Dick Van Dyke Says Quitting Smoking and Alcohol Made Him Reach 100
When Dick Van Dyke turned 100 on December 13, 2025, he did not credit luck. The “Mary Poppins Returns” icon pointed to choices that he made earlier in life.
Van Dyke has said flat out that quitting smoking and alcohol is probably why he is still here. The Hollywood icon quit drinking and smoking in his 50s, and he never sugarcoated how tough it was. He admitted he had an addictive personality and liked things a little too much.
Booze helped him feel less shy in social settings, but it slowly took control. In 1972, he checked himself into a hospital to deal with alcoholism. That choice changed everything.
The comedian extraordinaire later called alcohol addiction a physical disease, no different from heroin addiction. Smoking was even harder to quit. He once said it was twice as difficult and much worse than alcohol. Even decades later, he still chewed nicotine gum to keep the habit from creeping back.
Movement, Music, and a Refusal to Rot
Troy / IG / Long after most people slow down, Van Dyke kept moving. He still goes to the gym three times a week.
His routine includes sit-ups, leg work, and upper-body machines. He treats it like part of his job, not a chore.
Music and dancing are baked into his workouts. He sings between sets, dances when the mood hits, and he calls it his secret ingredient. That playful energy keeps his body awake and his mind sharp. Dyke believes staying active saved him from stiffness and constant aches, and he says it with conviction, not hype.
Love, Purpose, and Staying Plugged In
Van Dyke often credits his wife, Arlene Silver, as a major reason he stayed young at heart. He says their relationship keeps him from turning into a grouchy recluse. She makes him feel decades younger and pushes him to stay curious, hopeful, and involved.
Purpose also fuels him. He sings every morning. He still shows up for creative projects. At 99, he surprised fans with a cameo in a Coldplay music video.
Dyke / IG / Van Dyke has written about “feeling smaller” in the world, both physically and socially.
He jokes about being a stooper and a shuffler, and admits his feet cause trouble. His eyesight and hearing are weaker now, and group conversations can be tough.
Travel wears him out. Fine motor tasks frustrate him. Still, he draws a sharp line between his body and his spirit. Inside, he says, he feels nothing like the old men he once played on screen. His body aged, but his outlook did not. That mindset, more than anything, may be what carried him to 100.
The Simple Truth Behind the Icon’s Long Life
Van Dyke’s story works because it is not flashy. He quit what was killing him. He moved his body, protected his joy, and stayed connected to people and passions that mattered. None of it required extreme rules or miracle products.
His life sends a clear message. Longevity is built on daily choices, not dramatic gestures. You do not need to be perfect. All you need is to be honest with yourself, willing to change, and stubborn enough to keep going. At 100 years old, Dick Van Dyke is living proof that it adds up.