The legendary actor recalled a vital choice he made about his way of life a long time in the past that truly paid off healthwise.

Dick Van Dyke is at present gearing as much as mark his one centesimal birthday in a number of days amid the thrill of releasing his new ebook, “100 Guidelines for Residing to 100,” final month.

The TV star equipped a rebuttal to his son’s preliminary assertion that he didn’t smoke an excessive amount of whereas he was youthful. Van Dyke admitted that he did smoke lots, however pulled the lever when he clocked 50 and realized he had an “addictive persona.”

Van Dyke added that each one the tweaks he needed to make to his way of life over time have been in all probability the explanation he grew to become more healthy and lived this lengthy. “So I removed booze and cigarettes and all that stuff, which might be why I am nonetheless right here,” he famous.

The actor reportedly checked right into a facility to discover a approach out of his alcoholism loop, and the journey bore yet one more constructive fruit, which is to eliminate his smoking dependancy. 

He, nevertheless, famous in 2023 that leaving the cigarettes behind was twice as onerous. In gentle of those victories, Van Dyke instructed PEOPLE that he feels completely fabulous for 100 years and wakes up with higher vitality and temper than most individuals. 

“I’ve at all times thought that anger is one factor that eats up an individual’s insides, and hate. And I by no means actually was in a position to work up a sense of hate. I feel that is without doubt one of the chief issues that stored me going,” Van Dyke concluded.

Van Dyke dominated the TV screens within the 60s, as Mr Dawes in Disney’s “Mary Poppins,” the place he made his mark as one of many actors who labored straight with Walt Disney earlier than his loss of life from lung most cancers in 1966.

Since then, he has gone on to characteristic in additional hit TV tasks like “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and “The Dick Van Dyke Present.” He has additionally gained a number of Emmy awards (Primetime & Daytime), a Grammy award for his comedy album “Let’s Sing with Dick Van Dyke”, and a Tony award.

Talking about his expertise within the business to this point, Van Dyke raved concerning the uncommon alternative of individuals loving what they do to outlive. He famous that the thrill to get up each morning was one thing he at all times seemed ahead to.

The film star continued: “I by no means forgot that I sit up for getting up each morning and going to work, as a result of it is what I’d’ve performed for nothing.”

The 99-year-old had seemed again on a missed alternative in his profession, which might have served as a big spotlight. The actor confessed that his shaky British accent performed a job in his not attending to play James Bond within the mission.

Though the producer for the film, Albert Broccoli, approached him with a suggestion to star within the movie, he confided in him about his accent being a stumbling block. As shared by The Blast, Van Dyke famous that he and Broccoli had labored collectively on a earlier mission, therefore the familiarity.

He additionally tied the accent to his look in “Mary Poppins” and the way it could remind folks of such a jovial character, which is a distinct tone than what James Bond entailed. Van Dyke added that it was not a simple choice to let go of such an iconic position in Hollywood historical past, which some prolific actors have performed.

Van Dyke is a proud father to 4 youngsters, however the begin of his leisure profession left a huge effect on his bond with the kids. As famous by The Blast, the actor welcomed two daughters and two sons together with his late Margerie Willet.

The actor famous that he fought to carry his household out of poverty at the beginning of his profession earlier than luck lastly smiled on him as an actor. From sport exhibits to taking part in at nightclubs and different gigs, Van Dyke added that he barely obtained 4 hours of sleep.

When the celebrity got here, it grew to become a problem to stability spending time together with his household and exhibiting up at work, particularly given the truth that he had constructed a routine of being absent from his youngsters.

Nonetheless, the actor is satisfied his youngsters understood the issues he needed to do to carry his household out of poverty. “They in all probability obtained uncared for in some unspecified time in the future, as a result of I used to be actually working onerous to get out of poverty, so to talk, however I have never had any complaints from anyone,” he famous.

The actor’s second son, Barry, who he welcomed in July 1951, developed a ardour for performing, however Van Dyke stalled his ambition as a result of he wished Barry to expertise a traditional childhood.