Dick Van Dyke took home an Emmy on Saturday, September 7th. Van Dyke won his 4th Emmy in the category of Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) for Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic.
In a post-show interview, when asked what he wished to be remembered for, the 98-year-old actor joyfully responded:
“For laughter.”
The “Mary Poppins” actor paused briefly, as if to ponder the question, and continued by saying:
“For making people laugh for 75 years, I’ve been in the business for 75 years; I can’t believe that I’m still here & performing!”
Van Dyke then laughed and said jokingly, “I’m looking for work if anybody needs.” The comedy actor left no joke unsaid during his interview.
Watch the heartwarming interview below!
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Dick Van Dyke’s Advice To Young Actors
As the interview continued, Van Dyke was asked what advice he would give to younger actors. He responded thoughtfully:
“You have to stick with it. You’re gonna go through hard times and a lot of auditions … but you have to stay with it.”
He continued to say:
“Be patient if you’ve got the confidence in yourself, and it’s very important to believe that you can do it.”
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Dick Van Dyke Shared His Most Memorable Project
During the interview, when asked about the most memorable project in his 75 years of making people laugh, many expected Van Dyke to mention Mary Poppins or Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, his blockbuster hits. Instead, he recalled working on the Dick Van Dyke Show because of his love for the people. He said:
“The five years on the ‘Dick Van Dyke Show’ was the most fun I ever had. It was a pleasure to come to work with that group. We just had a ball every day; half the show was ad-libbed, and we did it in front of an audience, which most sitcoms don’t, and it makes all the difference.”
Watch the full interview below!
