Dick Van Dyke, an iconic American actor, comedian, and entertainer, has enjoyed a prolific career spanning over seven decades. He gained fame through his roles in the television series The Dick Van Dyke Show and classic films such as Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Despite his professional success and affable public persona, Van Dyke struggled with alcoholism for many years, and he has been open about it, publicly sharing how it affected his life and career. In a recent interview, the 98-year-old, who has been sober for more than five decades, shared insights into his life during the period when he was plagued with alcoholism, giving insights into how it started.
Dick Van Dyke opens up about his struggle with alcoholism
During his appearance on a Wednesday episode of the Hollywood Reporter’s “Awards Chatter” podcast, the legendary actor revealed that contrary to the common assumption that the pressures and fame from his successful 1960s TV show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, led to his drinking problem, he explained that his alcoholism was not a byproduct of his career achievements or the stress associated with his rise to stardom.
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Instead, he pointed to the people he kept in his inner circle as the primary cause of his drinking issues. Van Dyke noted that the negative influence and behaviors of those around him significantly contributed to his dependency on alcohol.
Dick Van Dyke says his movie, ‘The Morning After’ has helped a lot of alcoholics
The 98-year-old became sober in 1972 after a three-week stint in the hospital. Two years after his recovery, he starred in the film The Morning After as Charlie Lester, a successful public relations writer who develops a serious drinking problem.
Reflecting on the movie, Van Dyke explained that it was one of the best roles he ever played, particularly because it inspired many people battling alcoholism to find the courage to quit.