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HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Fans celebrate iconic Dick Van Dyke's special day as he turns 97

Fans flooded the social media as iconic actor Dick Van Dyke celebrates his 97th birthday

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: There are only a handful number of actors that become larger-than-life figures and are adored by one and all. One such actor is Dick Van Dyke, the legendary star who has been gracing our screens for more than 60 years and it’s time to wear your party hats because it’s Van Dyke’s 97th birthday and he’s still going strong. The highly-acclaimed actor began his career as a radio announcer for the United States Army Air Forces before transferring to the Special Services.

As soon as fans got to know that it was the birthday of the legendary actor, they flooded social media with extraordinary wishes and hoped that he will continue to spread smiles in the coming years as well.

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One of the fans wrote, “Happy 97th Birthday to dazzling Dick Van Dyke, the internationally treasured, tireless ray of sunshine who brightened all of our childhoods and, even today, can turn our frowns upside down.” Another fan noted, “Super 97th B-Day to Dick Van Dyke. If anybody deserves to live 97 years, it’s this sweet bastard. When has he ever let us down? Oh, that’s right, absolutely fucking never. Icon. Have yourself a great day, Rob Petrie.”

“The astonishing, seemingly immortal Dick Van Dyke is 97 years old today!” wrote another fan. “Happy 97th Birthday to one of the most beloved artists of our times, the legendary, Dick Van Dyke! Here's to many happy and healthy years to come, sir! Bravo!” tweeted another social media user.

Another social media user wrote, “Happy Birthday Dick Van Dyke - what an amazing life and career. Truly iconic in American Culture. I am lucky to have experienced the latter half of his career in entertainment.” Another fan noted, “The very happiest of 97th birthdays to the one and only, irreplaceable Dick Van Dyke. From Mary Poppins to Night at the Museum and the Dick Van Dyke Show (which we had on DVD when I was a kid), he was a part of so many of my childhood favorites. He is an absolute treasure!”

A lot of fans shared their favorite videos from Van Dyke’s several performances and called him a “national treasure.”

Born on December 13, 1925, Van Dyke made his Broadway debut in 1959 and the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Featured Play. In 1964, Van Dyke became a household name with a superb performance in the iconic movie ‘Mary Poppins’, for which he won the Best Actor (Comedy/Musical) accolade at the Golden Globes. On the other hand, he also won a Grammy for the movie’s album.

The actor continued to rule screens and people’s hearts in the years to come and came forward with ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’. The series turned out to be a huge hit and a turning point in his career as it made him a legend. The series sees Van Dyke playing the role of a writer named Rob Petrie who lives with his family in New York. The series went on to win 15 Primetime Emmys during its run and is included in several lists as one of the greatest TV shows of all time.

Van Dyke has been a part of the industry for more than six decades and worked in more than 33 feature films and 60 television shows. On the other hand, he has worked on stage an uncountable number of times.

The actor married Margie Willett in 1948 and got divorced in 1984 after a long separation. In 1976, Van Dyke began his relationship with long-time companion Michelle Triola Marvin. They lived together for more than 30 years, until her death in 2009. Meanwhile, in 2012, at the age of 86, he married make-up artist Arlene Silver after meeting her at the SAG Awards.

The couple is madly in love with each other and keeps on sharing photos and videos on their official Instagram accounts.

Dick Van Dyke is the prime example of “age is just a number.” Happy Birthday, legend!