Dick Van Dyke

About Dick Van Dyke

Richard Wayne "Dick" Van Dyke (born December 13, 1925) is a Golden Globe-nominated, Emmy, Tony and Grammy Award-winning American actor, presenter, and entertainer, with a career spanning 5 decades. He is best known for his starring roles in Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and Diagnosis: Murder.

Van Dyke was born in West Plains, Missouri and grew up in Danville, Illinois, USA, the son of Hazel Vorice (née McCord) and Loren Wayne "Cookie" Van Dyke, a traveling salesman for the Sunshine Biscuit Company with a talent for comedy. He attended elementary school in Danville starting in 1931. In 1938 the Van Dykes, of Dutch origin, moved to Crawfordsville, Indiana for two years, and returned to Danville in 1940 where he attended high school. As a child, he was inspired to go into show business by watching Laurel & Hardy films at the movie theater.

After appearing in many high school plays and community theater productions, Van Dyke enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. There he participated in stage shows and worked as a radio DJ. He appeared on a variety of television shows such as The Phil Silvers Show, The Garry Moore Show, What's My Line and To Tell The Truth. He also hosted "CBS Cartoon Theater," "Laugh Line" and "Mothers Day." His big break came on April 14, 1960, on Broadway as Albert Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie. He received the Tony Award as Best Featured Actor in 1961. He was spotted by Sheldon Leonard who was looking for a comedic actor to star in a new situation comedy created by Carl Reiner. Another actor considered for the role was Johnny Carson. During the early run of the show, Van Dyke also served as the host of "Flair," a daytime magazine show on ABC radio patterned after NBC's Monitor, premiering October 3, 1960.