DICK VAN DYKE ONE MAN BAND FULL

His mother confirmed the story, and as the actor mused in his book, 'Though it was never stated, I was probably the reason they got married.' An acting career wasn’t what Dick Van Dyke had in mind at firstĪlthough Dick Van Dyke naturally shines on camera, a career in entertainment wasn’t his initial goal.

DICK VAN DYKE ONE MAN BAND FULL

The star gave a bit of insight on his upbringing in his memoir, ' My Lucky Life in and Out of Show Business,' describing Danville as 'quiet and neighborly' - a slice of Americana without any 'bad side' of town.Īnd while Dick had a good relationship with his parents ('there’s no need for any psychoanalysis,' he writes), the actor recalled a bizarre moment when he was turning 18: his mother told him he was 'already 18.' As he revealed, Hazel explained to her son that he was 'born a little premature,' and had 'complications.' While a bewildered Dick pressed for more information, his mom reassured him that everything was alright but that they pushed the date of his birth 'forward to what would have been full term.'Ĭurious to find out if this was the truth, Dick spoke to his grandmother, who told him that he wasn’t premature, but that his parents conceived him before they were married - a scandalous occurrence in the 1920s. Perhaps the actor’s wit came by way of his parents, as he cites both his mother and father having a chatty sense of humor. Dick Van Dyke didn’t know his true birthday for yearsĭick Van Dyke grew up in Danville, Illinois, with his brother Jerry, and their parents, Loren and Hazel, a salesman and a stenographer, respectively (via The Guardian). Here is the untold truth of Dick Van Dyke. 'He’s an artist, a one-man band, a profound philosopher, a high-stepping showman and spreader of charm,' the actor gushed, adding, 'good luck does rub off when he shakes hands with you' (via Good Housekeeping). At the 43rd annual Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C. While the 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' star perhaps didn’t gravitate towards A-list aspirations immediately (more on that later), there’s no doubt that those closest to him influenced him in some way.Ĭommonly regarded as Tinseltown’s 'nice guy' (via History), perhaps it’s his good friend and 'Mary Poppins' costar, Julie Andrews, who describes Van Dyke best. If that’s not all, Gene Hackman was the cousin of one of Van Dyke’s best friends. As revealed by TCM, growing up in Danville, Illinois, two of his friends from high school found success in entertainment Donald O’Connor became an actor, while Bobby Short was a jazz singer. Interestingly enough, perhaps his love of entertaining came by way of all the incredible people he was surrounded by. Van Dyke was born in West Plains, Missouri, in December 1925.

According to TCM, Van Dyke has found success in almost every entertainment avenue he’s tried be it Broadway, radio, or even vaudeville - over the course of seven exceptional decades. A quadruple threat, the A-lister is known as a comedian, actor, singer, and dancer. Dick Van Dyke is one of the most beloved figures in Hollywood.

Dick van dyke one man band