Dick Van Dyke says he may be the only person alive who truly 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 Mary Poppinsthe legendary actor discussed his special bond with the studio founder during a recent Vandy High Tea event at his Malibu home.
Van Dyke, now 99, remembers meeting Disney in the early 1960s, just a few years before Disney died in 1966.
He described him fondly, calling him a “wonderful guy,” then added with humor and honesty, “He just smoked too much!”
The conversation quickly turned to Van Dyke’s past habits. When his son Barry noticed that his father didn’t smoke too much, Van Dyke laughed and corrected him.
“I actually smoked a lot!” he admitted, sharing 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 so long.
“So I got rid of the alcohol and the cigarettes and all that, that’s probably why I’m still here,” he told guests.
In 1972, he went to the hospital to get help for alcoholism, and later worked just as hard to quit smoking, which he openly said was even more difficult to overcome.
Just days before his 100th birthday on December 13, Van Dyke said PEOPLE he feels “really good” for his age.
Although some days bring more energy than others, he says one thing remains constant: a happy state of mind. He never wakes up in a bad mood.
He credits this optimism with remaining young at heart. He says avoiding negativity is just as important as adopting healthy habits.
“Anger is something that eats away at the inside of a person…and hatred,” he said.
“I’ve never really been able to feel a sense of hatred. I think that’s one of the main things that has kept me going.”
Living proof of Hollywood history, always joyful, always grateful, Dick Van Dyke continues to shine, just as he did when he worked alongside Walt Disney himself.
