Dick Van Dyke Breaks Silence on Those Who Said His Marriage Wouldn’t ‘Work’

Dick Van Dyke first met makeup artist Arlene Silver at the SAG Awards in 2006. He was already approaching 80, while she was just 34. He had no idea she was so much younger than he, but something about her made him feel that he had to approach her.

“I never said hello to a strange girl in my life. I was too scared,” he told People. “But I was at a show backstage and she walked by, and for some reason, I just jumped up and said, ‘Hi, I’m Dick.’ There’s something about her and got me, and I was right.”

He began hiring her for projects, and the two became close.

The Couple Defies Naysayers: ‘People the same age don’t last’

Like many married couples, Van Dyke and Silver tend to finish each other’s sentences. The two are so in sync that it happens naturally. “We get along so well,” Van Dyke revealed was the secret to their 13-year marriage. “We just care about each other so much,” Silver added.

“Everybody said it wouldn’t work,” the 99-year-old Van Dyke added, before Silver chimed in, “Yeah. I mean, it’s like eerie how well it works. People the same age don’t last.”

Van Dyke was married once before, to Margie Willett, who was two years younger than him. They had four children together before separating in 1976. Before they separated, Van Dyke had begun an affair with his agent’s secretary, Michelle Triola. Eight years later, he and Willett divorced. He and Triola were together until she died of lung cancer in 2009.

After Triola died, Van Dyke struggled with grief. It was Silver who helped him move on. “Arlene would come by after work and bring me food,” he told People. “She was such a support, I fell in love.” They got married in 2012.

They Share How Important It Is to Support Each Other

“He’s made me feel like I can do anything,” Silver said, with Van Dyke adding, “And you can.” The two don’t just talk about being incredibly supportive of each other’s endeavors, but they prove it with action. “I feel like this Vandy Camp is a great representation of all those things in one event.” Silver said.

Vandy Camp is described as an event filled with dancing, puppets, crafts, and games. Van Dyke’s band, The Vantastix, also perform. One of the highlights is Van Dyke telling stories about all the celebrities and legends he’s known in his long lifetime.

Silver created Vandy Camp as a gift to her husband and all his fans. It is also a fun way to raise money for California’s Community Brigade. The Brigade helps train volunteers to prepare and respond to wildfires.

So far, they have hosted two Vandy Camps, which take place at Dreamland in Malibu, with the most recent taking place on April 20.

“We just love being home. We love Malibu, and it’s our favorite place, our house especially. So this is like our, you’re at our house,” Silver said. “We’re so grateful. Our house did get hit by the Franklin fire, but in the scheme of things, we got very lucky.”