At 99 years old, Dick Van Dyke still moves with the same infectious energy that made him a household name more than half a century ago. In a world where most people slow down, the Hollywood legend seems to have pressed the opposite button — and now he’s finally shared what keeps him so astonishingly young.
Appearing in a candid new interview with CBS Mornings, Van Dyke laughed as he spoke about hitting 99 and still feeling “like a kid with tap shoes.” His voice, filled with warmth and mischief, carried the same spark fans remember from Mary Poppins and The Dick Van Dyke Show. “People ask me what the secret is,” he said. “It’s simple — keep moving, keep laughing, and marry someone half your age.”
He was, of course, joking — but only partly. Van Dyke credits much of his happiness and health to his 52-year-old wife, Arlene Silver, whom he met when she was working as a makeup artist. “She’s my fountain of youth,” he told People. “We dance every day, we laugh every day. I think that’s why I’m still here.”
“At 99, Dick Van Dyke says the secret to life is simple: dance, laugh, and stay in love.” @CBSMornings
Even now, Van Dyke maintains a fitness routine that would put men half his age to shame. “I do a little stretching, some light weights, and dancing,” he said. “If you can’t find joy in movement, you’ll rust.” His personal trainer recently told Men’s Health that Van Dyke works out three times a week and focuses on balance and coordination. “He insists on doing his own stunts when possible,” the trainer said. “He’s got the heart of a 25-year-old.”
Fans were left in awe earlier this year when Van Dyke appeared as a surprise contestant on The Masked Singer at 97, performing a charming rendition of “When You’re Smiling.” The video of his reveal went viral, with one viewer writing on X: “He’s 97 and still performing better than half of Hollywood!”
Now, as he approaches 100, Van Dyke’s optimism has only grown stronger. “I never think about age,” he said in an interview with TODAY. “If you start counting birthdays, you start feeling them. I just count the laughs.”
“Dick Van Dyke is 99 and still tap dancing. He says joy is the best medicine.” @TODAYshow
When asked about his daily routine, the actor said it’s not just about exercise — it’s about attitude. “I wake up happy,” he said. “If I’m breathing, I dance. If I can dance, I laugh. That’s my philosophy.”
Experts say his approach actually has science behind it. Geriatric psychologist Dr. Sarah Mendel explained, “Positive outlook and physical movement are two of the strongest predictors of longevity. What Van Dyke embodies is resilience through joy — it literally rewires the brain.”
His wife Arlene agrees. In a clip shared on Instagram, she called him “a living example of love in motion.” She added, “He never complains, never slows down, and somehow he makes everyone around him happier just by walking into the room.”
That same spirit was on full display when Van Dyke received a Kennedy Center Honor at 95. During his speech, he joked that his biggest secret was “good genes, good friends, and good music.” But after the applause died down, his tone softened. “Laughter,” he said quietly, “is the closest thing we have to magic.”
“‘Laughter is the closest thing to magic.’ — Dick Van Dyke on the secret to life.” @Variety
Despite nearly a century of fame, Van Dyke remains remarkably humble. He’s often seen volunteering at children’s hospitals or surprising fans at dance studios. Just last month, a viral video showed him singing “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” with a group of local kids — no microphone, just pure joy. “It’s moments like that that keep me young,” he told The Los Angeles Times. “The world can be heavy. You have to make your own sunshine.”
Asked if he fears death, Van Dyke smiled. “Not at all,” he said. “I’ve had the best time imaginable. When it’s over, I hope they say, ‘He made us smile.’ That’s all I ever wanted.”
Social media lit up with tributes after the interview aired. One fan wrote, “99 years old and still dancing — Dick Van Dyke is the definition of ageless joy.” Another said, “If positivity were a person, it would be him.”
“99 years of laughter, love, and tap shoes — Dick Van Dyke is unstoppable.” @ETnow
As his 100th birthday approaches next December, Van Dyke hinted that he’s already planning something “unforgettable.” Friends say it may involve a dance number — naturally. “He said he wants to go out the way he came in,” Arlene laughed. “Singing, dancing, and cracking a joke.”
Whether it’s his lifelong love of movement, his laughter, or simply the light he brings to others, Dick Van Dyke’s vitality seems to defy time itself. “The trick isn’t to avoid getting old,” he said with a grin. “It’s to make sure you never grow up.”
