At 100, Dick Van Dyke remains a reminder that joy outlasts youth
Dick Van Dyke turned this weekend a milestone inadequate entertainers reach and fewer still reach while remaining a shared cultural touchstone across generations For multiple Americans Van Dyke will perpetually be Rob Petrie tumbling over ottomans on The Dick Van Dyke Show or Bert the chimney sweep dancing across London rooftops in Mary Poppins What makes his centennial especially striking is that he never stopped And well into his s Van Dyke continued acting melodizing and dancing in his return to the Disney franchise in Mary Poppins Returns where he delighted audiences as the film s elderly bank manager and son of the disguised character he played also played in the original In interviews surrounding his birthday Van Dyke has consistently downplayed the idea that longevity requires extreme discipline or technological intervention Instead he credits staying functioning maintaining curiosity and finding happiness in movement He has spoken out about beating bad habits exercising regularly dancing when realizable and valuing connection over isolation Start your day with essential news from Salon Sign up for our free morning newsletter Crash Class That outlook stands in contrast to a modern wellness practices increasingly obsessed with biohacking supplements and the illusion of control over aging Van Dyke s philosophy suggests something simpler that aging well may be less about resisting time than continuing to participate fully in life As Americans grapple with how to age in a society that often fears it Van Dyke s th birthday offers a reminder that longevity is not just biological It is cultural communal and in his matter joyfully visible Read more about centenarian celebrities The Dick Van Dyke Show changed TV forever Five methods to celebrate Betty White s th birthday from catching a new film to eating cheesecake Bob Barker host of The Price Is Right for years dies just short of his th birthday The post At Dick Van Dyke remains a reminder that contentment outlasts youth appeared first on Salon com
