In the 1964 classic musical Mary Poppins, Dick Van Dyke steals the show as Bert the chimney sweep, prancing across the London rooftops with a cheerfully soot-covered grin while belting out the iconic tune “Chim Chim Cher-ee.” But wait—there’s more! The legendary actor also plays the grumpy banker Mr. Dawes Sr., a role that nearly didn’t happen. “I had to beg Walt Disney to let me do it,” Dick recalls with a laugh. “He made me do a screen test, but once I got the part, I didn’t even charge extra. It was just such a blast!”

From Broadway to the Big Screen: A Seven-Decade Journey

With a career that has spanned an incredible seven decades, Dick Van Dyke, now 97 years young, has plenty of memories to reflect on. But back in the day, he wasn’t so sure where life would take him. “I never imagined I’d become an entertainer—I thought I’d probably end up starving,” he admits with a chuckle. Growing up in Illinois, Dick began performing in high school, and his service as an Army radio announcer during WWII eventually led him to Broadway. From there, his star continued to rise, shining brightly in television’s beloved The Dick Van Dyke Show, as well as in family-friendly musicals like Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Even today, Dick continues to inspire new generations of fans. “I’m getting so many letters from kids who’ve just discovered those old movies,” he says, beaming. “And you know what? I’m okay with being remembered more for Bert than anything else. That role will always hold a special place in my heart.”

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More Than Just Mary Poppins

Dick’s career didn’t stop at Mary Poppins, though. Over the years, he’s taken on a variety of roles, including playing the occasional villain. He also returned to series television with Diagnosis: Murder, which became a family affair with his son Barry and grandson Shane joining the cast. Dick has even authored several books, including 2015’s Keep Moving. “I wake up every morning ready to go, full of ideas,” he says. “I make lists of things I want to accomplish. There’s always something new to explore.”

Breaking Out on Broadway

In 1961, Dick won a Tony Award for his role in the original cast of Bye Bye Birdie. Performing alongside talents like Chita Rivera and Paul Lynde, Dick wowed audiences with his graceful moves during “Put On a Happy Face.” It was an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show that first introduced America to his incredible talent.

Creating Magic on The Dick Van Dyke Show

Less than a year after his Broadway triumph, Dick became the star of The Dick Van Dyke Show, a series created by Carl Reiner and featuring the incredible talents of Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie, and Morey Amsterdam. The show was a ratings sensation, earning four Emmys for Outstanding Comedy and three for its lead actor. “We were like family,” Rose Marie fondly recalled in 2017. “It was such a special time.”

Dick remembers those years as “the happiest, most creative five years of my life.” He loved how Carl encouraged them to improvise and occasionally sing and dance. “My favorite episode was the one where we all got to perform,” he shares.

A Crush on Mary Tyler Moore and Dancing with Julie Andrews

Over the course of The Dick Van Dyke Show, Dick developed a special bond with Mary Tyler Moore, who played his on-screen wife, Laura. “She had never done comedy before, but we developed a chemistry where we could read each other’s minds,” he recalls fondly.

During a break from the show, Dick teamed up with the legendary Julie Andrews for Mary Poppins. “I just got lucky with the leading ladies,” he jokes. “Julie is not only talented but also a joy to work with.” The summer they spent filming was pure magic. “I told Julie, ‘If I’m not having fun, I stink. But when I’m enjoying myself, I’m at my best,’” says Dick. “And we sure had a blast.”