Top 10 Most Nostalgic Dick Van Dyke Moments | 100th Birthday
#10: That Coldplay Video
“All My Love” (2024)
Nobody ever accused the iconic Dick Van Dyke of sitting on his laurels as a performer. This living legend of Hollywood starred in this music video for the Coldplay song “All My Love” back in 2024. It’s admirable how Dick Van Dyke risked a disconnect between Coldplay’s audience and his own by producing and starring in the video, which displays some of the performer’s classic career moments. The reverse proved to be true, since “All My Love” felt so sincere and genuine in its execution, a nice bit of connective tissue between two different generations of artists with a palpable feeling of mutual respect.
#9: His Variety Show
“Van Dyke and Company” (1976)
Variety shows were big business back in the 1970s, to the point where basically anybody could go on network TV with an all-singing, all-dancing comedic revue. Some of these were blink-and-you-missed-them affairs, including Dick Van Dyke’s own variety show from 1976. This doesn’t speak to a lack of quality for “Van Dyke and Company,” however, since the show earned critical praise back in its day for combining old-school Hollywood with the new. Legends like Carol Burnett and Lucille Ball appeared on “Van Dyke and Company” alongside younger talent like Chevy Chase and Andy Kaufman, who made his primetime television debut on the show.
#8: An Absurdist Cult Classic
“Cold Turkey” (1971)
Two incredibly unique creative minds met back in 1971 on the set of “Cold Turkey.” This was a film written and directed by the legendary Norman Lear of “All in the Family” fame, his only big-screen directorial credit. Dick Van Dyke leads an outstanding ensemble cast in “Cold Turkey,” which tells the story of a small town that’s offered 25 million dollars if the entire populace can stop smoking cigarettes for a month. Lear’s film received positive reviews from the likes of Roger Ebert and Vincent Canby, but was relegated to history’s bin of obscurity. Luckily, word of mouth led to “Cold Turkey” earning a reputation as a cult classic
#7: His Emmy Nomination
“The Morning After” (1974)
The made-for-television movie was another medium on the small screen that enabled a lot of unique stories to be told and delivered to a wide home audience. Dick Van Dyke was nominated for an Emmy Award back in 1974 for his work on one such TV movie, “The Morning After.” This tale of substance use disorder was a personal one for Van Dyke, who had sought treatment of his own concurrent with his work on the film. “The Morning After” doesn’t offer a neat or tidy ending to the story of Van Dyke’s character, offering up a realistic depiction of one man’s struggle with alcohol and how it destroys his life.
#6: A Return to Television
“Diagnosis: Murder” (1993-2001)
Dick Van Dyke proved that he still had what it took to carry a weekly television program back in 1993 when he starred in this spin-off from the successful crime series, “Jake and the Fatman.” “Diagnosis: Murder” utilized Van Dyke’s inimitable charm to its best possible extent, as the show evolved from spin-off to television film to a full-blown, successful series. Van Dyke made the show a family affair since it co-starred his real-life son Barry, and often saw other relatives of its lead making guest appearances. This mystery procedural retained Dick Van Dyke’s notably “clean” style of comedy while never coming across as hokey or uninteresting. It was just good television.
#5: “Me Ol’ Bamboo”
“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” (1968)
Dick Van Dyke performed the Oscar-nominated title song for his 1968 hit, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” This was just one of many moments from the film that helped go on to define Van Dyke’s reputation as an A-list talent. Elsewhere, his performance on the tune “Me Ol’ Bamboo” showcased the actor’s fancy footwork, as he delivered on the scene’s challenging choreography with grace and charm. “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” is almost always on everyone’s short list of Dick Van Dyke movie classics… and it’s easy to see why, too.
#4: Getting Dramatic
“The Comic” (1969)
Every actor wants to be a success, but what happens when lightning strikes in one place, and you also want to move elsewhere? Dick Van Dyke wisely escaped being typecast with 1969’s “The Comic,” a movie directed by Carl Reiner that allowed for the funny man to get dramatic for a big-screen role. It’s the funeral of Van Dyke’s character Billy Bright that sets the wheels of “The Comic” into motion, as a flashback narrative allows Van Dyke to play multiple roles with varying moods. It was a film that didn’t do well during its initial release, but has since been reevaluated as a pivotal point for Dick Van Dyke’s evolution as a performer.
#3: His Film Debut
“Bye Bye Birdie” (1963)
Dick Van Dyke reprised his role from the original Broadway show “Bye Bye Birdie” for this 1963 film adaptation, his official debut for the big screen. The movie was a huge smash not only for Van Dyke, but also for co-star Ann-Margret, and featured now-iconic numbers such as “Put on a Happy Face.” “Bye Bye Birdie” helped Van Dyke prove himself as a viable movie star, enabling him to transition from success on the small screen to a career with more varied options being made available. Options that would see Dick Van Dyke be gainfully employed for the rest of his life.
#2: “Chim Chim Cher-ee”
“Mary Poppins” (1964)
Back-to-back hits were in the cards for Dick Van Dyke back in the early sixties, with “Mary Poppins” following up “Bye Bye Birdie” in 1964. Granted, Van Dyke himself has long apologized for the…let’s go with the “broad” approach he took for a cockney accent in “Mary Poppins.” However, there’s also no denying how songs like “Chim Chim Cher-ee” went on to define Dick Van Dyke’s career from the early sixties, right on through to the modern day. His cameo in 2018’s “Mary Poppins Returns,” served as a reminder of his timeless appeal. And a delightful tribute from Derek Hough during “The Wonderful World of Disney: Disneyland 60” shows Dick Van Dyke’s lasting impact on generations of fans.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Being Revealed as The Gnome, “The Masked Singer” (2019-)
An Emotional Reveal
His & Tim Conway's Dance Goes Awry, “The Carol Burnett Show” (1967-78)
A Chaotic & Funny Sketch
Doing His Own Stunts, “Night at the Museum” (2006) Van Dyke Gives Life to Cecil the Security Guard
A Soap Star in His Nineties, “Days of Our Lives” (1965-)
Van Dyke Received a Daytime Emmy Award At 98!
A Rare Villain Role, “Dick Tracy” (1990)
Chewing the Scenery as a Corrupt D.A.
#1: An Iconic Opening
“The Dick Van Dyke Show” (1961-66)
The relationship between Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore wasn’t just notable for the pair’s on-screen chemistry during “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” It also spoke to how both actors helped legitimize the sitcom as a medium for compelling and entertaining storytelling. “The Mary Tyler Moore Shows”’s seventies setting may have benefited from being able to deal with more mature themes, but it was “The Dick Van Dyke Show” that helped make both stars back in the early sixties. The show’s all-time classic opening, where Van Dyke trips over an ottoman, has been parodied by everything from “Family Guy” to “WandaVision” over the years… almost always with love, affection, and appreciation for the Dick Van Dyke legacy.
What are some older, classic shows or performers that continue to resonate with younger generations? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
