Veteran and legendary actor Dick Van Dyke is about to celebrate his 99th birthday and marked the occasion with an appearance on television.
The Mary Poppins star, who will turn 99 on Friday, December 13, appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday, December 5.
Van Dyke was joined by Chris Martin for the television appearance to talk about Coldplay’s new music video, All My Love, in which the actor appears alongside his 73-year-old son Barry.
Sharing a fun moment on set, Martin, 47, recalled witnessing the father-son dynamic between Dick and Barry.
“I saw Barry go up to Dick and say, ‘Dad, can I turn on the pool slide?'” Martin said. “It was so sweet because it was like a son and his father. But together, they total 176 years.”
Continuing the conversation about being the father of older children, Van Dyke acknowledged the advanced age of his kids (Van Dyke is also the father of Christian, 74, Stacy, 68, and Carrie, 62, all from his marriage to his late ex-wife, Margie Willett).
“I’m old enough to be Joe Biden’s father,” he joked.
Earlier this year, Van Dyke jokingly said he hoped to still be alive to celebrate his 99th birthday.
“I’m pretty old,” Van Dyke told a photographer in September, according to Page Six.
When asked if he had plans to celebrate his birthday in December, he joked, “Just praying to make it.”
That same month, Van Dyke caused concern after canceling a series of planned appearances, including a fan convention in Utah.
“We regret to announce that Dick Van Dyke cannot travel to FanX,” reads a statement from FanX, the company organizing the three-day event. “He expresses his gratitude to everyone who continues to support him, but at nearly 99 years of age, traveling and interacting with thousands of people is more than he can do at this time.”
He also withdrew from the 2024 Emmy Awards on September 15, despite plans to be one of the presenters of the night.
However, he attended the 2024 Creative Arts Emmy Awards on September 7, where his CBS special, Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic, won the award for Best Variety Special.
In addition to joking that “I’m still looking for work,” Van Dyke shared his hope that his legacy would be “laughter.”
“By making people laugh for 75 years,” he said to reporters about what he hoped to be remembered for. “I’ve been in the business for 75 years, I can’t believe I’m still here and acting!”
Van Dyke also showcased his sense of humor during a speech at the Daytime Emmy Awards in June when he made history by becoming the oldest winner ever.
“Thank you. I can’t believe it. I feel like a spy from late-night TV,” Van Dyke said in his acceptance speech. “I’m the oldest nominee in history. I’ve played old men my whole life. If I’d known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.”
Before the speech, Van Dyke expressed his disbelief at the recognition in an interview with ET that same month.
“Am I really the oldest? I didn’t know I was the oldest,” he told ET. “Wow, I think I’m the last of my generation, really. I’m 98. I still have almost all my marbles. I just can’t remember what I had for breakfast.”