Dick Van Dyke Says He’s Probably the ‘Last Person Alive’ Who Knew the Real Walt Disney
- - Dick Van Dyke Says He’s Probably the ‘Last Person Alive’ Who Knew the Real Walt Disney
Meredith Wilshere, Scott HuverDecember 6, 2025 at 9:00 AM
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Dick Van Dyke and Walt Disney -
Dick Van Dyke connected with Walt Disney over their shared childlike nature
At a Vandy High Tea event at his home on Nov. 30, the actor talked about his relationship with the Disney creator
"We decided that emotionally we were both 13 years old, and that's why we love to do children's entertainment," he said
Dick Van Dyke thinks he may be the last living person who knew the real Walt Disney.
The actor and singer, 99, recently hosted a Vandy High Tea charity event at his California home, which featured two hours of Q&As, sing-along performances from Van Dyke with special guests, and a thoughtful reflection on his longstanding career.
When looking back on his relationships over the years, Van Dyke reflected on his connection with the famed producer.
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Dick Van Dyke
“I got to know Walt, I’m probably the last person alive who did. I got to know Walt pretty well, and we just got along," he said. "We decided that emotionally we were both 13 years old and that's why we love to do children's entertainment.”
“He was a big kid, just so full of enthusiasm, and I just loved him," the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang actor continued at the event, which was produced by Chris Isaacson Presents and raised funds to benefit The Van Dyke Endowment of the Arts and the Dick Van Dyke Museum, which is currently in development.
Although Van Dyke noted that they "were kind of on opposite sides of the political fence," he said they "didn't let that get in the way" of their friendship.
"Yeah, he was a wonderful guy," Van Dyke added. "He just smoked too much! Doggone.”
Disney died in 1966 at age 65 from lung cancer.
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Van Dyke met Disney in the early 1960s, when the actor was in his mid-30s, and the American animator was in his early 60s. In October 2025, at a similar Vandy Tea event, Van Dyke recalled being cast in Mary Poppins after the meeting, despite the author of the original books, Pamela Lyndon Travers, not thinking he was "right" for the role.
“It is insane. I did an interview once, and in the interview I said, 'I don't think there's enough good entertainment for kids,'" the actor recalled. "Walt Disney heard it, called me up, and gave me the part. It was that simple.”
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Dick Van Dyke
Van Dyke, who turns 100 on Dec. 13, famously starred as a chimney sweep named Bert in the 1964 film opposite Julie Andrews as the titular magical nanny. Mary Poppins won five Oscars, including Best Actress for Andrews, now 90, in addition to Best Original Score and Best Original Song ("Chim Chim Cher-ee").
Van Dyke has talked about his relationship with Disney before, usually noting how they were similar in their childlike spirit. The actor sat down for an interview as part of ABC News Studios' special The Untold Story of Mary Poppins: A Special Edition of 20/20, timed to the 60th anniversary of the iconic movie.
In the interview, Van Dyke recalled working with Disney, noting that they "hit it right off."
"We both admitted that we just pretended to be grown up and that we were still kids," he said. "I went into his office, and he had watercolor paintings of all the scenes in the movie. By the time we got through with that, I was just so excited."
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