Dick Van Dyke
Author of My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business: A Memoir
About the Author
Dick Van Dyke was born Richard Wayne Van Dyke on December 13, 1925 in West Plains, Missouri. He is best known for portraying Rob Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke show from 1961-1966. This show received four Emmy Awards as Outstanding Comedy Series and Van Dyke won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy show more Series. Van Dyke also starred on the Broadway stage in Bye Bye Birdie and The Music Man. He won the Best Actor Tony in 1961 for Bye Bye Birdie. He also starred in two classic children's movies, Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Van Dyke is the older brother of Jerry Van Dyke and the grandfather of actor Shane Van Dyke. He is an American actor, comedian, producer, and writer. His memoir, My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business, was was written in 2011. In 2014 this memoir was on the New York Times bestseller list. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Dick Van Dyke
Works by Dick Van Dyke
Never A Dull Moment [DVD] 2 copies
Dick Van Dyke Show 1 copy
A Twist of the Knife 1 copy
A Town Without Pity 1 copy
Without Warning 1 copy
Associated Works
Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul: Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit (Chicken Soup for the Soul) (1997) — Contributor, some editions — 1,374 copies, 4 reviews
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day [2014 film] (2014) — Actor — 95 copies, 1 review
The Dick Van Dyke Show: Vol.2: The Night the Roof Fell In / A Man's Teeth Are Not His Own / Give Me Your Walls — Actor — 21 copies
The Dick Van Dyke Show 3 Epidodes 1. Never Name a Duck 2. Bank Book 6565696 3. Hustling the Hustler — Actor — 16 copies, 1 review
The Wonderful World of Disney: Walt: The Man Behind the Myth [2001 TV episode] (2004) — Narrator — 14 copies
The Disney Collection: Volume 2: Original Soundtrack Recordings — Contributor — 12 copies
Double Mystery Pack: Murder 101 — Actor — 5 copies
The Dick Van Dyke Show: 6 Classic Episodes & Bonus Johnny Carson Show (2000) — Actor; Actor; Actor — 4 copies, 1 review
Diagnosis Murder // Movie Collection — Actor — 4 copies
Ronco Presents the Greatest Hits of Walt Disney [sound recording] — Artist — 3 copies
Diagnosis Murder: The Seventh Season — Actor — 2 copies
The Dick Van Dyke Show: The Night the Roof Fell In/A Man's Teeth Are Not His Own/Give Me Your Walls [DVD] — Actor — 2 copies
Let's Go Fly a Kite (from Mary Poppins) — Performer — 2 copies
Diagnosis Murder: The Eighth Season — Actor — 2 copies
The Dick Van Dyke Show: Bank Book 6565696 [1962 TV Episode] — Actor — 2 copies
The Dick Van Dyke Show: 8 Great Shows — Actor — 2 copies
The Gin Game [2003 film] — Actor — 2 copies
TV Classics: The Dick Van Dyke Show & Petticoat Junction — Actor — 2 copies
The Dick Van Dyke Show: Volume 1: 6 Episodes (Classic Television Series) — Actor — 2 copies
The Best of the Dick Van Dyke Show: 3 Episodes — Actor — 1 copy
Murder 101: College Can Be Murder [2007 TV episode] — Actor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Van Dyke, Dick
- Legal name
- Van Dyke, Richard Wayne
- Birthdate
- 1925-12-13
- Gender
- male
- Occupations
- actor
- Organizations
- Barbershop Harmony Society
- Awards and honors
- SAG, Lifetime Achievement Award (2013)
Tony Award (1960)
Emmy Award (1964 ∙ 1966)
Golden Globe Award
Hollywood Walk of Fame - Relationships
- Van Dyke, Barry (son)
Triola, Michelle (partner)
Van Dyke, Jerry (brother) - Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- West Plains, Missouri, USA
- Places of residence
- West Plains, Missouri, USA (birth)
Danville, Illinois, USA
Phoenix, Arizona, USA - Associated Place (for map)
- USA
Members
Reviews
100 Rules for Living to 100 was such a gem! Admittedly, I have never seen any of his movies or shows, but like most people, I know of Dick Van Dyke. It was so fascinating learning more about his story, and I found myself falling just a little bit in love with this sweet, funny, joyful gentleman. I loved the book's style, with him having a “rule” for living that is accompanied by a story about his life. I found myself laughing out loud, smiling like a crazy person, and even getting show more misty-eyed.
