Van Dyke’s life took another turn in 2006 at the SAG Awards, where he met makeup artist Arlene Silver. “She walked by and I said, ‘Hi, I’m Dick.’ I had no idea she was half my age. Beautiful.” What began as friendship grew into love, and in 2012 they married.
Despite the age gap, their connection felt natural. “I’m emotionally immature, and Arlene is very wise for her age, so we meet in the middle,” Van Dyke joked. Silver added, “Our age difference is so irrelevant. I think when you see us together, you don’t think about it.”
His children were initially hesitant, but his oldest son later told him, “Dad, I get it.” Van Dyke credits Arlene with revitalizing his life: “I don’t think I’d even be here, to tell you the truth. She keeps me in shape, feeds me, and I love her more every day.”
Their bond extended to performing. In 2022, they released a Valentine’s video singing “Everybody Loves a Lover,” with Van Dyke dancing at age 96. Staying active, they still hit the gym three times a week. “Most people at 98 don’t feel like working out… I still move pretty well,” he said.
Van Dyke also continued supporting the arts, donating $3 million to Malibu public schools. The newly named Arlene and Dick Van Dyke Theater stands as a tribute to his enduring love for performance—and to a life filled with resilience, reinvention, and late-in-life joy.
