Legendary actor and entertainer Dick Van Dyke is set to turn 100 this December, and fans across the country will have the chance to celebrate the milestone with a new theatrical documentary chronicling his life and career.
“Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration” will screen in select theaters Dec. 13–14 through Fathom Entertainment, coinciding with the centennial of one of Hollywood’s most enduring performers.
“It’s wonderful; a total surprise for me,” Van Dyke said in a statement filmmakers shared with The Associated Press. “If you don’t think luck has a lot to do with it, then you’re mistaken.”
The documentary has been in production for over 30 years and includes never-before-heard stories from Van Dyke, who reflects on his eight-decade career in entertainment. The film features archival footage and classic clips from “Mary Poppins,” “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “Diagnosis: Murder,” among others.
Also included is a segment highlighting Van Dyke’s return to his hometown of Danville, Illinois, where he revisits formative locations such as his childhood home, the radio station where he got his start at age 16, and his high school auditorium stage.
Director Steve Boettcher, who began interviewing Van Dyke more than three decades ago, also spoke with many of Van Dyke’s longtime collaborators — among them Mary Tyler Moore, Carl Reiner, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam, Betty White, Tim Conway and Chita Rivera — all of whom have since died.
“We’re really excited about the film,” Boettcher said. “It reflects the spirit of Dick Van Dyke — there’s music, laughter, and heartfelt moments. It’s pure entertainment.”
Tickets for the two-day screening event go on sale Oct. 31.
Dick Van Dyke’s legacy
Van Dyke’s career began on Broadway in 1959 with “The Girls Against the Boys,” but he gained widespread acclaim for his Tony Award-winning role in “Bye Bye Birdie.” His success on stage led to his breakout television role in “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” which earned him multiple Emmy Awards and solidified his place in television history.
His film career included iconic performances in family classics such as Disney’s “Mary Poppins” (1964) and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” (1968). In recent years, he has continued to make headlines with appearances at the Kennedy Center Honors, a surprise cameo in “Mary Poppins Returns” (2018), and a performance on “The Masked Singer” at age 97.
Van Dyke is one of a small number of Hollywood legends to reach the age of 100 — fewer still with such an active and celebrated presence in American culture.