Dick Van Dyke became the oldest Daytime Emmy winner at age 98 for his guest role on Days of Our Lives.
In his acceptance speech, he jokingly poked fun at his age and long career in entertainment spanning 80 years.
Van Dyke began in radio and Broadway before starring in The Dick Van Dyke Show and Mary Poppins.
“I don’t believe this,” Van Dyke said. “I feel like a spy from nighttime television. I brought this lady up because she, by trouble and strife, is the love of my life, but because she was in the show — she played the cop who arrested me.”
“She looks better than she did as that cop and I’m the oldest nominee in history,” he said of his wife.
He has received several Emmys, a Tony, and a Grammy over his iconic career.
Now in his 90s, he remains active with roles on soap operas, Masked Singer, and The Simpsons.
“If I had known I was going to live this long I would’ve taken better care of myself,” he said. “You guys are a real family and just took me in and treated me so nicely.”
“I’m 98 years old, can you believe it?” he said. “‘This really tops off a lifetime of 80 years in the business.”
“This nomination is very exciting; after all, it took me 75 years and my pal Drake Hogestyn to get on a soap opera!” he said. “He is really the reason this happened and deserves the credit and thanks.”
He added, “This is a very different honor for me; I seldom get recognized for dramatic or straight acting – comedy and musicals are my specialty after all. I’m so honored and it will be a fun night celebrating with the entire daytime television community.”
Van Dyke credited his longevity to genes, his younger wife, positive attitude, and staying active with exercise.
“Genes, I guess, for one thing,” Van Dyke said in 2023. “Having a beautiful young wife half my age to take care of me — that works! My positive attitude, I get that from my wife.”
At 98, he continues to be celebrated for his contributions to entertainment spanning different mediums over many decades.
