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 tony

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He should have received an oscar for his role in Mary Popins.

By JEAN

JESSE JAMES IS A REALLY IGNORANT MAN WHO THRIVES ON NEGATIVE ATTENTION. I WISH HE WOULD JUST GO AWAY AND LIVE HIS MISERABLE LIFE.

By blondemoment757

Within my family there have been smokers and non-smokers. I can tell you that so far all of the non-smokers have lived very long and healthy lives. The SMOKERS, however, well that is a different story. They have suffered slow agonizing deaths from emphysema and lung cancer. If you smoke, you are a fool.

By brinniewales

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It's wonderful to read someone I respect (and enjoy) say that reality shows are boring. I can't imagine watching Apprentice without being shocked and appalled by the bad (and rude) behavior. Surely viewers and the networks are able to make better decisions. No one is saying return to the 60s, 70s, 80s or 90s, for that matter. Rudeness has reached an all time low and isn't entertaining.

By wyattspoppa4

I served him in a 4 star hotel restaurant in the 80's, I smoke and I've never seen anyone fill an ashtray that fast, and I bartended for 13 yrs. He also drank like a fish and his face looked like he had a perpetual sunburn (drinking). He was very charming though.

By wyattspoppa

HEY NON SMOKERS...SHUT THE HELL UP! Have I blown smoke in your face? No, I'm a considerate smoker, are you going to have 4 Martinis at the Smith's New Years Eve party and kill a family of 4 on your way home? Possibly. I don't drink, you don't hear me berating drinkers for all the damage you do. Alcohol affects far more lives than smoking in this nation, so get off your high horse you pompous nitwits.

By MelMel

Oh Tony - that's awful about your friend :-(
I feel terrible for smiling a little - so does my son

By jshikany

This kind of discussion is why we wallow in a cesspool of ignorance. To suggest that smoking and or excessive drinking may not cause harm is outrageous. That's right fellow, the 600,000 physicians in this country are ALL wrong and you are right. Most people who smoke heavily for many years, die of lung cancer, some other lung disease, or heart problems due to smoking. Let me repeat. MOST people...this means probably in the 70% range or higher, die. All the doctors agree with me on this. But you're entitled to your own opinion of course.

By Doug

Not everyone who is hit by lightning dies either, but that doesn't make it a good idea.

By Riley

Why take the chance? Smoking is an expensive, smelly,nasty habit!! Only 17 % get COPD (lung disease) from smoking...The rest either die from a stroke and heart attack. Remember the cigarettes these old guys smoked weren't near as bad for you as the ones they get today.

By kennlrs

My father drank heavily at times and this created problems at home when my stepmother had to take in washing to pay the bills. Because of these sad experiences, I didn't drink.

By l1a1h1

ANYTHING done in moderation will not harm the normal human body. It is only when the normal body is treated to overwhelming odds that it strikes back in any number of ways. My grandfather had two beers and one pipeful of tobacco every night and he lived a very, very long life. My dad smoked earlier in his life and drank a few every night until he was 85, and at 89, he still changes his own oil in his car. I'm 59 and recently gave up drinking and most of my smoking and feel on top of the world. I go swimming and diving and walk alot. I work a full time job and do my own landscaping, remodeling, painting, etc.. Keep it on a low, even keel and it'll work for you, not against you.

By Brian

I smoked for 37 years and quit in '93. I bought a sports car which is now paid for with butt money.

I'm sorry but it stinks. You don't notice when you are a smoker.

Sorry to all for the years of pollution.

By ttajcudaback

I think somebody missed a point here. If you smoke for years and quit, all those years can still leave you suffering with some kind of lung problems. So the quality of life till the end, you suffer for smoking. Some can smoke for years and STOP and because of good genetics, their quality of life won't suffer. We don't know. I say it's a good idea not to smoke.

Sunday 08 May

By valuxpress

Maybe a silly question but does one's nose get bigger / more bulbous if you're an alcoholic?

Monday 09 May

By J Wang

TV stations had gone through a revolution of firing actors and actresses who have devoted their lifetime from acting/drama schools which cost significant amount of money to produce. It is much cheaper to do reality shows without having to pay the salary and production cost that may not reap rewards. It is just like journalism, adult film industry, entertainment, music industry which had endured drastic changes from the formula of funding. You actually will get more Mixed Martial Art (MMA) fighting which they paid pennies for performers and loads to distributors..It is all about money..what else is new.

By bd

A beloved performer and deservedly so. The DVD show is one of the greats and my favorite TV show of all time.

By taraterm2

Amen. My dad started at 14, smoked like a maniac his whole life and incredibly, made it to 81...{good genes} but he died a long slow horrible death, and after he went I found bloody cigarette buts all over the house, smoked even when he was in chemo and radiation. With his constitution he could have made it to 96 if he hadnt smoked and I miss him every day.

Good for you!!! I know it wasnt easy, and hope it nmakes a big difference in your good health future, Im sure it will.You have a greta attitude.

By Bernard

Looks like we are heading to all time reality tv, this is an insult to my intelligence!! It makes me want to cancel my cable and I may do just that!

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