99-Year-Old Dick Van Dyke’s Nightly Dessert Is Adorably Relatable

Actor and comedian Dick Van Dyke is living proof that age is just a number. Back in June, he became the oldest person to score a Daytime Emmy for his guest role on “Days of Our Lives.” Van Dyke’s résumé proves that he’s still far from retirement. In addition to appearances on “The Masked Singer” and “The Simpsons” this year, he accepted a trophy at the 2024 Creative Arts Emmy Awards for his CBS birthday special, “Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic.” And just recently he starred in Coldplay’s new music video for the song “All My Love.”

Even at 99 years old, Van Dyke’s enthusiasm for performing remains boundless. His career has spanned more than seven decades, with fans devouring his work on TV (“The Dick Van Dyke Show”), the big screen (“Mary Poppins”), bookshelves (New York Times Bestseller “My Life in and Out of Show Business: A Memoir”), and stage (“Bye Bye Birdie”).

The Secret to Dick Van Dyke’s Longevity

So how does Van Dyke keep his youthful charisma, zest, and sharpness as he approaches 100? 

On the heels of his 2015 book release “Keep Moving and Other Tips and Truths About Aging,” Van Dyke told the Chicago Tribune that a major factor is staying active. He wakes up at 6 a.m. every morning, drinks a cup of coffee, and heads “to the gym before I talk myself out of it,” he says in his signature humorous style. “If you get exercise, get moving, get the blood moving, you walk out of the gym feeling better…Get that circulation going, and it changes you. I can go to the gym feeling pretty lousy, but I walk out of there with a bounce in my step and feeling pretty good.”

While at the gym, Van Dyke swears by the treadmill and weights (yes, he still lifts in his 90s!). After his sweat session and with feel-good vibes in full effect, he typically swings by the market, runs errands, and heads back home for a quick nap before dinner. Then before bed, he always indulges his inner child.

Dick Van Dyke’s Nightly Dessert

Throughout the day, Van Dyke explained to the Chicago Tribune team that he prefers to steer clear of overly processed and fast food, instead leaning into “light and fresh” fare. “I watch what I eat. I’m not much on meat; maybe once a week. I have blueberries every morning. I watch my sugar level,” he said.

When Van Dyke was a kid, he always dreamed of growing up and being able to eat candy every night. That inner child is still alive and well: “There’s the biblical admonition about putting aside the things of your childhood. But I take that to mean self-centeredness, willfulness; not creativity and wonder,” Van Dyke continued in his chat with the Tribune. “Walt Disney and I always said we were children looking for our inner adults.”

So to indulge his inner child, Van Dyke gleefully admitted, “I do eat ice cream every night.”

And he’s not alone—Americans consume an average of 20 pounds of frozen dairy products every year. Whether it’s a daytime snack or a post-dinner treat, ice cream holds a special place in many hearts (and freezers). From classic vanilla to quirky flavors like Gooey Butter Cake or Cotton Candy, there’s a scoop for every craving.

For Van Dyke, that perfect bowl is simple and sweet—two scoops of Häagen-Dazs vanilla topped with a generous drizzle of chocolate syrup. Sometimes simplicity really does taste the best.

Van Dyke talks a lot about staying energetic and making the most of life in your 60s, 70s, 80s, and beyond in his book, and it seems that maintaining balance—and savoring dessert—plays a key role in that magical formula.

We’ll have what he’s having.