Oh my gosh, can you believe it? When Dick Van Dyke was up there on those rooftops, practically perfectly dancing and singing ‘Chim Chim Cher-ee’ in Mary Poppins – which, let’s be real, is a masterpiece – his future wife, Arlene, hadn’t even been born yet! It just blows my mind thinking about the timeline of it all. He was already a legend, and she was still years away from even meeting him! It’s so magical.
They didn’t meet until a lucky encounter at the 2006 Screen Actors Guild Awards, forty years after the famous actor had already won a Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award – completing the trio of prestigious honors.
Dick was having an affair with actress Michelle Triola Marvin, which ultimately led to the end of his marriage to Margue Willet.
Just six years later, Dick and Arlene got married, creating one of Hollywood’s most talked-about age-gap relationships – he was 86, and she was 40.
Al Pacino, 85, and Noor Alfallah, 31, previously had a highly publicized relationship despite their 54-year age difference. They recently split after having a baby together in 2023.
As the actor approaches his 100th birthday in December, he and his wife, Arlene, 54, are still deeply in love, even after all these years and a 46-year age difference.
The couple has shared what they believe are the secrets to their lasting relationship: a shared passion for singing and dancing, and a strong commitment to supporting each other.
Dick Van Dyke recently shared that his wife, Arlene, has been a major source of energy and happiness for him as he’s gotten older. He told The Sunday Times that he met her in 2006 and she quickly became his best friend and the love of his life.
I can honestly say that being in love has kept me from becoming a lonely and grumpy person.
Arlene is much younger than me, and being with her makes me feel surprisingly youthful – like I’ve regained a significant portion of my lost energy and vitality.
Arlene recently stated that, in her opinion, couples with similar ages aren’t as likely to have long-term relationships, suggesting age gaps can actually be beneficial.
In a recent interview with People magazine, 53-year-old makeup artist Dick’s wife shared details about life at their California home, which hosted the inaugural Vandy Camp event last month.
She shared how much they enjoyed being at home, particularly in Malibu. Their house there is a special place they both adore.
It’s like you’re visiting our home! We’re incredibly thankful for all the support. While our house was damaged in the Franklin fire, we consider ourselves very fortunate compared to others.
Arlene shared that Dick consistently supports her aspirations and gives her the confidence to pursue anything she sets her mind to. Dick playfully affirmed this, simply saying, ‘and you can’.
She found their successful relationship a little unsettling, and believed it was because they always had each other’s backs and encouraged each other’s pursuits.
Let me tell you a bit about Dick’s family life. He and his first wife, Margue, were married for 36 years and raised four children together – all of whom are now grown. They eventually divorced in 1984. Later in life, Dick met and married Arlene, so his children from his first marriage are all older than Arlene.
He recalled the pivotal moment they first met in 2006, explaining how he did something he’d never done before – he walked up to her and introduced himself.
The actor remembered in January that Arlene not realizing how famous he was actually made things easier for them when they first started dating.
He shared on the ‘Where Everybody Knows Your Name’ podcast that the person he was talking to didn’t recognize him, explaining, ‘She had never seen Mary Poppins.’
‘No, that’s not true,’ Arlene interjected. ‘Of course I know who he is. He’s Dick Van Dyke.’
I’ve been a lifelong fan of Dick Van Dyke – I mean, who wasn’t? He was huge on TV with ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show,’ and then he charmed everyone in ‘Mary Poppins’ and ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.’ It always amazed me that his wife, despite all his success and popularity, wasn’t one of those dedicated fans who followed everything he did.
In a 2024 interview with Entertainment Tonight, she playfully admitted she’d never watched ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’ or anything else featuring the actor.
Arlene was instantly captivated as well, once sharing with the Huffington Post how thrilled she was to see Dick initially ‘at the buffet table, wearing a bow tie and beaming’.
After their first meeting, they stayed friends for a while, choosing to build a strong friendship before starting to date.
A significant change occurred in 2009 with Michelle’s passing, and Arlene visited Dick to support him during a difficult time.
Oh my gosh, it’s just so sweet! He told People magazine back in 2013 about Arlene, and it melted my heart. Apparently, she’d stop by after work with food for him – can you imagine?! He said she was such a huge support, and he totally fell in love with her! It’s just…beautiful. And the best part? His grandkids called her ‘Grandma’! All four of his kids adored her. It’s like she was always meant to be part of the family, and honestly, I’m getting emotional just thinking about it!
Arlene felt a little nervous starting this new chapter in her relationship, but she appreciated the support of her friends and family.
We’d been friends for a long time, so when I shared our connection with others, they were pleased, but I was afraid of how they’d react.
It really doesn’t matter, honestly. When people see us together, it feels natural – like it just happens. We don’t overthink it, we simply connect.
Despite their significant age difference, Dick’s youthful spirit makes it feel unimportant, and they both credit their shared passion for singing and dancing as the secret to their lasting marriage.
He admitted he hadn’t realized she was so much younger than him, adding, ‘She’s beautiful. I feel lucky I never really matured – we just clicked.’
Honestly, I’m completely captivated by him. I’ve just never encountered anyone with such a naturally cheerful and optimistic outlook. He’s always bursting into song, which is amazing to watch, because I personally would never feel comfortable singing where others could hear!
He encouraged me to sing, and I ended up performing on stage for the first time in front of a large audience of about 1,500 people. He’s a truly joyful person who inspires others to be happier and more playful.
In a 2022 interview with Closer Weekly, Arlene described the Bye Bye Birdie star as a truly wonderful person, saying he was ‘the most perfect human being.’
‘I’ve never met anyone so happy, so genuine, so amazing. He’s just like a happy pill.’
They clearly share the same vibe, with Dick seeing similar positives in his wife’s character.
He described them as having a lot in common. She’s easygoing and enjoys singing and dancing, activities they all participate in frequently, and he finds her wonderful to be around.
It’s clear they have a strong connection. When Yahoo asked Dick Van Dyke the secret to his vitality at 99 years old, he jokingly credited his much younger wife, saying, “Having a beautiful young wife – that works!”
The celebrated performer, honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his television career, once shared with NPR that he often sings duets at home with his talented and much younger wife.
Making these changes, along with adjusting to each other’s different backgrounds, has proven the skeptics wrong and helped us build a happy marriage.
Dick mentioned he occasionally realizes they’re participating in a remarkable long-term study – with a 46-year gap between them – and they actively put effort into maintaining it.
We need to be flexible and recognize that old ways of doing things might not be effective now. Adapting to change can be challenging, but it’s also what makes things interesting.
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2025-11-17 15:05