Actor Dick Van Dyke ('Mary Poppins') answers the secret to living 99 years.

Legendary actor Dick Van Dyke , from Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang , has become a symbol of vitality at 99 years old. In a recent meeting held in Malibu, and reported by People , the American actor shared memories of his career and explained one of his greatest regrets, about a project with his friend Ed Asner, that could not go ahead.

During the Vandy Camp event, which he organized with his wife Arlene Van Dyke, the actor reminisced about some of the most significant moments in his artistic career. Van Dyke particularly recalled the project he was never able to complete with Ed Asner, who died in 2021: a remake of The Odd Couple , a 1968 comedy made popular by Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau and later adapted.

"He would have been so much fun, and we lost him. I've lost a lot of friends," said the shaken actor. "He's outlived them all," Arlene, 53, chimed in about her husband. "That's the curse of living to almost 100."

Despite his nostalgia, the actor maintains an extraordinarily positive attitude. His wife emphasized how he has faced the death of so many friends with fortitude. "He's still so positive," she commented. The star of The Dick Van Dyke Show didn't hesitate to sing alongside his wife , demonstrating that his passion for the show hasn't faded with the passage of time or the years of glory in his memory. "I love it. It gives me a burst of energy to be in front of an audience," Van Dyke said with a smile.

His filmography includes unforgettable titles such as A Kiss for Birdie and Mary Poppins , where he shared the screen with another legendary actress, Julie Andrews. The actor didn't respond very specifically to his wife's big question : how does one reach 99 years of age with such vitality? After a moment's pause, Van Dyke replied with his characteristic naturalness: "Life has been good to me. I can't complain." A genius and a personality, Van Dyke continues to appear jovial and lively in each of his public appearances.