Although he'd had small roles beforehand, Dick Van Dyke was launched to stardom in the 1960 musical "Bye-Bye Birdie" (for which he won a Tony Award), and then later in the movie based on that play, Bye Bye Birdie. He has starred in a number of films throughout the years (including Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Fitzwilly), as well as a number of successful television series (which won him no less than four Emmys), and three made-for-CBS movies. After separating from his wife Margie Willett in the 1970s, Dick later became involved with Michelle Triola Marvin. Margie and Dick had four children born during the first ten years of their marriage - Barry Van Dyke, Carrie Beth van Dyke, Christian Van Dyke and Stacy Van Dyke - all of whom are now in their forties and married themselves. He has seven grandchildren, including Shane Van Dyke, Carey Van Dyke, Wes, and Taryn (Barry's children), and family members often appear with him on Diagnosis Murder.
Often hosted game shows when he was a struggling actor. He hosted Mother's Day and Laugh Line but turned down The Price Is Right. His romantic companion for the last couple decades has been Michelle Triola Marvin. Brother of entertainer Jerry Van Dyke. Son Barry Van Dyke and grandson Carey Van Dyke also worked on Diagnosis Murder with him. Sons Barry Van Dyke and Christian Van Dyke also appeared in an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show. The storyline showed Dick visiting son Ritchie's grade school class for "Daddy's Day", when fathers visited the classroom to explain what they did for a living. Daughter Stacy Van Dyke guest starred on Diagnosis Murder, in the "Murder in the Family" (1996) TV Episode. Grandson Shane Van Dyke guest-starred in 14 episodes of Diagnosis Murder. According to his book "Those Funny Kids: A Treasury of Classroom Laughter", by age 11 he had grown to 6'1". Is ambidextrous. Served in the U.S. Air Force. He enlisted to be a pilot in the Army Air Corps during WWII, but initially did not make the cut because he did not meet the weight requirement (he was underweight). He tried 3 times to enlist, before barely making the cut. He actually served as a radio announcer during the war, and he did not leave the U.S. He and his wife, Margie, married on the radio show "Bride and Groom" because the show paid for the wedding rings, a honeymoon, and household appliances. After their wedding, the Van Dykes were so poor that they had to live in their car for a while. Beat out Johnny Carson for the role of Rob Petrie on what later became The Dick Van Dyke Show . He won a Tony Award for "Bye Bye Birdie" and a Grammy Award for the Mary Poppins soundtrack. His comic inspiration was Stan Laurel. He says he was able to find him by looking up his name in the phone book in Santa Monica, California, where Laurel lived. He called and Laurel invited him over. The two became good friends. When Laurel died, Van Dyke delivered his eulogy at the funeral. Says that his most memorable role is that of Burt the chimneysweep in Mary Poppins. Overcame alcoholism in the 1970s. Children: Christian Van Dyke, Barry Van Dyke, Stacy Van Dyke and Carrie Beth van Dyke. Grandchildren: Carey Van Dyke, Shane Van Dyke, Wes Van Dyke and Taryn Van Dyke. Great-granddaughter: Ava Van Dyke. Became a great-grandfather on July 26, 2001, when his grandson Carey Van Dyke (Barry Van Dyke's oldest child) and his wife Anne Van Dyke had a baby girl named Ava Van Dyke. He finally received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1992. But when the star was unveiled, his name was misspelled on the star as "VANDYKE". Being a good sport he laughed, took a pen and drew a slash between "VAN" and "DYKE". The star was corrected soon after. His album "Songs I Like By Dick Van Dyke" (Command Records, 1963), released at the height of his TV success and just before the release of Mary Poppins, was actually a best-seller, remaining on Billboard's top-40 albums chart for several weeks in late 1963-early 1964. In Britain, his attempt at a Cockney accent in Mary Poppins is so notorious that a "Dick Van Dyke accent" is an accepted slang term for an American's unsuccessful attempt at a British accent. Despite that, he is quite popular in Britain. In July, 1999 he was made an honorary life member of The Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA), Inc. at their annual International Convention in Anaheim, California. He sings bass in a quartet called "The Vantastix" with his former wife's stockbroker. The album "Songs I Like By Dick Van Dyke" was recorded on Friday, November 22, 1963. Early in the recording session the artists and orchestra were informed of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. In spite of the tragic news, and a deadline from Command Records that had to be met, the recording session continued to a successful conclusion - albeit in an emotionally-charged atmosphere. He said that he scarcely remembers the session because he was in such a state of shock after hearing the news. Rob Petrie, Van Dyke's role on The Dick Van Dyke Show, was ranked #22 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" [20 June 2004 issue]. He won a Grammy Award for the Mary Poppins soundtrack. Won Broadway's 1961 Tony Award as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Musical) for "Bye, Bye Birdie." Although he had light brown hair when he was in his 30s and 40s, he had blonde hair as a child. In his 30s and 40s he had a talent for playing crotchety, eccentric old men. He played this kind of role in Mary Poppins ("Mr. Dawes Sr.") and in a The Dick Van Dyke Show episode (where he played one of Rob Petrie's elderly relatives). Played Lionel Jeffries's son in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang even though Jeffries is actually six months his junior. Is a close friend of his The Dick Van Dyke Show co-star Mary Tyler Moore. Grew up in Danville, Illinois, with brother Jerry Van Dyke and fellow celebs Gene Hackman and Bobby Short. Was a graduate of Danville High School, where he was in the drama club.