Dick Van Dyke - Bio, Net Worth, Height | Famous Births Deaths

ORIGIN Dick Van Dyke is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. He is best know for hosting ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’ and for his roles in ‘Diagnosis Murder’, ‘Mary Poppins’ and ‘Night at the Museum’. Van Dyke was born Richard Wayne Van Dyke on December 13, 1925, in West Plains, Missouri. His mother, Hazel, was a stenographer, and his father, Loren, was a traveling salesman. His younger brother, Jerry (d. 2018), was also an actor. Van Dyke grew up in Danville, Illinois, where he attended Danville High School. He was an active member of the school’s drama club.

CAREER Van Dyke enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. He served in the special services unit as a radio announcer. He was discharged in 1945 after a year of service. Van Dyke began his entertainment career as a radio DJ and later as a stage actor. His Broadway debut was ‘The Girls Against the Boys’ in 1959. He won a Tony Award in 1961 for Best Featured Actor in the stage musical, Bye Bye Birdie. His stage credit also include The Music Man (1980) and Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life (2006)

Van Dyke starred as “Rob Petrie” on the CBS sitcom, The Dick Van Dyke Show. The series ran from 1961 to 1966 for a total of 158 episodes. Other notable television series include The New Dick Van Dyke Show (1971-74), The Carol Burnett Show (1977) and Diagnosis Murder (1993-2001). Van Dyke starred as “Caractacus Potts” opposite Sally Ann Howes in the film, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968). He held a supporting role as “Cecil Fredricks” in the Night at the Museum film series directed by Shawn Levy. Van Dyke’s film credits also include Mary Poppins (1964) with Julie Andrews, and Dick Tracy (1990) with Warren Beatty.

Van Dyke has won several awards including 5 Emmys, a Grammy, and a Tony. He was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the SAG Life Achievement Award in 2013.

PERSONAL Dick Van Dyke is 5ft 10in tall and is of Dutch, Scottish, Irish and English descent. He has an estimated net worth is $50 million. Van Dyke was married to his first wife ‘Margerie Willett’ from 1948 to 1984. They had four children, Barry, Carrie-Beth, Christian, and Stacy. Van Dyke dated actress Michelle Triola from 1976 until her death in 2009. He wed his current wife ‘Arlene Silver’ in February 2012. Arlene is a makeup artist and 46 years younger.

Dick Van Dyke Bio, Net Worth, Height