Dick Van Dyke reveals the secret to staying young at 97 and it will surprise you

Dick Van Dyke is known for his role as the lovable chimney sweep in Mary Poppins or even the inventor in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. At the impressive age of 97, Van Dyke is showing no signs of slowing down, and he’s told everyone how he does it.

Dike Van Dyke is still performing

The iconic actor is still performing despite being 97. Yes, you read that correctly. On Wednesday, February 15, Van Dyke was uncovered to be the gnome singer on The Masked Singer.

At the age of 97, Van Dyke hauled himself into a huge costume just to have people try to guess who is singing. As expected, when he revealed himself, he was welcomed with cheers and applause from the audience and the judges.

Van Dyke told the audience:

It was really dark in there. …I couldn’t see anything

Adding:

I would say it’s the weirdest thing I’ve ever done. But they didn’t put a mask on me. They made a great big like Pumpkinhead thing that I had to do

The actor then surprised the audience with a performance of Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious from Mary Poppins.

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Dick Van Dyke’s secret to staying young

In an interview with Yahoo, Van Dyke thanked his good genes then he talked about his wife. He told Yahoo:

Having a beautiful young wife half my age to take care of me, that works!

Indeed Van Dyke has been married to Arlene Silver 51, since 2012. He then goes on about how staying active and exercising play a big part in staying young and healthy. It turns out Dick Van Dyke is a gym rat:

I still go to the gym three days a week and work out.

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In fact, in 2016, Van Dyke wrote a book entitled Keep Moving. The actor added that if you stop exercising, you’re more likely to get stiff which isn’t good:

It's just a stiffening up and not exercising their muscles and their lungs. Exercise is the answer.

In 2019, Van Dyke revealed to Closer that he lifts weights, walks on a treadmill and does water aerobics.

Sources used:

Yahoo News: ‘Dick Van Dyke talks 'Mary Poppins' accent, Mary Tyler Moore’s capri pants and how being married keeps him young’

New York Post: ‘Dick Van Dyke performs on ‘The Masked Singer’ at age 97: ‘Weirdest thing I’ve ever done’

New York Post: ‘Dick Van Dyke, 97, says ‘beautiful young wife half my age’ keeps me going’

Closer: ‘Dick Van Dyke Reveals His Secrets to Staying Young: ‘I Just Love What I Do’