dyke humbly admitted, “I don’t know what I did right. Other than her [Arlene], I didn’t do anything right,” according to People. Their love story is as charming as an old black and white Hollywood movie. The pair met back in 2006 at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Silver was working at the event as a makeup artist, and Van Dyke was immediately smitten. They struck up a friendship, which blossomed into romance following the death of Van Dyke’s longtime partner, Michelle Triola, in 2009. The couple married in 2012, and despite the 46-year age gap, they have been blissfully happy ever since. “Everybody said it wouldn’t work,” Van Dyke confessed in April, according to The Mix. Silver added, “It’s like eerie how well it works. People the same age don’t last.” While his wife is his number one “key force,” Van Dyke is quick to name his other secret: “Keep moving.” That is not just a catchphrase; it is the title of his book and his personal motto. “I still go to the gym three days a week and work out,” he said in the same Yahoo Entertainment interview. “And I advise everybody to do that, because that’s what ages people—it’s just a stiffening up and not exercising their muscles and their lungs. Exercise is the answer”. Singer Rick Springfield recently confirmed this, posting on Instagram in October that he ran into the 99-year-old at the gym “working out on every machine.” “I thought I was doing well at 76, but Dick got up from the chest press machine and did a little dance step before I left!” Springfield wrote. For over 75 years, Van Dyke has been a beloved presence on our screens. He starred in the stage and screen versions of Bye Bye Birdie. He credits one song, “Put on a Happy Face,” for his entire career trajectory. It was originally written for co-star Chita Rivera, but she generously suggested he perform it, as he had nothing in the first act of the show. “That changed my entire life,” Van Dyke said in the same interview. “I won a Tony because of that song, and that got me the television show.” What followed was a decades-long career that was a true masterclass in entertainment. Looking back, Van Dyke is nothing but grateful. “I enjoyed everything I did,” he told Variety in June 2024. “And not a lot of people can say that”. Now the legendary actor is gearing up for a massive milestone: his 100th birthday on December 13. Fans can join the celebration in several ways. In November, he will release a new book, “100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist’s Guide to a Happy Life”. And on his birthday weekend, Fathom Entertainment will release “Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration” in theaters for a special two-day engagement on Dec. 13 and 14. The film will feature classic clips, new interviews, and a visit to his hometown.