Tom Bergeron did an exceptional job with the audiobook. Most of the time, I forgot it was even him telling us the stories. I highly recommend 100 Rules for Living to 100 to everyone, young and old. Off to watch everything Dick Van Dyke has ever been in... show less
Tom Bergeron did an exceptional job with the audiobook. Most of the time, I forgot it was even him telling us the stories. I highly recommend 100 Rules for Living to 100 to everyone, young and old. Off to watch everything Dick Van Dyke has ever been in... show less
Wonderful and inspirational. He was 89 when he wrote this, is 95 now (96 in three weeks) and still moving! Love it! "Age is something you do not think about until it happens, and I am here to inform you it happens slowly, with a sneaky tap on the shoulder." I was born two months before his The Dick Van Dyke Show premiered... he did something so iconic 60 years ago! And some would think that at 60, I'd be "old"...I'm not (but I am getting that tapping more often!)
I like to intersperse memoirs show more in my readings - they give me a different perspective and more often than not, a lesson or three. With Mr. Van Dyke, there are more than "or three" lessons here. "Real love, as I have come to know it, is when you care about the other person as much as you care about yourself. You can’t make another person happy, but you can pave the way for them to make themselves happy." And "TIP: Old age is not the time to be scared. Instead, be curious."
Great stuff, recommended. One section resonated especially:
“So what do I think really matters?
1. Family and friends
2. Questions
3. Music
4. Books
5. A Sense of Humor”
He explains each, and I've just listed the bullets, but no surprise, these are all what matter to me as well (though I’d swap music and books!)
A few other selected tips and truths:
These are Baby Boomers, the generation who once screamed, “Hope I die before I get old.” That line should be rewritten, “Hope I die before I feel old.” That is the crux of the matter.
People make To-Do lists, and he suggests also making a "high-level, more philosophical To Do list,
This
I like to intersperse memoirs show more in my readings - they give me a different perspective and more often than not, a lesson or three. With Mr. Van Dyke, there are more than "or three" lessons here. "Real love, as I have come to know it, is when you care about the other person as much as you care about yourself. You can’t make another person happy, but you can pave the way for them to make themselves happy." And "TIP: Old age is not the time to be scared. Instead, be curious."
Great stuff, recommended. One section resonated especially:
“So what do I think really matters?
1. Family and friends
2. Questions
3. Music
4. Books
5. A Sense of Humor”
He explains each, and I've just listed the bullets, but no surprise, these are all what matter to me as well (though I’d swap music and books!)
A few other selected tips and truths:
These are Baby Boomers, the generation who once screamed, “Hope I die before I get old.” That line should be rewritten, “Hope I die before I feel old.” That is the crux of the matter.
People make To-Do lists, and he suggests also making a "high-level, more philosophical To Do list,
And then there is the list nobody makes, the NOT To-Do list.Yep. He was done with Christianity back in the 1960s ("lost my taste for organized religion"), but says he wasn't done with religion yet. He started going to Congregation Beth Ohr
1.Do not forget to exercise.
2.Do not stop being curious.
3.Do not forget to try new things—even a new flavor of ice cream will do.
4.Do not forget to open your mind every day.
5.Do not stop asking why do I believe what I believe.
6.Do not forget to smile.
7.Do not forget to make someone else smile.
I attended services for about six months and then lost touch with the rabbi until not too long ago when our paths happened to cross. He was in his nineties. “What do you do now?” I asked. “I’m still learning,” he said. “Still reading and learning.”Things to aspire to...
This
I remember bumping into Fred Astaire when he was in his early eighties, younger than I am now but still up there. “Do you still dance?” I asked. “Yes,” he said. “But it hurts now.” That might be the best summation I have heard of old age. You do the same things you always did—or try to—except that it hurts. You continue to move. It just takes longer.And
One last note: I hope I don’t come off in this book as thinking I know everything—I don’t. I don’t claim to know much of anything unless it involves lyrics and a tune. But I do know this:That's what I intend to do! show less
If you are young, get used to having old people around. There’s only going to be more of us—including you!
If you are middle-aged, don’t think about getting old.
