Dick Van Dyke, at the grand age of 99, had to miss his anticipated Vandy Camp comedy event due to undisclosed health concerns, sparking anxious curiosity about the beloved entertainer’s condition.
At a Glance
- Dick Van Dyke, 99, pulled out of a planned comedy event in Malibu on Saturday due to an undisclosed illness.
- His wife, Arlene Silver, addressed the audience, explaining that he was having a “bad day.”
- Van Dyke briefly appeared via livestream from his home to greet his fans.
- The legendary entertainer is set to celebrate his 100th birthday in December 2025.
A Last-Minute Absence from a Beloved Event
Legendary entertainer Dick Van Dyke, 99, had to make a last-minute cancellation of his appearance at “Vandy Camp,” a comedy event held in his honor at Malibu High School on Saturday, June 28, 2025. The beloved star of stage and screen pulled out due to an undisclosed illness, prompting concern from fans.
His wife, Arlene Silver, 53, took the stage to address the audience and provide an update on her husband’s condition.
A Wife’s Heartfelt Address
Silver explained that while her husband was disappointed to miss the event, the challenges of his advanced age sometimes get in the way. “I have to inform you that Dick is not up to coming to celebrate with us today. I’m sorry,” she told the crowd. “When you’re 99 and a half years old, you have good days and bad days … and unfortunately, today is not a good day for him, and he’s sick that he can’t be here.”
Despite his absence, Van Dyke made a brief appearance via a livestream from his home to express his regret and greet the attendees. Silver also spoke lovingly about her husband’s legacy. “It is a celebration of your childhood, all of our childhoods, and the music that’s in the fabric of all of us, [and] Dick Van Dyke is a big part of that,” she said, according to Page Six.
A Legendary Career and an Approaching Milestone
The incident is a reminder of the bittersweet reality of Van Dyke’s incredible longevity. His career has spanned more than seven decades, from “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “Mary Poppins” to a recent, celebrated appearance on “The Masked Singer.”
Silver noted the difficult side of a long life, telling the audience, “He’s outlived everybody. That’s the curse of living to almost 100.” As reported by The Independent, Van Dyke himself has recently reminisced about friends like Ed Asner, with whom he had hoped to remake “The Odd Couple.”
Fans around the world are now looking forward to December, when the beloved icon is set to celebrate his 100th birthday.
