Starring Dick Van Dyke
Preview: 12/12/2025 | 2m 8sVideo has Closed Captions
Ahead of his 100th birthday, celebrate the life and career of iconic actor Dick Van Dyke.
Ahead of his 100th birthday, celebrate the life and career of legendary actor Dick Van Dyke. Known for iconic roles in Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and his classic CBS sitcom, he has delighted audiences on screen and stage for eight decades.
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Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo...
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Starring Dick Van Dyke
Preview: 12/12/2025 | 2m 8sVideo has Closed Captions
Ahead of his 100th birthday, celebrate the life and career of legendary actor Dick Van Dyke. Known for iconic roles in Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and his classic CBS sitcom, he has delighted audiences on screen and stage for eight decades.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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(children cheering) (light percussive music) - [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, Dick Van Dyke!
- Well, Dick Van Dyke was one of my idols growing up.
♪ Oh, supercalifragilistic ♪ - [Julie] My friend Dick Van Dyke is an all-round performer.
- [Carol] He can sing, he can dance, he's a comedian, he can do pratfalls and be funny.
And he's also very sexy.
(feet tapping) (Dick claps) (audience laughs) - He was always bubbling over.
- [Martin] He'd come in and then do a brilliant fall over an ottoman.
How could you not be seduced by that?
- [Interviewee 1] In a lot of ways, he was like a cartoon come to life.
- [Interviewee 2] He was funny even if he wasn't talking.
I mean, he could have done the silent films.
(laughs) - [Ted] Stan Laurel, Buster Keaton, I mean, talk about physical comedy, and Dick Van Dyke.
I mean, he is in that category of performance.
- Oh mercy.
(audience laughs) (fist smacks) - The power of Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Duke together was something we just hadn't seen.
- He was a very big part of my childhood.
Dick Van Dyke was on my television when I was a little kid and he was in the movies that I loved.
- [Carol] Dick is effortlessly funny.
- Whew, thank you.
- There's no limit to his talent.
- I know he's gonna make me laugh, but he can also make you cry and think.
- [Martin] Reinventing yourself is just simply surviving in show business.
So I think that he no doubt went from great opportunity to great opportunity.
And if you have a great deal of talent, then you can do it.
(light magical music) - [Conan] He's perfect in every single way.
(soft wondrous music)
Dick Van Dyke was an early advocate for civil rights
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 12/12/2025 | 1m 7s | On May 31st, 1964, Dick Van Dyke delivered a speech on race relations. (1m 7s)
How "The Dick Van Dyke Show" took inspiration from its leading man
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Clip: 12/12/2025 | 54s | Dick Van Dyke's love of physical comedy was incorpoated into his main character's persona. (54s)
Watch this footage from an unaired Dick Van Dyke pilot
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Clip: 12/12/2025 | 1m 58s | Dick Van Dyke showcases his physical comedy strengths with a short story. (1m 58s)
What made the opening credits of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" special
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Clip: 12/12/2025 | 1m 49s | There were two variants of the opening credits of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" involving an ottoman. (1m 49s)
Why Conan O’Brien had an "out-of-body experience" with Dick Van Dyke
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 12/12/2025 | 1m 7s | Conan O’Brien had a dream come true when Dick Van Dyke appeared on his show. (1m 7s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
Support for PBS provided by:
Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo...