By Peter.
Ahead of his 100th birthday on December 13, the legendary Dick Van Dyke is spilling the tea in his new book 100 Rules for Living to 100: the #1 reason he’s still dancing, singing, and thriving?
His wife Arlene Silver, 54 — a 46-year age gap he says keeps him forever young.
“Arlene is half my age and makes me feel two-thirds to three-quarters mine. Every day she finds new ways to keep me moving, hopeful, and needed,” he writes. “She’s my soulmate, my love, my logistics manager, and the reason I’m not a grumpy old hermit.”
They met in 2006 when she was a makeup artist at the SAG Awards. He emailed her the next day: “I was so smitten I forgot how to speak.” By 2012 they were married.
Arlene says Burning Man made her realize: “When you love like this, age is the last thing that matters. This is the happiest I’ve ever been.”
Dick still performs with his a cappella group The Vantastix (Arlene books the gigs on two phones at once), starred in Coldplay’s “All My Love” video last year, and shrugs off turning 100 with zero fear:
“I could go any day now… and I’m not afraid. I’m one of the lucky ones who got paid to play and act silly my whole life.”
Moral of the story, according to the man himself? Stay in love, stay silly, stay moving.
Happy early 100th, legend. ❤️ #DickVanDyke #AgeIsJustANumber #LivingTo100
