Dick Van Dyke Celebrates His 100th Birthday: A Heartfelt Message from Wife Arlene Silver

Dick Van Dyke photographed for PEOPLE on November 7, 2025.
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Ari and Louise

NEED TO KNOW

• Dick Van Dyke turns 100 today
• Wife Arlene Silver reflects, “You’re never too old to do anything.”
• Van Dyke told PEOPLE he “feels about 13.”

Dick Van Dyke celebrates his 100th birthday today with enthusiasm and joy. His wife, Arlene Silver, remarked, “He is a little slower, but I mean, man, he’s still got it!”

Despite a few memory lapses—he can’t always recall what he had for breakfast—Van Dyke still impresses with a remarkable ability to remember the lyrics to his favorite show tunes. “I don’t know why but I just do,” he added.

The iconic performer is celebrated for his roles in The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Poppins, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which have captivated audiences for generations. Silver reflected on his legacy, saying, “He’ll live on forever.”

However, Van Dyke himself may not fully grasp the extent of his worldwide appeal. Silver explained, “I tell him all the time, but I still don’t think he understands. He’s like, ‘Oh. I’ve been around a long time.’ It’s beyond that. You’re in people’s blood. In people’s hearts and souls.”

Dick Van Dyke with Julie Andrews in ‘Mary Poppins’.
Moviestore/Shutterstock

Reflecting on nearly 20 years together, Silver noted, “He made me feel like you’re never too old to do anything. My life kind of started at 40, my new life with him.”

Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore in ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’.
Earl Theisen/Getty

During a recent interview and photo shoot at his Malibu home, Van Dyke humorously noted, “I’ve never met anyone else who was 100 so I don’t know how to act.” He also entertained with songs and played the trombone.

Van Dyke expressed gratitude for his career, stating, “I think of how rare it is that a person gets to do for a living what they love to do. Most people have to go sit in an office. I never forgot that I look forward to getting up every morning and going to work because it’s what I would’ve done for nothing. It was such fun.”

Reflecting on their first meeting in 2006 at the SAG Awards, Silver shared that she didn’t know much about him initially. However, through social media, she connected him with fans who had shared their admiration for him. “I got to connect him with his fans that he never really did before, and that’s a whole, beautiful thing,” she said.

Arlene Silver and Dick Van Dyke.
Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty

Grateful for their time together, Silver stated, “I’m honored to be his wife and take care of him, make him as happy as he deserves to be.” She expressed appreciation for the blessings he brings and acknowledged the significance of his approaching 100th birthday, emphasizing, “I’m just very grateful that he’s in good health.”

“He’s totally with it,” she added. “I just love that I’m part of this joyful movement.”