As dick van dykeAs his 100th birthday approaches, he opens up about one of the most important people in his life – his wife. Arlene Silver,
Although the couple has been married for over a decade and are still together for a long time, their 46-year age difference has often made headlines over the years. When they met backstage at the SAG Awards in 2006, Silver was 35 and Van Dyke was 81.
Recalling the moment when Silver was working as a makeup artist, Van Dyke says she immediately felt a connection with her.
“The one thing I had never done in my life was approach a female stranger,” Van Dyke told People in an interview published Wednesday (Nov. 26). “She passed me and without thinking I jumped up and said, ‘Hi, I’m Dick.’ (I) asked her to sit down and found out she was a makeup woman and I hired her right then and there.”
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Despite their age difference, Van Dyke says that their relationship is going incredibly well and has never been a problem for them.
“We thought it might be (a problem) to some extent, to some extent, but it’s really not,” Van Dyke shared. “To start with, I’m a baby. I think I’m about 13, so that’s a problem and he’s quite mature for his age, so I don’t think we have an age issue.
Most of all, Van Dyke says he is incredibly lucky to be married to Silver and credits her for keeping his youthful spirit alive.
Van Dyke explained, “He’s responsible for keeping me in the moment.” “She has made me happy every day, every day of my life. She is a joy. She can make me sing or dance and she juggles a lot of responsibilities… I’m so lucky.”
This story was originally published by Parade on November 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a favorite source by clicking here.
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