Dick Van Dyke, who is about to celebrate his 99th birthday, has expressed that he is “not afraid” of death. The renowned star of Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, born on December 13, 1925, mentioned that he is “acutely aware that I could go any day now.” However, he added that the thought doesn’t concern him and he feels he will be alright, despite any intellectual reasoning. Van Dyke shared these sentiments in a new seven-minute video for Coldplay’s song “All My Love,” from their 10th studio album, Moon Music. In the video, Van Dyke is seen performing with lead singer Chris Martin and discussing life and family.
When asked about love, Van Dyke said, “Boy, they’ve been attacking that question for centuries, I don’t know. It certainly is a feeling of caring about the welfare and the life of the other person as much as you care for yourself.” The video also shows him looking at an old photograph of his late first wife Margie Willett and their children, including his daughter Stacy. He mentions how Stacy comforts him in dreams when he feels depressed or lonely.
Later, Van Dyke humorously responds to a request to close his eyes and think about important people in his life by saying, “I’m too old for this, I’ll pass out and go to sleep, I’ll take a nap.” The video concludes with him laughing and hugging his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, while Martin sings him an impromptu song about old age. Filmed at his home in Malibu, California, a shorter version of the music video will be released on December 13 to honor his 99th birthday.
Van Dyke’s illustrious career, which has lasted over seven decades, includes roles in The Dick Van Dyke Show, Bye Bye Birdie, and Mary Poppins, among others. He has won numerous awards, including Emmys and a Grammy for the Mary Poppins soundtrack. Despite his age, Van Dyke continues to work, even making a cameo in 2018’s Mary Poppins Returns. Last year, he was reportedly involved in a car accident but escaped without serious injuries.