Dick Van Dyke turns 97

He’s still active. Does the occasional bit on small stages, so I’ve read. A highly respected person in the industry.
 
Back in the 1950's, a man walked into a Hollywood agent's office. He told the agent that he wanted to be a big star and that he wanted the agent to represent him. The agent asked the man's name, to which he proudly replied, "***** Van Lesbian." Taken aback, the agent said, "If you want to be a big star, you will have to change your name." The man, somewhat offended, told the agent, "The Van Lesbian name goes back centuries and I am very proud of my name! I will never change my name! Ever!" "Then I won't be able to represent you." Said the agent. "Then good day to you, sir!" The man yelled as he stormed out of the office.

Five years later, the agent received a letter along with a check for $50,000, written out to him. He wondered if it was sent to him by mistake until he read the letter.

The letter said,

Dear Sir, Five years ago, I came into your office wanting to become an actor in Hollywood and you told me I needed to change my name. Determined to make it with my God-given birth name, I refused. You told me I would never make it in Hollywood with a name like ***** Van Lesbian. After I left your office, I thought about what you said. I decided you were right. I had to change my name. I had too much pride to return to your office, so I signed with another agent. I would never have made it without changing my name, so the enclosed check is a token of my appreciation. Thank you for your advice..

Sincerely,

Dick Van Dyke
 
I always watched the Dick Van Dyke Show and the little remembered The New Dick Van Dyke Show. Happy Birthday Dick.
I see in 1997, Dick Van Dyke apologized for his “most atrocious cockney accent in the history of cinema” , that he used in Mary Poppins. I know it was bad, but it was a comedy musical, so no one should have taken it seriously. Now if it was a serious drama, that would have been a crime. :)

https://www.theguardian.com/film/20...-sorry-for-cockney-accent-mary-poppins-disney

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Dick_Van_Dyke_Show
 
Dick Van Dyke was incredibly versatile, one of the few performers who could sing, dance, act, and do comedy equally well. There are few like him, and I’m glad that he’s still among us…. a legendary performer! Compare him to the many entertainers today who cannot make an appearance without flaunting their foul mouths and massive egos…
 

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