Dick Van Dyke is ringing in his 99th birthday in style. The actor—born on December 13—decided to celebrate turning 99 by appearing in a Coldplay music video that highlighted his decade-spanning career, using pictures from his Mary Poppins days and beyond. Van Dyke also took the time to comment on how he really feels about aging and if he’s afraid of dying. Keep scrolling to read his inspiring message, and watch the music video below.
Dick Van Dyke talks about his career with Coldplay
The actor recently starred in Coldplay’s “All My Love” music video alongside singer Chris Martin, who played the piano and sang while Van Dyke danced around him, showcasing just how well he could move at age 98.
But that wasn’t the only thing the actor did. In between verses, Van Dyke also took the time to comment on just how much his career has meant to him.
“I think I’m one of those lucky people who got to do for a living what I would’ve done anyway. When you think how lucky I am—I got to do what I do, play and act silly,” the actor said.
Van Dyke’s entire family also has several shining moments in the music video, in what appears to be an early birthday celebration. And while leaving them might seem scary, the actor is ready to take the next steps and see what’s out there.
“I’m acutely aware that I could go any day now. But I don’t know why, it doesn’t concern me,” Van Dyke said in the video. “I’m not afraid of it. I have that feeling totally against anything intellectual I have that I’m gonna be alright.”
Perhaps the best part of the video came at the end, after “All My Love” had finished and Martin and Van Dyke decided to sit down at the piano and sing about getting older.
“Old age, old age, old age, old age. You turn another page,” Van Dyke sang. “All the love that I’ve been feeling. All the breakin’, all the healin’. All the things that I wish I’d done are right. All the days that I was dancing, all the chances I was chancin’. But I’m still legendary Dick Van Dyke.”
You can watch Van Dyke’s entire performance and listen to Coldplay’s touching song below!
Coldplay opens up about working with Dick Van Dyke
While appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! together, Martin opened up about how working with a legend like Van Dyke and his entire family was and even revealed a super sweet behind-the-scenes moment involving a water slide.
“I saw Barry [age 73] come up to Dick and say, ‘Dad, can I turn the pool slide on?’” Martin recalled. “It was so sweet because it was like a son and his dad. But they’re collectively 176 [years old]!”
Martin then pointed out how not only is Van Dyke’s age impressive, but so are his kids, who are currently 74, 68 and 63.
Of course, the actor loved it and even proclaimed that he was “old enough to be Joe Biden’s [age 82] father.”
We wish Van Dyke a very happy birthday and hope that he continues to live a long and happy life!
