Dick Van Dyke made history at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards over the weekend, and he joked he’s still ‘looking for work’ before turning 99 years of age.
The iconic comedian will turn 99 in December, but on Saturday he tied a record set by Norman Lear as the oldest Emmy winners, both doing so at 98 (Lear in 2020).
He won Outstanding Variety Special for his 2023 birthday special Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic at the Creative Arts Emmys on Saturday.
After receiving the award, Van Dyke told reporters (via People) that he hoped to be remembered for ‘laughter.’
‘I hope for making people laugh for 75 years. I’ve been in the business 75 years. I can’t believe that I’m still here and performing,’ he said.
Dick Van Dyke made history at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards over the weekend, and he joked he’s still ‘looking for work’ before turning 99 years of age
He won Outstanding Variety Special for his 2023 birthday special Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic at the Creative Arts Emmys on Saturday
The legendary funnyman looked around the room and then joked, ‘I’m looking for work if anybody has.’
When asked what advice he would give to younger performers, he said to stick with the craft.
‘You have to stick with it. You’re gonna go through hard times and a lot of auditions … but you have to stay with it,’ Van Dyke said.
‘Be patient if you’ve got the confidence in yourself, and it’s very important to believe that you can do it,’ he added.
When accepting his award to much applause at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, Van Dyke was very appreciative.
‘Thank you! That reception, I cannot tell you what it means,’ he told the crowd at the start of his speech.
He was joined on stage by his 52-year-old wife Arlene Silver, who served as a producer on the Emmy-winning special.
‘The young lady who got this award, you may think of the word nepotism and I would understand it, but this lady got the job all by herself as producer of the Dick Van Dyke special because she knows me inside and out, and knows how I work, and don’t take no sass from anybody,’ he said of his wife.
The legendary funnyman looked around the room and then joked, ‘I’m looking for work if anybody has’
When asked what advice he would give to younger performers, he said to stick with the craft
‘Be patient if you’ve got the confidence in yourself, and it’s very important to believe that you can do it,’ he added
Just a few months earlier, he made history again as the oldest winner of a Daytime Emmy Award as best guest performer on Days of Our Lives.
‘This is a very different honor for me; I seldom get recognized for dramatic or straight acting – comedy and musicals are my specialty after all,’ he said.
‘I’m so honored and it will be a fun night celebrating with the entire daytime television community,’ Van Dyke added.
He will next be seen in the film Capture the Flag alongside Louis Gossett Jr., John Amos, Barry Corbin and Paul Dooley.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk