Dick Van Dyke has revealed how he makes the 46-year age gap with his wife Arlene Silver work as he admitted his ‘behaviour is infantile.’
The couple met backstage at the SAG Awards in 2006 and within six years, they had tied the knot, opening up Hollywood’s biggest age gap relationship as the then 86-year-old and 40-year-old walked down the aisle.
Now, the legendary actor, 99, has admitted that the ‘problem’ is actually in reverse as he acts like ‘I’m about 13’ whereas Arlene is ‘very mature.’
Giving an insight into their relationship, Dick explained how Arlene keeps them both ‘constantly busy’ which helps make him ‘happy every day.’
Speaking in a new interview, he said: ‘We thought it might be [a problem] in some regard, to some extent, but it hasn’t really.
‘I’m infantile to start with. I think I’m about 13, so that’s been a problem and she’s quite mature for her age, so I don’t think we haven’t had any problem with age at all.’
Dick Van Dyke has revealed how he makes the 46-year age gap with his wife Arlene Silver work as he admitted his ‘behaviour is infantile’ (pictured in 2018)
The couple met backstage at the SAG Awards in 2006 and within six years, they had tied the knot, opening up Hollywood’s biggest age gap relationship (pictured in June 2024)
He told People: ‘She’s kept me happy every day of my life, every day. She’s a joy. She can get me singing or dancing and she carries so much responsibility… I’m just lucky.’
At the time Dick met Arlene, he was closely linked with actress Michelle Triola Marvin, with whom he conducted an affair which ended his first marriage to Margue Willet.
The couple have been open about the secrets of their success, pointing to their mutual love for singing, dancing and looking after one another as the keys to their stability.
Dick has also credited his wife with keeping him active in his later years, telling The Sunday Times: ‘I met Arlene in 2006 and she quickly became my soulmate and the love of my life.
‘Without question, our ongoing romance is the most important reason I have not withered away into a hermetic grouch.
‘Arlene is half my age, and she makes me feel somewhere between two thirds and three quarters my age, which is still saying a lot.’
Dick had four children with ex-wife Margue, all older than Arlene, before the pair split up in 1984 following 36 years of marriage.
He described the game-changing moment the pair met in 2006 and how he broke the habit of a lifetime by approaching a woman and introducing himself.
Now, the legendary actor, 99, has admitted that the ‘problem’ is actually in reverse as he acts like ‘I’m about 13’ whereas Arlene is ‘very mature’ (pictured in June 2024)
Speaking in a new interview, he said: ‘I’m infantile to start with. I think I’m about 13, so that’s been a problem and she’s quite mature for her age, so we haven’t had any problem’
The pair remained just pals for some time after their memorable first meeting, leaving the dating stage until they had established a firm friendship.
Things entered a new phase in 2009 when Michelle died and Arlene spent time visiting Dick to comfort him through a tough period.
He told People in 2013: ‘Arlene would come by after work and bring me food. She was such a support, I fell in love. My grandkids called her Grandma. My four kids just loved her.’
Arlene entered this new stage of their relationship with a bit more trepidation, but was grateful to receive support from those close to her.
She said: ‘We were friends for so long that when I told people that I know, they were happy about [our relationship], and I was scared.
‘But it’s so irrelevant. I think when you see us together, it’s like you don’t even think about it. We don’t think about it, we just meet in the middle.’
Their huge age gap is nullified by the fact Dick refuses to act like a typical 99-year-old and the couple often point to their shared love of singing and dancing as the fuel that drives their marriage.
‘I had no idea she was half my age,’ he said. ‘Beautiful. I was fortunate that I didn’t grow up. We were meant to be.’
