Current:Home > MyDick Van Dyke says he's 'lazy' despite over 60-year career: 'I've been very lucky'-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Dick Van Dyke says he's 'lazy' despite over 60-year career: 'I've been very lucky'
View Date:2024-12-24 07:28:30
Dick Van Dyke shared the surprising secret to his robust career, which spans over 60 years.
In a clip for CBS' "Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic," the entertainer admitted he isn't much of a hustler when it comes to getting roles.
"I would do a movie or something and come home, and just sit down, wait for the phone to ring. I wasn't aggressive," he said. "So, I was out of work a lot because I didn't go out and look for it."
The gaps in work didn't bother Van Dyke, he added. "I didn't mind it. I'm pretty lazy. When I'm having fun, you know, all right. But I'm a lazy person," he said. "I don't have a lotta drive. I've been very lucky."
Van Dyke became a household name after the 1964 movie musical "Mary Poppins" alongside Julie Andrews and the 1968 musical "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" opposite Sally Ann Howes. His good fortune continued with acting credits on "The Carol Burnett Show," his comedy "The Van Dyke Show," "Diagnosis Murder" and more.
"It just happened!" he said of his career.
Van Dyke dealt with alcoholism in his younger years amid his waves of unemployment.
"If I’d known I was going to live this long, I would’ve taken better care of myself," he said. "I went through that whole period of alcoholism." These days, he added, he hits the gym frequently to stay healthy.
The 98-year-old has yet to formally retire with a recent stint on "The Masked Singer" in February, continued singing with the group The Vantastix and more.
Dick Van Dyke learns ukulele at age 97:'Never too late to start something new'
Having fun is also part of the reason Van Dyke has stayed employed. "My whole career has depended on (having fun). If I'm not enjoying myself, I'm really bad, I am," he said.
"It's such a blessing to find a way of making a living that you love, that you'd do for nothing. I feel so sorry for people who hate their job. I look forward to going to work every morning," Van Dyke added.
The CBS two-hour tribute schedule airs on Dec. 21 at 9 p.m. EST.
Dick Van Dyke:This 97-year-old star reveals himself as the gnome in shocking 'Masked Singer' premiere
veryGood! (581)
Related
- New York races to revive Manhattan tolls intended to fight traffic before Trump can block them
- HBO chief admits to 'dumb' idea of directing staff to anonymously troll TV critics online
- Senate sidesteps Tuberville’s hold and confirms new Navy head, first female on Joint Chiefs of Staff
- NASA's Lucy spacecraft has phoned home after first high-speed asteroid encounter
- Arkansas governor unveils $102 million plan to update state employee pay plan
- He lured them into his room promising candy, police say. Now he faces 161 molestation charges
- RHOBH's Dorit Kemsley Weighs in on Kyle Richards' Sad Separation From Mauricio Umansky
- As his minutes pile up, LeBron James continues to fuel Lakers. Will it come at a cost?
- Does your dog have arthritis? A lot of them do. But treatment can be tricky
- 38th annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction: How to watch the 2023 ceremony on Disney+
Ranking
- College Football Playoff bracket: Complete playoff picture after latest rankings
- 2034 World Cup would bring together FIFA’s president and Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammed
- Cedar Fair and Six Flags will merge to create a playtime powerhouse in North America
- Colombia will try to control invasive hippo population through sterilization, transfer, euthanasia
- Beyoncé's Grammy nominations in country categories aren't the first to blur genre lines
- Iranian club Sepahan penalized over canceled ACL match after Saudi team’s walkout
- Large brawl at Los Angeles high school leaves 2 students with stab wounds; 3 detained
- Colombia’s government says ELN guerrillas kidnapped the father of Liverpool striker Luis Díaz
Recommendation
-
He failed as a service dog. But that didn't stop him from joining the police force
-
Officers fatally shoot knife-wielding man at a popular California restaurant after machete attack
-
Disney to purchase remaining stake in Hulu for at least $8.61 billion, companies announce
-
Vanessa Hudgens Reveals If She'll Take Cole Tucker's Last Name After Their Wedding
-
TikToker Campbell “Pookie” Puckett Gives Birth, Welcomes First Baby With Jett Puckett
-
Rangers' Will Smith wins three consecutive World Series titles with three different teams
-
Proof Bradley Cooper and Gigi Hadid's Night Out Is Anything But Shallow
-
Looking to invest? Here's why it's a great time to get a CD.