Dick Van Dyke opened up about the challenges of getting older and revealed what keeps him happy
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Reaching the age of 100 is something only a small number of people ever experience, with fewer than one in 100 men and one in 50 women making it to this major milestone. It is rare, remarkable, and often something people hope to celebrate with joy.
But for Dick Van Dyke, who is just shy of turning 100, the reality of growing older comes with emotional weight. The legendary actor has revealed that becoming a centenarian brings challenges that many never consider.
The 99-year-old star spoke candidly about the darker side of long life in a recent interview. He shared that he sometimes feels “diminished,” both “physically and socially,” as the years continue to add up and his world slowly becomes smaller.
Van Dyke, who officially turns 100 on December 13, reflected on the heartbreak of outliving so many of the people he once shared his life with. In an honest piece for the Times of London, he wrote about the deep grief tied to losing the people he loved most.
He mentioned his first wife, Margie Willett — whom he married in 1948 and later divorced in 1984 after raising four children together — and his longtime partner Michelle Triola, whom he spent nearly 30 years with after his divorce.
Both women died within a short window, passing away in 2007 and 2009. Van Dyke summed up that loss by saying: "Every single one of my dearest lifelong friends is gone, which feels just as lonely as it sounds,"
Van Dyke lived with his second partner Michelle Triola for 33 years, but the pair never married
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He also spoke about the physical and social toll of aging as he approaches his centennial birthday. Van Dyke explained that age-related limitations have changed the life he once enjoyed as a lively, outgoing performer who thrived in social settings.
His early career success — from The Dick Van Dyke Show in 1961 to starring roles in classics like Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang — turned him into a beloved household name. For decades he worked consistently, becoming one of Hollywood’s most enduring entertainers.
But now, after more than 60 years of regular work, he shared that his physical health makes it difficult to leave his California home to act, travel, or attend lavish gatherings, even though his mind remains sharp.
"That kind of travel takes so much out of me that I have to say no," the actor said, making it clear that the demands of travel and long days are no longer realistic for him.
Despite these challenges, Van Dyke revealed that he still feels motivated and active because of one important source of support — his wife, who is decades younger than he is.
He wrote: "Without question, our ongoing romance is the most important reason I have not withered away into a hermetic grouch... Arlene is half my age, and she makes me feel somewhere between two thirds and three quarters my age, which is still saying a lot."
Van Dyke married TV producer Arlene Silver in 2012 when he was 86 and she was in her early 40s. He has often spoken warmly about their relationship, sharing that she brings energy, stability, and joy to his life, even during difficult moments.
Still, he admitted that watching global events unfold has made it harder to remain hopeful. He said that the current climate can “turn anyone sour and dark – young and old,” describing how the state of the world weighs heavily on him.
The 99-year-old has previously criticized Donald Trump and publicly supported Bernie Sanders, and he said he finds today’s reality particularly upsetting.
Dick Van Dyke is married to a woman almost half his age, which is less of a feat when youre closing in on 100
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He said: "I just lived through two Southern California wildfires in less than a month, right out my front door, including the worst one in history. Daily, I spiral into anguish over the mayhem and cruelty being inflicted on the entire world by those in power. So yes, I suppose at certain times of day I am the grumpy old man who yells at the TV."
Even with all the heaviness he feels, Van Dyke shared that he still finds reasons to stay joyful as he nears his 100th birthday. Two of his lifelong passions — singing and dancing — continue to lift his spirits and remind him of who he has always been.
Reflecting on his long career and the experiences that shaped him, he added: "I have been in what I can only describe as a full-on bear hug with the experience of living. Being alive has been doing life not like a job but rather like a giant playground."