Dick Van Dyke is celebrating a remarkable milestone: his 100th birthday. On December 13, the iconic actor reflected on his long and vibrant life, sharing that while he’s reached an impressive age, it’s not enough for him. “A hundred years is not enough; you want to live more,” he said in an interview with ABC News’ Chris Connelly, which aired on December 12. He added, “Which I plan to [do].”
Van Dyke credits much of his positive outlook to his wife, Arlene Silver, who is 54 years old. In their conversation, he expressed gratitude for her presence in his life. “She kept me young,” he said. “She gives me energy. She gives me humor and all kinds of support.”
Silver, who has been with Van Dyke since they met when he was 81, shared her own thoughts on his longevity during a Dec. 13 Instagram livestream. “Thank you, God, he made it,” she said. “He’s feeling good, looking good, sounding good.” She also emphasized the importance of their relationship. “It’s an accomplishment for me, also, to get him to a hundred,” she continued. “I don’t think he would have made it if … we have a very special connection, and he’ll say I keep him young, I invigorate him and all this stuff. So I feel like the combination of the two of us has got him here, besides his genes and an optimistic attitude.”
Silver praised her husband’s resilience, noting that despite his age, he remains mentally and physically present. “He’s here, mind, body, you know? He’s slower, but man, he’s here.” However, Van Dyke has not avoided the challenges of aging. When asked about what is “hard” about being 100, he admitted, “I miss movement.” He explained that he has one game leg from an unknown cause and still tries to dance.
In a November essay published in the Sunday Times, Van Dyke opened up about his physical struggles, including foot problems, declining eyesight, and difficulty maintaining focus in group conversations. He also mentioned his frequent complaints about his hearing aids. “It’s frustrating to feel diminished in the world, physically and socially,” he wrote. “If I miss too many gym days, I really can feel it – a stiffness creeping in here and there. If I let that set in, well, God help me.”
Despite these challenges, Van Dyke has maintained an impressive fitness routine for years. He recently released a book titled “100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist’s Guide to a Happy Life,” which outlines his approach to aging gracefully. Van Dyke told Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen on the “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” podcast that he still exercises three days a week. “We go to the gym, still, three days a week,” he said. “I get down and do a lot of stretching and yoga-type things, sit-ups. And they have machines … something for almost every exercise.”
Van Dyke often uses public opportunities to showcase his vitality, such as dancing in Coldplay’s “All My Love” music video in 2024. In the seven-minute director’s cut, he shared his reflections on a long career in Hollywood and the meaning of love. “I think I’m one of those lucky people who got to do for a living what I would have done anyway,” he said. “I got to do what I do. Play and act silly.”