I love Dick Van Dyke - as humble as he is talented. I dropped him a line some years back suggesting he do an entire book on his regular visits with his idol, Stan Laurel, in the early 1960s. Sort or his own "Tuesdays with Morrie." He mentioned them in his autobiography, but not more than a page or two.
I went to high school in Scottsdale, AZ with Mr. van Dyke's daughter Carrie. She was very sweet and never acted like the child of a famous entertainer.
Every year our speech and debate classes put on a huge talent show. Carrie was part of it and got her dad to surprise the audience during one act that was a takeoff on the Beatles "When I'm 64". He came out and did a little goofing around. The crowd went nuts. After the show, Carrie introduced me to him as if he was any other dad, and that's just how he acted.
A tremendously talented man, and gracious as well. Happy birthday!
It's wonderful that Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, and Carl Reiner are all still with us. Amazing when you consider, Bewitched,Gilligan's Island, and many other classic TV shows from that era have been hit hard.
What a great talent Dick Van Dyke was when I was a kid. The brilliance of the Dick Van Dyke Show made it best in class.
On one of his episodes, he gave a talk to his son's class about what he did. To show the essence of comedy, he slipped and nearly fell in the classroom. The kids laughed, and then he said the essence of comedy was surprise.
I only saw that episode once, but it stays with me decades later.
By the way, he did a very good appearance as a murderous photographer on the tv show, Columbo.
He's part of a generation that produced so many great writers and actors, and he always seemed to be a very nice man.
One of the few celebrities I've written to as an adult to say, "Thank you for your work."
The last years of my Mother-In-Law's life were spent with my wife and I. She was suffering from dementia and as anyone that has dealt with a person with that disease will tell you, there are good days and bad days, but a consistent event was her laughter every time I would show her a Dick Van Dyke episode on one of our DVD's.
I've enjoyed the show all my life, but I cannot thank him and all of the wonderfully creative people involved with the show for bringing joy to that wonderful woman's last years.
To further MikeK.Pa's point, I found out via his autobiography, he spoke at a Dr. Martin Luther King civil rights rally. I've read Vince Waldron's great book about the Dick Van Dyke show, and I've been a longtime fan, but I had never heard this before now.
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I love Dick Van Dyke - as humble as he is talented. I dropped him a line some years back suggesting he do an entire book on his regular visits with his idol, Stan Laurel, in the early 1960s. Sort or his own "Tuesdays with Morrie." He mentioned them in his autobiography, but not more than a page or two.
ReplyDeleteI went to high school in Scottsdale, AZ with Mr. van Dyke's daughter Carrie. She was very sweet and never acted like the child of a famous entertainer.
ReplyDeleteEvery year our speech and debate classes put on a huge talent show. Carrie was part of it and got her dad to surprise the audience during one act that was a takeoff on the Beatles "When I'm 64". He came out and did a little goofing around. The crowd went nuts. After the show, Carrie introduced me to him as if he was any other dad, and that's just how he acted.
A tremendously talented man, and gracious as well. Happy birthday!
It's wonderful that Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, and Carl Reiner are all still with us. Amazing when you consider, Bewitched,Gilligan's Island, and many other classic TV shows from that era have been hit hard.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great talent Dick Van Dyke was when I was a kid. The brilliance of the Dick Van Dyke Show made it best in class.
ReplyDeleteOn one of his episodes, he gave a talk to his son's class about what he did. To show the essence of comedy, he slipped and nearly fell in the classroom. The kids laughed, and then he said the essence of comedy was surprise.
I only saw that episode once, but it stays with me decades later.
By the way, he did a very good appearance as a murderous photographer on the tv show, Columbo.
He's part of a generation that produced so many great writers and actors, and he always seemed to be a very nice man.
Rob Petrie made us ALL want to be comedy writers. Happy Birthday, Dick.
ReplyDeleteShout out to the late Morey Amsterdam, who I believe may have played TV's first Jewish character. At least the first that I was aware of.
ReplyDeleteMike Barer: Um, no. See THE GOLDBERGS. (The 1940s-50s version).
ReplyDeleteMany Happy Returns, Mr. Petrie/Bert/Dr. Sloan (as long as you stay away from those burning Jaguars)!
ReplyDeleteOne of the few celebrities I've written to as an adult to say, "Thank you for your work."
ReplyDeleteThe last years of my Mother-In-Law's life were spent with my wife and I. She was suffering from dementia and as anyone that has dealt with a person with that disease will tell you, there are good days and bad days, but a consistent event was her laughter every time I would show her a Dick Van Dyke episode on one of our DVD's.
I've enjoyed the show all my life, but I cannot thank him and all of the wonderfully creative people involved with the show for bringing joy to that wonderful woman's last years.
To further MikeK.Pa's point, I found out via his autobiography, he spoke at a Dr. Martin Luther King civil rights rally. I've read Vince Waldron's great book about the Dick Van Dyke show, and I've been a longtime fan, but I had never heard this before now.
ReplyDeleteBravo!
Wow, he looks great for 89! He's not only my TV idol, but now he's also a role model for aging well.
ReplyDelete