For years, I've had a list of people who I wished were still in the limelight. Like Tony Bennett, but he just died recently. Smothers Brothers, but Tom the political one conveniently caught cancer just when they were going to make a comeback. Etc. Dick van Dyke was another, but then a few years ago, I started seeing him in the media again. He was such a smiling floppy dancer like a clown that they put him into comedy, though he was tall and handsome and could have played serious parts. He is still an athlete, I see. Everyone else at 99 is in a wheelchair. There are many engaging personalities still alive, but I guess after you make your money, you stop auditioning and hold out for big offers.
Dick Van Dyke Says Neighbors ‘Saved Me’ During Wildfire Evacuation Ahead of 99th Birthday: ‘I Was Trying to Crawl to the Car. I Couldn’t Get Up’ Dick Van Dyke revealed in an interview on the “Today” show (via People) that his neighbors “saved” him while he was struggling to evacuate his home during this week’s Franklin Fire, which raged across Malibu and burned more than 2,600 acres. The wildfire caused widespread evacuations and power cutoffs in the Malibu area. Van Dyke fled is home just ahead of his 99th birthday on Dec. 13. “It was coming from the hill, you could see it,” the “Mary Poppins” star said. “And oh my God. We got out of here. I was trying to crawl to the car. I had exhausted myself. I couldn’t get up. Three neighbors came and carried me out and came back and put out a little fire in the guest house and saved me.” Van Dyke evacuated his home along with his wife, Arlene Silver, and their pets. The actor updated his fans on Facebook after they made it to safety, although he raised concern by saying that one of their pets, a cat named Bobo, had gone missing during the evacuation and therefore wasn’t able to leave their home. Fortunately, both Van Dyke’s home and his cat survived the wildfires. “We found Bobo as soon as we arrived back home this morning,” Van Dyke wrote in a Facebook post on Dec. 12. “There was so much interest in his disappearance that Animal Control was called in to assist. But, thankfully he was easy to find and not harmed.” Van Dyke was far from the only celebrity who had to evacuate Malibu because of the wildfires. Mira Sorvino and Cher also fled their homes, as did thousands of other residents in the area. The Santa Monica-Malibu school district even closed all Malibu schools on Dec. 10. Pepperdine University students were told to shelter in place. Van Dyke’s evacuation news came after he was back in the headlines for appearing in Coldplay’s emotional music video for “All My Love.” The 98-year-old sang and danced in the clip as he gathered around his family for a reunion. https://variety.com/2024/film/news/dick-van-dyke-wildfire-evacuation-saved-by-neighbors-1236246969/
Okay, so there is more to this story and video. Apparently, Chris is Malibu neighbors with Mr Van Dyke and has invited him his house multiple times. Their friends. The first video I posted was the director's cut but the official video is being released today, on Dick Van Dykes 99th birthday. Happy Birthday Mr. Van Dyke.
You are so touchy. Why can't you bring yourself to say, "Happy birthday, Dick." Look him in the eye and say it right to his face.