Dick Van Dyke is "still" a computer animator at the age of 99
The Hollywood legend is best known for his roles in classics such as Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang but also created the 3D-rendered effects used on Diagnosis: Murder when he starred in the medical crime drama, and his wife Arlene, 53, has confirmed that he keeps up with his hobby to this day.
4 July 2025
During a Q+A at a Vandy Camp event held at the Arlene and Dick Van Dyke Theater at Malibu High School, a fan pointed out that "not very many people know Dick Van Dyke was a computer animator" to the rest of the audience.
Arlene replied: "Still is! And he has a credit for computer animation on Diagnosis: Murder!"
The fan then asked Arlene - who married Dick in 2012 - what the Disney Legend had recalled to her about starring in the 1964 musical alongside Dame Julie Andrews.
She said: "[Mary Poppins] such an important movie in the history of visual effects. He said it was really hot!"
The former sitcom star was not able to attend the event in person due to ill health.
Arlene told the audience: "I have to inform you that Dick is not up to coming to celebrate with us today. I'm sorry.
"When you're 99 and a half years old, you have good days and bad days ... and unfortunately, today is not a good day for him, and he's sick that he can't be here."
The actor appeared on a livestream but Arlene added she was "pretty confident" her husband would make the next event "in person".
Speaking about how much Vandy Camp means to her husband, Arlene said: "It is a celebration of your childhood, all of our childhoods, the music that's in the fabric of all of us, [and] Dick Van Dyke is a big part of that."
Calling her husband's fans "the greatest human beings I've ever known," she added, "These Vandy Camp [events] are a wonderful opportunity to have you all in the same room and meet each other."
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