Dick Van Dyke, 99, Reflects on 46-Year Age Gap with Wife Arlene Silver: “Eerie How Well It Works”
At 99 years old, legendary entertainer Dick Van Dyke has opened up about his 13-year marriage to Arlene Silver, 53, shedding light on their 46-year age difference and the unique bond they share.
The couple’s story began in 2006 at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, where Van Dyke, then in his 80s, met Silver, a vivacious makeup artist in her 30s. Recalling their first encounter, Van Dyke shared, “I never said hello to a strange girl in my life. I was too scared. But I was at a show backstage, and she walked by, and for some reason, I just jumped up and said, ‘Hi, I’m Dick.’ There’s something about her and got me, and I was right.”
Their professional relationship blossomed into a deep friendship, eventually leading to romance. In 2012, they tied the knot, with Van Dyke humorously referring to Silver as his “child bride.” Despite initial doubts about their significant age gap, the couple found that their connection transcended numbers. “I thought… ‘There’s no way that this could ever work,'” Silver admitted. Van Dyke added, “My brother just said, ‘It’ll never work. What do you talk about? What do you do together?… The fact is, we talk all the time, and we do everything together.”
Addressing public perceptions, Van Dyke once expressed concern about potential backlash, saying, “I thought there would be an outcry about a gold digger marrying an old man. But no one ever took that attitude.” He emphasized their shared outlook on life: “We share an attitude. She can go with the flow. She loves to sing and dance, which we do almost every day. She’s just delightful.”
Silver, in turn, praised Van Dyke’s joyful nature, describing him as “the most perfect human being” and likening him to “a happy pill.” She noted, “He’s always happy, so genuine, so amazing.”
The couple recently shared insights into their relationship during the “Vandy Camp” event in Malibu, supporting the Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Foundation. Reflecting on their bond, Van Dyke remarked, “It’s eerie how well it works.” Silver added, “We just love being home. We love Malibu, and it’s our favorite place, our house especially.”
As Van Dyke approaches his 100th birthday in December, he continues to credit his youthful spirit to a combination of factors, including regular exercise and the love he shares with Silver. “Having a beautiful young wife half my age to take care of me—that works!” he quipped.
Their enduring love story serves as a testament to the idea that age is just a number when it comes to matters of the heart.