Dick Van Dyke Hates Reality TV, Agrees His 'Poppins' Accent Was Lousy

By Nicki Gostin Posted May 5th 2011 12:00PM

The irrepressible Dick Van Dyke is believe it or not, 85, but he shows no signs of slowing down and has just released a memoir, 'My Lucky Life In And Out Of Show Business.' It's filled with tales about his lustrous career, although the star of his own iconic TV show and films like 'Mary Poppins' tells PopEater in a new interview, "I hesitate to call it a career. I had no goals in mind. I just went with whatever happened." Too modest, Dick, and in his lovely must-read book, the rubber-faced funnyman takes pride in the fact he "stood for something" and "upheld values" with his work.

In our lively chat, the proud great-grandfather of four spoke about his winning fight with the bottle, why he turned down 'Dancing With the Stars,' his distaste for reality TV (on 'Apprentice': "I've never been so bored in my life!"), and the greatness of 'Mary Poppins,' his bad cockney accent notwithstanding.

"I not only wince every time I hear it but every Brit that I run into rakes me over the coals for it," he admits. "I have taken such a kidding all these years -- but I deserve it I must admit."

You come across in your book like your public persona. Is that fair to say?
Yeah that's pretty much it. I've always resisted doing a book because my life sounded kind of pedestrian. Actually after I'd got it written I retitled it because almost anything that happened to me happened by chance.

Well I think your talent had a little something to do with it.
Well you have to be able to deliver, that's true.

You never sold out in your career.
I hesitate to call it a career. I had no goals in mind. I just went with whatever happened.

You were working during the cultural revolution of the 60's and 70's. You must have turned down a lot of material that you didn't agree with.
That's true. By the 70's they weren't doing much of my kind of stuff anymore.

Did it make you bitter?
Oh no. I would have liked to have been around during the 30's and 40's, that would have been wonderful but I'm not going to complain.

I can't believe 'Diagnosis Murder' was on the air for ten years.
It was the longest I've ever held a job. Thank God for Hallmark because they insist on family entertainment, so it was a perfect niche for me.

You must hate Reality TV.
Yes I do hate it I must say. I know it's inexpensive to do but I don't think it's entertainment. We watched Donald Trump's 'Apprentice,' whatever it is, I've never been so bored in my life! That's not entertainment. Those shows encourage bad behavior.

Have you been asked to do anything recently?
I get a lot of scripts but as you say they are not exactly my cup of tea. They did ask me to do 'Dancing With The Stars,' I said I can do one show but on that show you have to come up with a new number every week and I told them that I think I'm a little past that stage.

Maybe you could be a special guest star.
That would work. I'd get Betty White to dance with me (laughs). I'm the not the oldest person out there. Thank God for Betty.

You write a lot about spirituality and your search for meaning.
I would describe myself as curious. I've always been one of those people who are full of doubts. So I do a lot of research. I think there's been too much theological hairsplitting going on. So I try to keep it simple and leave the litany out. I keep going back to books by people like Martin Buber. I make notes in the margins. It's kind of fun to go back to a book I read 30 years ago and see what I was thinking about at the time. To live a life of love and compassion and to care about your fellow human beings and do no harm. I think that's a religion right there.

You've met a lot of Presidents. Who was your favorite?
The most recent, I got to sing and dance for Obama last summer at the Ford Theater. I was thoroughly charmed by both he and Michelle. My least favorite was probably Johnson. He was kind of a gruff, ill-tempered guy, I suppose because of the pressures of the job but nevertheless he did a lot for civil rights so I'm not going to fault him.

You were very open about your alcoholism when not many celebrities talked about it.
That's right. Mercedes McCambridge who did the voice in 'The Exorcist,' was the first one that I was aware of who went before Congress and talked about it. It helped remove the stigma from it a little bit and I've never regretted coming out publicly either.

You were on and off the wagon and then you just quit.
It's like my drinking machine broke. All of a sudden it just didn't do anything for me anymore which was a blessing. It just faded away.

What was harder to give up, cigarettes or the drink?
Cigarettes. I've talked to heroin addicts who say it was nothing compared to cigarettes. I think it's the hardest one of all. A physician noticed in an x-ray that I had a little spot on my lung, my father had passed away from emphysema so that scared me straight.

You're in a singing quartet.
Four guys in their 30's and me. They found me in a Starbucks one morning. We got together ten years ago, we do a lot of benefits, fund raisers, children's hospitals. It's the most fun I've ever had.

What was your favorite movie?
Oh 'Mary Poppins' of course, by far and away is my favorite.

I love you in that movie but you know your accent isn't the best.
I not only wince every time I hear it but every Brit that I run into rakes me over the coals for it. I have taken such a kidding all these years -- but I deserve it I must admit.