If you are already old, congratulations, you now know what I know! There is no finish line. Stay open to whatever happens. Don’t be scared of dying. Be more frightened that you haven’t finished living. Make living a life achievement.
Keep moving.
Or, as the kids say, #KeepMoving.
I’ve been intending to listen to Dick Van Dyke’s memoir for years, and I finally got around to it. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t know who he was. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was one of my favorite childhood movies. I liked it better than Mary Poppins. I was too young for The Dick Van Dyke show its first time around, but I was a regular viewer when it aired on Nick at Night. Diagnosis Murder was one of my favorite series in the 90s, and I still enjoy reruns.
There was a lot I show more didn’t know about Dick Van Dyke. Since he’s the narrator for the audiobook, it was like having him sitting in the car with me on my commutes, except if he’d really been in the car with me, I think he’d have asked more questions of me than he’d reveal about himself. His curiosity about people and what he calls the “big questions” are perhaps the key to both his successful career and his longevity.
I learned a couple of surprising things in this book. Dick Van Dyke performed in high school dramas with Donald O’Connor of Singin’ in the Rain fame. His best friend in high school was a guy named Hackman, who had a younger brother Gene. It seems that Van Dyke was lucky to grow up in Danville, Illinois!
Several times Van Dyke mentions that he is proud that his body of work is family friendly. He wanted his performances to be something that parents and children could watch together without embarrassment, and he stuck to that commitment. I think that’s why it was so disappointing to hear him talk about his affair with Michelle Triola and his subsequent divorce from his wife Margie. Van Dyke said that Michelle understood him, which sounds an awful lot like the cliched “my wife doesn’t understand me.” I think Margie probably understood him a lot better than he gave her credit for. show less
There was a lot I show more didn’t know about Dick Van Dyke. Since he’s the narrator for the audiobook, it was like having him sitting in the car with me on my commutes, except if he’d really been in the car with me, I think he’d have asked more questions of me than he’d reveal about himself. His curiosity about people and what he calls the “big questions” are perhaps the key to both his successful career and his longevity.
I learned a couple of surprising things in this book. Dick Van Dyke performed in high school dramas with Donald O’Connor of Singin’ in the Rain fame. His best friend in high school was a guy named Hackman, who had a younger brother Gene. It seems that Van Dyke was lucky to grow up in Danville, Illinois!
Several times Van Dyke mentions that he is proud that his body of work is family friendly. He wanted his performances to be something that parents and children could watch together without embarrassment, and he stuck to that commitment. I think that’s why it was so disappointing to hear him talk about his affair with Michelle Triola and his subsequent divorce from his wife Margie. Van Dyke said that Michelle understood him, which sounds an awful lot like the cliched “my wife doesn’t understand me.” I think Margie probably understood him a lot better than he gave her credit for. show less
I have just finished reading this book and I feel great! I've got the genes and I'm going to make the most of it. I'm a mere 77 this year, born in 1940. I come away from this book written by a favourite actor, Dick Van Dyke who has reinforced in me the fact that you need to "Keep Moving" whether by memories and thought, dancing and exercising or just exercising your brain. These are brought home to me every day since Mom turned 100 Dec. 23, 2016 and my Dad turns 100 May 27, 2017, living in show more their own home and yes, they dance. They have a stuffed musical bear that sings; my Dad grabs the bear and Mom and away they go. Oh, his cousin also turned 100 in January, 2017. So yes, I have the genes. But now after reading "Keep Moving" I have the instruction book, so to speak.
While I was at Mom & Dad's last December, in fact right up to and after Mom's 100th birthday, she was reading this book. I was fascinated, because she doesn't read a lot of books. She kept telling me, "I'm really enjoying this book." With that in mind, when I came back home, I bought 2 of them, one for myself and one for my 94 year old neighbour, my lifeline and pal who I have shared so much history with since moving to northern BC and meeting her my first day only to learn that our lives have crossed many times in the past. We don't believe in growing older without a lot of laughter. She loved this book, and passed it on to our friend, and one of which we share our so-called "support group", and she is enjoying it, too. We all have problems of one kind or another, but when we all get together it's a wonder Tim Hortons doesn't throw us out for disturbing the peace, we are laughing that loud. So, Dick Van Dyke, one of my favourite actors and entertainers, you have done what you set out to do. Made a believer of me and my friends.
