Van Dyke, Dick

Van Dyke, Dick

 orig. Richard Wayne Van Dyke

(born Dec. 13, 1925, West Plains, Mo., U.S.) U.S. actor and comedian. In 1947–53 he played in nightclubs with his pantomime act, “The Merry Mutes,” before making his Broadway debut in 1959. He starred in the musical Bye Bye Birdie (1960–61, Tony Award; film, 1963), and then in the successful television comedy series The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961–66)—winning several Emmy Awards—The New Dick Van Dyke Show (1971–74), and the drama series Diagnosis Murder (1993–2001). He has starred in such movies as Mary Poppins (1964) and Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang (1968).

---

Van Dyke, Dick (1925–  ) television/movie actor, comedian; born in West Plains, Mo. He appeared in television variety shows during the 1950s, making his Broadway debut in Bye, Bye Birdie (1960). Star of the Dick Van Dyke Show on CBS (1961–66), he also danced and sang in the films Mary Poppins (1965) and Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang (1968). After The New Dick Van Dyke Show (1971–74), he appeared infrequently, due to alcoholism, but after conquering this he returned in 1991 with television mystery movies.