Beloved entertainment icon Dick Van Dyke, 99, sparked some major concern after he was forced to unexpectedly cancel his appearance at his Vandy Camp fundraiser. The actor/comedian’s health is reportedly in rapid decline, and those close to him are growing worried that he may not make it to his upcoming 100th birthday in December.
Over the weekend Dick Van Dyke suffered a health setback that left him unable to co-host the charity event. The Mary Poppins star was forced to skip out on Saturday’s event at the Arlene & Dick Van Dyke Theater at Malibu High School. However, his wife, Arlene Silver, 53, took the stage alone and shared the difficult news with their guests.
Dick’s wife Arlene Silver, 53, took the stage to apologize to the audience on behalf of her husband. She sadly explained to the crowd on hand that Dick was “not up to” attending. “When you’re 99-and-a-half years old, you have good days and bad days,” she said.
“Unfortunately, today is not a good day for him, and he’s sick, so he can’t be here. He’s so frail, understandably, so his team has to take extra caution at all times.”
Silver’s announcement left fans fearing the Hollywood legend’s health may be slipping more than previously thought. According to Radar Online Van Dyke’s team has been on high alert, taking “extra caution at all times” due to his increasingly frail condition.
Dick Van Dyke’s Wife Arlene Silver Reveals Actor’s Health Is Fading
Silver warned her husband Dick Van Dyke’s fans that as the actor approaches his 100th birthday he is no longer the “Van Dyke you’re expecting.” While Arlene spoke with fans, she also explained that the Vandy Camp was not only a tribute to the legend but to the joy he’s brought to his fans for generations.
She spoke of their 13-year marriage stating that being around Dick Van Dyke has made her a better person. Arlene gets candid with fans. She admits that while her husband’s lifetime is winding down, she fears stepping into the spotlight without him. She adds that without him, she is out of her comfort zone.
In a past interview, Dick Van Dyke shared he’s discovered that getting older means giving up on the things that you once enjoyed. In 2015, Dick admitted that he could no longer handle playing tennis any longer. However, he hoped to keep up with his singing and dancing.
That was ten years ago. The fact that Dick Van Dyke is still around shows a lot of willpower and determination. His wife adds that he truly appreciates his life, but some days are getting harder. “He’s outlived everybody. That’s the curse of living to almost 100.”
“It actually comes down to one thing, luck. Good for him,” one fan states.
With Dick Van Dyke’s 100th birthday just months away, every public appearance, or cancelation fuels speculation about Dick Van Dyke’s health. His fans’ hope for many more musical moments and smiles from the Hollywood treasure.
His inner circle is bracing for whatever comes next. And one thing’s certain Dick Van Dyke remains an irreplaceable part of Hollywood history.