All that personal stuff aside, (I only included it because it shows just how much we enjoyed the book and follow the theme), this is a remarkable book on living without aging. The rest of the title is "And Other Tips and Truths About Living Well Longer" and certainly fills the bill. Now in his nineties, Dick Van Dyke is enjoying life as much and maybe more. He is still active, sings and dances and refuses to feel "old". I very highly recommend this book to everyone. Not just us "old folks" who are really 'way ahead of our predecessors for many reasons. Laughter, friendship, walking, exercising mind and body (crossword puzzles are great for keeping the mind active), all this and more will keep us young. So many memories in this book from the past and forming today as well. His advice to keep making new memories, don't just sit around, move or go out as much as you are physically able and ignore what you are not physically able, take up new interests you are capable of, music, jokes, laughter, friendship, all will keep you young. This isn't to say that Dick hasn't had his share of sadness having lost two life partners in his lifetime. His memories of these two women are fresh and young, and fortunately he has found his partner, his wife, who though younger is very much in tune with him. He has children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren he is proud of and enjoys. This book also brought back the work he accomplished that I grew up with, the sitcoms, the movies, who could forget "Mary Poppins" nor can I forget "Bye Bye Birdie" one that you don't really hear that much about any more, but I remember it. I didn't realize that he was in the air force during WWII, at the young age of 18. So many famous entertainers did go to war, and some lost their lives. This is a heart-warming book, nostalgic but not lessening in its message. Be young, age is just a number. I enjoyed every bit of this book as well as his conversations with other favourite performers. I still love the Dick Van Dyke show, as well as the other later ones. A very likable man who I hope will be with us a long time yet. show less
While I was at Mom & Dad's last December, in fact right up to and after Mom's 100th birthday, she was reading this book. I was fascinated, because she doesn't read a lot of books. She kept telling me, "I'm really enjoying this book." With that in mind, when I came back home, I bought 2 of them, one for myself and one for my 94 year old neighbour, my lifeline and pal who I have shared so much history with since moving to northern BC and meeting her my first day only to learn that our lives have crossed many times in the past. We don't believe in growing older without a lot of laughter. She loved this book, and passed it on to our friend, and one of which we share our so-called "support group", and she is enjoying it, too. We all have problems of one kind or another, but when we all get together it's a wonder Tim Hortons doesn't throw us out for disturbing the peace, we are laughing that loud. So, Dick Van Dyke, one of my favourite actors and entertainers, you have done what you set out to do. Made a believer of me and my friends.
All that personal stuff aside, (I only included it because it shows just how much we enjoyed the book and follow the theme), this is a remarkable book on living without aging. The rest of the title is "And Other Tips and Truths About Living Well Longer" and certainly fills the bill. Now in his nineties, Dick Van Dyke is enjoying life as much and maybe more. He is still active, sings and dances and refuses to feel "old". I very highly recommend this book to everyone. Not just us "old folks" who are really 'way ahead of our predecessors for many reasons. Laughter, friendship, walking, exercising mind and body (crossword puzzles are great for keeping the mind active), all this and more will keep us young. So many memories in this book from the past and forming today as well. His advice to keep making new memories, don't just sit around, move or go out as much as you are physically able and ignore what you are not physically able, take up new interests you are capable of, music, jokes, laughter, friendship, all will keep you young. This isn't to say that Dick hasn't had his share of sadness having lost two life partners in his lifetime. His memories of these two women are fresh and young, and fortunately he has found his partner, his wife, who though younger is very much in tune with him. He has children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren he is proud of and enjoys. This book also brought back the work he accomplished that I grew up with, the sitcoms, the movies, who could forget "Mary Poppins" nor can I forget "Bye Bye Birdie" one that you don't really hear that much about any more, but I remember it. I didn't realize that he was in the air force during WWII, at the young age of 18. So many famous entertainers did go to war, and some lost their lives. This is a heart-warming book, nostalgic but not lessening in its message. Be young, age is just a number. I enjoyed every bit of this book as well as his conversations with other favourite performers. I still love the Dick Van Dyke show, as well as the other later ones. A very likable man who I hope will be with us a long time yet. show less
Awards
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 18
- Also by
- 82
- Members
- 1,252
- Popularity
- #20,487
- Rating
- 3.8
- Reviews
- 70
- ISBNs
- 47
