Dick Van Dyke Jokingly ‘Prays’ He Makes It To 99 Amid Canceled Appearances

Dick Van Dyke’s absence at the Emmy Awards ceremony raised concerns about his health, and the actor has come forward with an update. He was spotted leaving a pharmacy in Malibu earlier this week, and there, he admitted to simply feeling old.

The 98-year-old will be a year older in December; however, he is praying to live long enough to make it. Regardless, Dyke has been impressively active in the past months with working and traveling; hence, some slowing down is well deserved.

Dick Van Dyke missing events and canceling appearances sparks health concerns

Unlike his unexpected absence at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles weeks ago, Dyke announced that he would be unavailable for a three-day fan event in Salt Lake City, Utah, next weekend. He issued a statement to this effect and thanked his fans for their immense support so far.

Last year, Dyke admitted his surprise at how long he has lived, noting in retrospect that he would have taken better care of himself. He has been candid about his past alcohol addiction, which he claimed was a way of getting past social anxiety. He also struggled with smoking for years and still chews nicotine gum in its place.

Despite his canceled appearances as of late, Dyke has been fit for the most part, seeing how agile he has been all year. He credits his wife, Arlene Silver, for ensuring he goes to the gym at least thrice a week for a full workout.

The screen legend also owes his well-being to his career, noting that he gets paid to do what he loves. For Dyke, the ultimate hack to a good life is having something enjoyable to look forward to every morning, like he has for the past seven decades.