Did you realize the movie was special when you were making it?
Oh yes, everybody did. The music alone. We knew we had something really nice going. Everybody was so enthusiastic about it although little did I know 40 years later it would still be around.

You say you had a little crush on Mary Tyler Moore but nothing happened right?
Oh no not at all!

Was 'The Dick Van Dyke Show' your favorite working experience?
I think everyone connected with that show says it was the best five years because it was like going to a party everyday. It was so much fun.

More Q&As From Nicki Gostin: Rob Lowe, Robert Redford, Gwyneth Paltrow and Raquel Welch

Tags: Dick Van Dyke

Comments

(101)

Saturday 07 May

By Gladys Paradis

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How absolutely refreshing....we don't see many turn down MONEY because of the way they believe.

By larryoldtimer

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I am a 75 year old guy who is also going strong, I smoke, and while not as much as I used to, drink more than my share of alcohol.

Unhealthful???? When you young whippersnappers get to be my age, I will be most happy to discuss that part with you . . . if you get to be my age, not all that likely.

"Modern myths" of what is "healthful/unhealthful" are mostly BS. Hard physical and useful work is very beneficial to living to a ripe old age, as is enjoying the work you do in life.

Alcohol keeps the arteries clear of excessive cholesterol, prevents heart attacks and strokes, and smoking tobacco calms the nervous system, and induces greater brain activity. Smoking also significantly protects against Parkinson's Disease. A simple breathing excercise keeps the lungs really clean.

Put it this way: those of us who supposedly "abused our systems" are living so long as to break the pension systems. You health addicts can take it and shove it crosswise.

By Pat

Alcohol brings out the moron in a drinker and bad cholesterol is obsolete when you don't eat cheese. Meditation calms the nervous system and by not killing animals and eating them cholesterol gets another lowering.

By Larryoldtimer2

Whippersnappers?? Really? I think your full of crap Larry. If you even are 75, I hope you live to 120. Enjoy your pension.

By vivi

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Sorry to say but you are just one of the lucky ones. It's your genes. Most people who drink and smoke excessively suffer the consequences. I am 41 and quit smoking at 33 and am so glad I did. I felt so gross and felt like I was suffocating. Not everyone can get away with irresponsible behavior.

By gmuny2002

Ur funny, but from one old timer 2 another, I recently quit smoking because it's an expensive, dirty habit that I got tired of partaking of. Also, I used 2 abuse alcohol when I was younger, I'm not adverse to having a beer or 2 every once in a while, but, like everything else in life, moderation is the key!
Peace!

By rose

You are nuts if you think we believe that crap!

By YellowRose3218

Is anyone there at aol today?

By Harry Hurt

I wish they would re-run Diagnosis Murder. Good program. Ed, what is a putz?

By Tapestry

Dying isn't fun no matter what you did or did not do in your life time. I say just enjoy whatever but don't be using people to do that like selling drugs, etc.
My Dad never smoked or drank and he still died he just gave
up at 88. I think he could have lived a better life he just
sat there and said he was all washed up. All his friends were gone and his wife, I think if you die in your 60s happy it would
be better than dying in your 80s miserable.

By Debbie

One of my favorite actors!!! Wish they still made movies like
that. I'm glad he quit smoking and drinking before they did real damage and I really admire him for admitting his drinking problem and showing the strength to stop it!!!

By mn8

The Media is about whatever promotes the "collective."

Depends, on how one reacts to drinking alcohol. There are happy drinkers, celebrating life and happiness, me, for instance, and those who drink to attempt to bury their sorrows. Obviously, the long range effects will be substantially different

By James

Thank God he didn't give AA credit for his alcoholism cure. He quit, like most addicts and alcoholics do or can. No mystery there. Just stop when we get sick of it. I am happy for him and very glad he expressed what is true: we can quit our addictions, it's not a disease.

By Vivi

Yes I agree. I quit smoking cause I was sick of it. I just felt gross.

By terry spears

Met him on Sunset Boulevard one day, he acted like he burned his thumb with a lighter to make us laugh. He is a good guy. Making people smile and laugh is his life, what a good thing!

By julie

They are interviewing one of the most talented guys out there, and all you people can talk about is his smoking and drinking? Wow. Tunnel vision.

By Leslie

Shame on any person that has one negative thing to say about such a gifted, talented gentleman! You are the folks that are in need of a personal inventory check.

By Lou Costello

His British accent was the best one I've ever heard in my entire life. Forget the smoking and drinking stuff. He is a great entertainer and an all-around nice guy. He's one of the country's national treasures.

By nick

I must agree on one point, exactly whose reality do those shows portray????? It sure isn't mine!

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