celebrities
February 20, 2023 | 3:42 p.m
The ‘Mary Poppins’ actor has revealed that being married to someone almost half his age makes him ‘feel young’.
Paul Morigi
Dick Van Dyke will celebrate his 98th birthday later this year, and the Hollywood veteran is showing no signs of slowing down.
The “Mary Poppins” legend – who wowed crowds with a recent live performance on “The Masked Singer” – spoke about defying the aging process in an interview with Yahoo, saying there are four things that help it to preserve his youthful vigor.
Van Dyke first credited his good genes with making him feel fabulous at the age of 97.
Second, the actor said his 51-year-old wife, Arlene Silver, was instrumental in making him feel young.
“Having a beautiful young wife half my age to take care of me [helps]’ the actor gushed of his 11-year-old wife.
Meanwhile, Van Dyke added that a “positive attitude” is key to staying healthy, explaining, “I get that from my wife.”
Van Dyke and Silver tied the knot in 2012 and have been happily together ever since. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok
Finally, the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang star said exercise is important for people of all ages — but especially the elderly.
“I wrote a book called ‘Keep Moving’: I still go to the gym and work out three days a week,” he shared.
“I advise everyone to do this because that’s what ages people – it’s just a stiffening and not a workout for their muscles and 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.
He told Closer back in 2019, “I’ve always been an athlete and I still am… I go to the pool and work out. At my age it’s important to keep moving. Put me on solid ground and I’ll start tapping.”
Van Dyke revealed that he does aqua aerobics, lifts weights and walks on a treadmill.
The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang star said exercise is important for people of all ages – but especially the elderly.Getty Images
Van Dyke has also spoken to Closer about his relationship with Silver, who he first met at the 2007 Screen Actors Guild Awards when he was 81 and she was 35.
The couple initially became friends before their relationship turned romantic.
“We share an attitude,” Van Dyke cooed about his wife. “She can go with the flow. She loves to sing and dance, which we do almost every day. She is just lovely.”
The star initially worried that fans would think his much younger spouse was a gold digger, but was grateful his fears were unfounded when no one expressed such sentiments.
The happy couple are pictured together in 2017. moviemagic
Elsewhere in his interview with Yahoo, Van Dyke spoke about how Brits slammed him for the Cockney accent he used as Bert the Chimney Sweep in Mary Poppins.
“Americans really weren’t too critical,” he said. “But the Brits have never let me off the hook to this day because of my horrible Cockney accent.”
The actor revealed that Disney even sent a dialect coach to teach him how to speak in the distinctive voice and his co-stars never criticized his take on the traditional East London twang.
“Here I was, surrounded by actors who were all British and no one had ever said anything about my accent,” said Van Dyke. “I just did my best. But the Brits still joke with me, ‘Erm, which part of England would you be from again?’”
“Americans really weren’t that critical,” the actor said of his Cockney accent on Mary Poppins.Courtesy of the Everett Collection
During his recent appearance on The Masked Singer, Van Dyke received praise from the show’s judges.
“I love you so much, we love you, the whole world loves you so much. It’s an honor to have you on our show,” said Nicole Scherzinger. “I can’t believe you’re here, I’m trying to keep my cool. You look so gorgeous, you look so good.”
“This is the most experienced and successful entertainer we’ve ever had on our show, ladies and gentlemen,” said host Nick Cannon after the reveal.
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