Dick Van Dyke's Thoughts Pivot From Death To Secret Of Long Life

Dick Van Dyke is learning to count his blessings!

The legendary actor recalled a crucial decision he made about his lifestyle decades ago that actually paid off healthwise.

Dick Van Dyke is currently gearing up to mark his 100th birthday in a few days amid the excitement of releasing his new book, "100 Rules for Living to 100," last month.

Dick Van Dyke Credits Lifestyle Changes For Being Alive At 99

The TV star supplied a rebuttal to his son's initial statement that he did not smoke too much while he was younger. Van Dyke admitted that he did smoke a lot, but pulled the lever when he clocked 50 and realized he had an "addictive personality."

Van Dyke added that all the tweaks he had to make to his lifestyle over the years were probably the reason he became healthier and lived this long. "So I got rid of booze and cigarettes and all that stuff, which is probably why I'm still here," he noted.

The actor reportedly checked into a facility to find a way out of his alcoholism loop, and the journey bore one more positive fruit, which is to get rid of his smoking addiction. 

He, however, noted in 2023 that leaving the cigarettes behind was twice as hard. In light of these victories, Van Dyke told PEOPLE that he feels absolutely fabulous for 100 years and wakes up with better energy and mood than most people. 

"I've always thought that anger is one thing that eats up a person's insides, and hate. And I never really was able to work up a feeling of hate. I think that is one of the chief things that kept me going," Van Dyke concluded.

The 'Mary Poppins' Star Looked Back On His Early Years In Film

Van Dyke ruled the TV screens in the 60s, as Mr Dawes in Disney's "Mary Poppins," where he made his mark as one of the actors who worked directly with Walt Disney before his death from lung cancer in 1966.

Since then, he has gone on to feature in more hit TV projects like "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show." He has also won multiple Emmy awards (Primetime & Daytime), a Grammy award for his comedy album "Let's Sing with Dick Van Dyke”, and a Tony award.

Speaking about his experience in the industry so far, Van Dyke raved about the rare opportunity of people loving what they do to survive. He noted that the excitement to wake up every morning was something he always looked forward to.

The movie star continued: "I never forgot that I look forward to getting up every morning and going to work, because it's what I would've done for nothing."

Dick Van Dyke Cannot Get Past This Career Regret

The 99-year-old had looked back on a missed opportunity in his career, which would have served as a significant highlight. The actor confessed that his shaky British accent played a role in his not getting to play James Bond in the project.

Although the producer for the movie, Albert Broccoli, approached him with an offer to star in the film, he confided in him about his accent being a stumbling block. As shared by The Blast, Van Dyke noted that he and Broccoli had worked together on a previous project, hence the familiarity.

He also tied the accent to his appearance in "Mary Poppins" and how it may remind people of such a jovial character, which is a different tone than what James Bond entailed. Van Dyke added that it was not an easy decision to let go of such an iconic role in Hollywood history, which some prolific actors have played.

The Actor Spoke About The Effect Of Being Booked And Busy On His Family Life

Van Dyke is a proud father to four kids, but the start of his entertainment career left a huge impact on his bond with the children. As noted by The Blast, the actor welcomed two daughters and two sons with his late Margerie Willet.

The actor noted that he fought to bring his family out of poverty at the start of his career before luck finally smiled on him as an actor. From game shows to playing at nightclubs and other gigs, Van Dyke added that he barely got four hours of sleep.

When the fame came, it became a hassle to balance spending time with his family and showing up at work, especially given the fact that he had built a routine of being absent from his kids.

However, the actor is convinced his kids understood the things he had to do to lift his family out of poverty. "They probably got neglected at some point, because I was really working hard to get out of poverty, so to speak, but I haven't had any complaints from anybody," he noted.

The actor's second son, Barry, who he welcomed in July 1951, developed a passion for acting, but Van Dyke stalled his ambition because he wanted Barry to experience a normal childhood.

Dick Van Dyke Opened Up About The Ills Of Getting Older

The Hollywood icon reflected on the baggage that comes with aging as he gears up to celebrate his 100th birthday. According to him, he is beginning to learn how to maneuver a world that feels smaller by the day.

He described the downward slope of aging as very frustrating physically and socially, and taking work tips has become daunting. He revealed that he recently turned down a long-distance trip to Chicago and New York for work because the trips became too overwhelming for his body.

Nowadays, Van Dyke shared that most of the socializing is being done in the comfort of his home. He also cited another interesting thing about his new age, where he finds himself growing into his roles, unintentionally.

"Like my old characters, I am now a stooper, a shuffler, and a teeterer. I have foot problems, and I go supine as often as is politely possible," the actor shared.