Dick Van Dyke says he may be the only person still alive who actually knew and worked with Walt Disney, a piece of history he is proud to carry.
Known to fans as Mr. Dawes Jr. in the 1964 Disney classic. Maria PoppinsThe legendary actor reflected on his special connection with the studio founder during a recent Vandy High Tea event at his Malibu home.
Van Dyke, now 99, recalled meeting Disney in the early 1960s, just a few years before Disney died in 1966.
She described him fondly, calling him “a wonderful guy,” and then added with humor and honesty: “He just smoked too much! Damn.”
The conversation soon turned to Van Dyke’s own past habits. When his son Barry noticed that his father didn’t smoke much, Van Dyke laughed and corrected him.
“Actually, I smoked a lot!” He admitted and shared that it wasn’t until he was 50 that he realized he had “an addictive personality.” If he liked something, he said, he tended to take it too far.
The beloved actor explained that giving up cigarettes and alcohol many years ago is probably one of the main reasons he has lived such a long life.
“So I got rid of alcohol and cigarettes and all that, and that’s probably why I’m still here,” he told guests.
In 1972, he entered a hospital seeking help for his alcoholism problem and then worked just as hard to quit smoking, something he openly said was even harder to overcome.
Just days away from turning 100 on Dec. 13, Van Dyke said. PEOPLE He feels “very good” for his age.
While some days bring more energy than others, he says one thing remains constant: a joyful mindset. He never wakes up in a bad mood.
He credits that optimism for keeping him young at heart. He believes that avoiding negativity has been as important as healthy habits.
“Anger is something that eats away at a person’s insides… and hate,” he said.
“I was never able to generate a feeling of hate. I think that’s one of the main things that kept me going.”
Living proof of Hollywood history, still joyful, still grateful, Dick Van Dyke continues to shine, just as he did when he worked alongside Walt Disney himself.
