Birth name and early career

"Dick" is the familiar short form of Richard; Van Dyke is his birth surname. CNN Fast Facts and Biography.com list birth name Richard Wayne Van Dyke (CNN; Biography.com; LOC).

He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II with Armed Forces Radio, then worked in radio, nightclubs, and Broadway—winning a Tony for Bye Bye Birdie (1961)—before television stardom.

The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Poppins, and later work

He starred as Rob Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show (CBS, 1961–1966), winning multiple Emmys. In Disney's Mary Poppins (1964) he played Bert and Mr. Dawes Sr.; he is a Disney Legend (1998). Later credits include Diagnosis: Murder, Mary Poppins Returns (2018), and continuing appearances past his 100th birthday in December 2025 (PBS American Masters).

His brother was actor Jerry Van Dyke. Awards include Emmys, a Grammy, a Tony, SAG Life Achievement, and Kennedy Center Honors (2020).

The Dick Van Dyke Show complete series DVD Mary Poppins Blu-ray Dick Van Dyke memoir / My Lucky Life autobiography