Dick Van Dyke Just Made History By Winning An Emmy At 98—And Fans Are Thrilled

Legendary Hollywood icon Dick Van Dyke won a historic Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series at the 51st Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony held in Los Angeles on Friday night.

At 98 years young, Van Dyke became the oldest living winner in the award show's history.

The recognition was for his performance as amnesiac Timothy Robicheaux on Peacock’s Days of Our Lives.

Here is a clip of his reaction to hearing his name announced as the winner in the category, and making his way onto the stage accompanied by his wife, makeup artist Arlene Silver.

Even he couldn't believe his win when he accepted the statuette and expressed gratitude from the stage.

“I don’t believe this," he told his industry peers and fans. "I feel like a spy from nighttime television."

He continued:

“I’m 98 years old. Can you believe it? This really tops off a lifetime of 80 years in the business."

"If I had known I would have lived this long I would’ve taken better care of myself.”

Here is a news clip featuring a snippet of his speech.

Dick Van Dyke Makes History With Daytime Emmy Win At 98 | 10 News First youtu.be

Van Dyke is the recipient of a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award, and six Emmy Awards.

In 1995, he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012 and was also honored with the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2013, and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2021.

He became a household name after starring as a television comedy writer Rob Petrie on the 1960s CBS sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show.

The show, created by Carl Reiner, ran for five seasons from October 3, 1961, to June 1, 1966.

Van Dyke is also a Disney legend.

He is perhaps most famous for his memorable turn as Bert, the chimney sweep, and as bank chairman Mr. Dawes Senior in the Walt Disney film musical Mary Poppins in 1964.

One of the songs he performed as Bert was "Chim Chim, Cher-ee."

The iconic earworm won an Academy Award for Best Original Song written by the legendary songwriting duo the Sherman Brothers, comprising Robert B. Sherman, who died on March 6, 2012, and Richard M. Sherman, who recently passed on May 25, 2024.

Since Mary Poppins, in addition to performing in the film musicals Bye Bye Birdie (1963) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), Van Dyke appeared in many guest-starring roles on television including Columbo and The Carol Burnett Show, as well as starring in The New Dick Van Dyke Show from 1971 to 1974, Diagnosis: Murder from 1993 to 2001, and Murder 101 from 2006 to 2009.

In films, Van Dyke appeared in the Night at the Museum film franchise, Dick Tracy, Curious George, and the 2018 sequel to Mary Poppins, Mary Poppins Returns.

Fans celebrating his win were delighted and impressed at seeing the nonagenarian's wit and agility still intact.

Congratulations on your well-deserved award, sir!