Profile of the Day: Dick Van Dyke

Posted December 13, 2018 by Amanda | No Comment

Dick Van Dyke

Happy birthday, Dick Van Dyke! Today the actor turns 93.

He was born on December 13, 1925 in West Plains, Missouri to Hazel McCord, a stenographer, and Loren Wayne Van Dyke, a salesman. Van Dyke can trace a branch of his family back to Mayflower passenger John Alden, who is his 9th great grandfather. After leaving high school in his senior year, Van Dyke tried to join the United States Army Air Forces for pilot training during World War II. Rejected several times for being underweight, Van Dyke was eventually accepted to serve as a radio announcer and later transferred to the Special Services to entertain the troops. Van Dyke would not receive his high school diploma until 2004 at the age of 78.

In 1961, Van Dyke became a household name when he landed the hit television show, The Dick Van Dyke Show. The classic sitcom also starred Mary Tyler Moore and ran for five seasons. In addition to his success on television, Van Dyke made many notable appearances on the big screen, including the classic musical Mary Poppins opposite Julie Andrews. Not only did he play chimney sweeper Bert, but he also took on the role of the banker, Mr. Dawes, Sr. In the upcoming sequel, Mary Poppins Returns starring Emily Blunt, Van Dyke returns as Dawes’s son, Mr. Dawes, Jr.

Explore Dick Van Dykes’s family tree on Geni and share your connection to the star!