Dick Van Dyke marked his 100th birthday on Saturday, and the Tony- and Emmy-winning actor says he’s not ready to slow down — or stop counting the years.
In a new interview with ABC News, the Mary Poppins star reflected on longevity while sharing insights from his recently published book, 100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist’s Guide to a Happy Life. For Van Dyke, staying active has been key.
“We go to the gym three days a week — my wife’s a health nut — and we work out,” he said, calling regular exercise advice that applies to everyone. The routine, he added, has helped him avoid many of the physical issues that often come with age. “I’m so lucky. I don’t have any ache or pain.”
Van Dyke, who shares a birthday with Taylor Swift, continues to keep a full schedule even as he enters his second century. In December 2024, he appeared in the director’s cut of Coldplay’s All My Love video. He also briefly held the distinction of being the oldest-ever Daytime Emmy winner at age 98, a record that was surpassed last month by 99-year-old Sir David Attenborough.
Centennial celebrations for the actor have been rolling out across his social media platforms, including a two-night-only Fathom Events retrospective and a fundraiser benefiting The Midnight Mission, a nonprofit supporting people experiencing homelessness — a cause Van Dyke has supported for decades.
Despite the milestone, Van Dyke says he doesn’t see 100 as an endpoint. “The funniest thing is, it’s not enough,” he said. “One hundred years is not enough. You want to live more, and I plan to.”
