If there’s ever been a walking, dancing, singing definition of aging gracefully, it’s Dick Van Dyke. The Hollywood legend—who turns 100 this December—isn’t just coasting into triple digits; he’s practically doing a soft-shoe across the finish line. But if you ask him, it’s not some magical gene or celebrity secret that’s kept him going—it’s cutting ties with a few very dangerous old friends: cigarettes and booze.
Hosting a cozy high tea event in Malibu, Van Dyke took a moment to reflect on the wild ride of a life he’s had. And in classic Dick fashion, it wasn’t all nostalgia and soft piano music—there were confessions, some laughs, and a little bit of blunt truth.
The man who danced on rooftops in “Mary Poppins” and cracked up audiences on TV throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s made it clear: if he hadn’t ditched alcohol and cigarettes, he might not be around to blow out that 100th candle.
And he’s not sugarcoating any of it. He admitted to having what he calls an “addictive personality,” something he only recognized deep into adulthood. “If I liked something, I was going to overdo it,” he said.
That habit nearly derailed his life, until he checked himself into treatment for alcoholism in 1972. But even after ditching the drink, cigarettes dug their claws in deeper. He called quitting smoking “twice as hard” as quitting alcohol—and it wasn’t a quick fix. It took years.
Still, he credits those tough choices for his longevity—and maybe just as importantly, his peace of mind. Van Dyke swears that letting go of resentment and bitterness was every bit as life-extending as putting down the bottle. “Anger eats up a person’s insides,” he said, pointing to his own father’s early death at 73. Watching his dad stay perpetually upset about the state of the world taught him that stewing in negativity will age you faster than any cigarette ever could.
And here’s the thing—despite being fully aware that the end is somewhere close on the horizon, he says he’s not scared. Not even a little. Why would he be? He’s had a full, exciting life. He wakes up in a good mood.
He’s still smiling, still dancing. And when asked about living to 100, he cracked, “If I knew I’d live this long, I would’ve taken better care of myself.” Classic Dick.
Let’s not forget his wife, Arlene Silver—46 years younger and, according to him, the best decision he ever made. The age gap doesn’t faze either of them. “She keeps me in the moment,” he said. “She keeps me happy every day.” And if that’s not a fountain of youth, what is?
But hitting 100 isn’t all tap shoes and tea parties. He’s lost a lot of friends. Plans to remake “The Odd Couple” with his buddy Ed Asner were scrapped when Asner passed away. That’s the price of outliving everyone, as his wife put it. The upside? He’s still here. Still grateful. Still sharp. Still dancing.
