Age truly holds no sway in Dick Van Dyke’s love story, especially evident in his relationship with wife Arlene Silver.
This became apparent when they first met at the SAG Awards in 2006, where the Mary Poppins actor was 81 years old and Arlene was 35.
Since their marriage in 2012, despite their 46-year age difference (now 98 and 52, respectively), Dick humorously attributes their enduring bond to the fact that he “didn’t grow up.”
Speaking with Entertainment Tonight recently, he fondly reflected on how their relationship began as a friendship after being captivated by her at first sight, eventually leading him to hire her as a make-up artist.
Looking back on the moment, he confessed: “I never approached a strange woman in my life,” however he added: “She walked by and I jumped and I said, ‘Hi, I’m Dick.’ I had no idea she was half my age. Beautiful.”
She only had one business card left, which he promptly took. Arlene, also reflecting on how their friendship turned into something more in 2011, and their age gap, explained: “We were friends for so long that when I told people that I know, they were happy about [our relationship].”
Though she confessed she was initially “scared” about the near 50-year gap, she emphasized: “It’s so irrelevant. I think when you see us together, it’s like you don’t think about it. I was fortunate that I didn’t grow up,” Dick then joked, himself maintaining: “We were meant to be.”
“I’ve never met anyone like him,” Arlene further gushed, adding: “He’s always happy and just positive. Always singing, and I would never sing in public. He got me to sing. He got me to sing up on a stage and sang in front of 1,500 people for the first time. He’s just the most joyful person. He influences everybody else to be more joyful, playful.”
Also speaking about what his “secret” to a long and healthy life might be, he admitted: “I’ve often tried to think what did I do to live this long and I can’t figure out,” before adding: “The only thing is I’ve always exercised. We still go to the gym three days a week and work out. And I believe that’s the secret. Most people at 98 years old don’t really feel like working out and they seize up, you know? You get stiff and I’m still, you know, [moving] pretty well. And I think that must be the secret because I don’t really watch my diet or anything. Stayed skinny. That helps.”
