Dick Van Dyke, 97, says wife half his age is his secret

The Hollywood legend has opened up on his “beautiful” 51-year-old wife, Arlene, saying she “takes care of him” and “keeps him going”.

Dick Van Dyke says being married to someone nearly half his age has kept him "feeling young". Pictures: Getty

Dick Van Dyke is set to celebrate his 98th birthday later this year, and the Hollywood veteran shows no signs of slowing down.

The Mary Poppins legend — who recently wowed crowds with a live performance on The Masked Singer — spoke out about defying the ageing process in an interview with Yahoo, saying there are four things that help him maintain his youthful vigour.

Van Dyke first credited his good genes for the fact he feels fabulous at the age of 97.

Secondly, the actor said that his 51-year-old wife, Arlene Silver, was instrumental in helping him feel young.

“Having a beautiful young wife half my age to take care of me (helps),” the actor gushed over his spouse of 11 years.

Meanwhile, Van Dyke added that a “positive attitude” was key to keeping healthy, stating: “I get that from my wife.”

Dick Van Dyke credits his wife Arlene Silver for keeping him young. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for AFI)

Lastly, the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang star said exercise was important for people of all ages — but particularly for those in their older years.

“I wrote a book called ‘Keep Moving‘: I still go to the gym three days a week and work out,” he shared.

“I advise everybody to do that, because that’s what ages people — it’s just a stiffening up and not exercising their muscles and their lungs,” he added. “Exercise is the answer.”

Last year, the actor was photographed looking fit and fabulous as he left his local gym in California.

Back in 2019, he told Closer: “I’ve always been an exerciser and still am … I get in the pool and exercise. At my age, they say to keep moving. Put me on solid ground and I’ll start tapping.”

Van Dyke revealed he does water aerobics, lifts weights and walks on a treadmill.

Van Dyke is going strong at 97. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Van Dyke feared his fans would think Silver was a gold digger. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images)

Van Dyke has also spoken with Closer about his relationship with Silver, whom he first met at the 2007 Screen Actors Guild Awards when he was 81 and she was 35.

The pair initially became friends before their relationship turned romantic.

“We share an attitude,” Van Dyke said cooingly of his wife. “She can go with the flow. She loves to sing and dance, which we do almost every day. She’s just delightful.”

The star initially worried that fans would think his much-younger spouse was a gold digger, but was thankful to find his were fears unfounded when no one voiced such sentiments.

Elsewhere in his interview with Yahoo, Van Dyke spoke out about how Brits have slammed him for the cockney accent he put on as Bert the Chimney Sweep in Mary Poppins.

“Americans really weren’t too critical of it,” he stated. “But the British have never let me off the hook to this day about my terrible cockney accent.”

Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews in scene from Mary Poppins.

The actor revealed that Disney even sent a dialect coach to teach him how to speak in the distinctive voice and that his co-stars never criticised his take on the traditionally East London-native twang.

“Here I was, I was surrounded by actors who were all British, and nobody had ever said anything about my accent,” said Van Dyke. “I just did the best I could. But the British, they’re still kidding me like, ‘Um, what part of England were you supposed to be from, again?’”

During his recent appearance on The Masked Singer, Van Dyke was praised by the show’s judges.

“I love you so much, we love you, the whole world loves you so much. It’s an honour to have you on our show,” gushed Nicole Scherzinger. “I can’t believe you’re here, I’m trying to play it cool. You look so gorgeous, you look so handsome.”

“This is the most seasoned and decorated entertainer we’ve had on our show, ladies and gentlemen,” declared host Nick Cannon in the aftermath of the reveal.

This article was originally published by the New York Post and reproduced with permission

Originally published as Dick Van Dyke, 97, says wife half his age is his secret