Dick Van Dyke Bio - Dick Van Dyke Biography

Dick Van Dyke: Biography

Richard Wayne Van Dyke was born in West Plains, Missouri but actually grew up in Danville, Illinois, the very same birthplace that he used for his most popular and well known character, Robert Petrie from his titular sitcom, "The Dick Van Dyke Show".

Growing up Mr. Van Dyke was heavily influenced by his big screen idol Stan Laurel from the silent film era comedy duo "Laurel & Hardy", which inspired him to go into show business.

After appearing in high school plays and community theater productions in his youth, he enlisted in the US Air Force. Due to being very under weight, he had to try 3 times before being accepted. Dick Van Dyke didn't see any action, instead was a radio DJ for the Army Air Corps. and never left the US.

After some local comedy shows in Atlanta and New Orleans, he signed on with CBS in 1956. He did some game show work, and debuted his acting talents in an episode of "The Phil Silvers Show".

He left CBS for Broadway and starred in "Bye-Bye Birdie" which won him a Tony Award. Carl Reiner, saw him in the play and signed him up for the lead role of Robert Petrie in the �The Dick Van Dyke Show".

Along with his most famous sitcom, Dick Van Dyke would go on to star in the film version of "Bye-Bye Birdie� and opposite Julie Andrews in "Mary Poppins".

He won critical acclaim for his roles in the TV movies, "The Comic" and "The Morning After", the latter a highly acclaimed drama about an alcoholic businessman, which was close to the heart for the recently recovered alcoholic Dick Van Dyke.

Dick Van Dyke would find the late 70's to the 80's lean years, until he found a new niche, as the wily and crafty mystery detective, Dr. Mark Slone on "Diagnosis Murder" which ran successfully from 1993 to 2001

Dick Van Dyke's children are named Carrie, Stacey, Barry and Christian.(edit)
Dick is a big fan of computer animation and he would like to direct a computer-animated feature someday.(edit)
Dick turned down the role of the TV repairman in the movie Pleasantville which was actually specifically for him. The original script still shows the name of the repair company as "Rob's TV Repair" after Van Dyke's character in 'the Dick Van Dyke Show,' Rob Petrie. The role instead went to Don Knotts.(edit)
In 1959 Dick was in the stage production, The Girls Against the Boys.(edit)
People in Britain use the term a "Dick Van Dyke accent� to convey an American's failed try at a British accent, because of his effort at a Cockney accent in Mary Poppins.(edit)
Dick states that by the time he was 11 he was already 6'1" as said in his book, "Those Funny Kids: A Treasury of Classroom Laughter�.
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Shortly after WW2, he and childhood pal, Philip Erickson, formed a nightclub comedy pantomime act, "The Merry Mutes" starring the comedy duo "Eric and Van."(edit)
He was offered the role of Ambassador Thorn in the movie "The Omen" but turned it down due to its gore and violence. He didn't want to do that kind of movie. The role would go to Gregory Peck.(edit)
There was a typo on his Hollywood Walk of Fame star given to him in 1992. The space between Van and Dyke was missing, reading "VanDyke". An embarrased mayor, said that it would be corrected the second the ceremony was over.(edit)
Dick beat out Johnny Carson for the role of Robert Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, after being suggested by producer Sheldon Leonard.(edit)
Dick's character, Rob Petrie, was named named number 78 on "Bravo's 100 Greatest TV Characters". Mary Tyler Moore's character, Laura, also shares the same spot.(edit)
His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is next to Stan Laurel's star.(edit)
He has served as an elder in the Presbyterian Church.(edit)
Dick was a great admirer of comedian Stan Laurel and even gave the eulogy at his funeral.(edit)
Dick turned down an offer to be the host of the game show The Price is Right. (edit)
Dick says that his favorite role was that of Burt the chimney sweep in the 1964 film Mary Poppins.(edit)
Dick sings bass in a barbershop quartet called "The Vantastix" with his ex- wife's stockbroker.(edit)
In July 1999, Dick was made an honorary lifetime member of The Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America, also known as the SPEBSQSA.(edit)
He is still very close friends with his The Dick Van Dyke Show co-star Mary Tyler Moore.(edit)
In 1968, he portrayed Lionel Jeffries's son in the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang even though Jeffries is actually six months younger than him.(edit)
He won a Grammy Award for his work on the soundtrack to the movie Mary Poppins.(edit)
He and his now ex- wife, Margie, married on the radio show "Bride and Groom" because the show paid for the wedding rings, a honeymoon, and household appliances.(edit)
In 1992, Dick received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It is located at 7021 Hollywood Blvd.(edit)
In 1944, he graduated from Danville High School in Danville, IL.(edit)
In 1994, Dick received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy at the American Comedy Awards. (edit)
In 1960, Dick won the Theatre World Award for his performance in The Girls Against the Boys. (edit)
In 1961, Dick won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Bye Bye Birdie. (edit)
Dick is ambidextrous.(edit)
The Hallmark movie Murder 101 is the first time he has done a series for Cable TV.(edit)
In 2006, Dick began starring in the Hallmark Channel's movie series "Murder 101". (edit)
Dick is described by family and friends as being private.(edit)
Dick is the brother of Jerry Van Dyke.(edit)

Dick Van Dyke: You know, I'm almost out of the habit of watching episodic television now. (edit)
Dick Van Dyke: I took a few too many falls in my life. (edit)
Dick Van Dyke: I've retired so many times now it's getting to be a habit. (edit)
Dick Van Dyke: I was the class clown, you know, that kind of thing, and I gathered around me a group of guys who also were silly. (edit)
Dick Van Dyke: I was in all the plays and everything. But I don't know, at that time show businesses looked like the moon, you know, it was so far away.(edit)
Dick Van Dyke: I don't have any children, I have four middle-aged people. (edit)
Dick Van Dyke: I cannot tell you what it means when children recognize. This is about the third generation for me. And when kids that small recognize me, it really pleases me, very gratifying.(edit)
Dick Van Dyke: I learned everything that I know about comedy and about show business and a lot about life from Carl Reiner. (edit)
Dick Van Dyke: Women will never be as successful as men because they have no wives to advise them. (edit)