Mary Poppins star Dick Van Dyke has sparked health concerns after he dropped out of a fundraising event at the last minute.
The 99-year-old star of stage and screen was scheduled to appear at his musical fundraiser Vandy Camp on Saturday, along with wife and co-host Arlene Silver.
Hosted by the pair, the event is described as a ‘whimsical, vintage circus experience,’ with a focus on community and togetherness.
However, he was a no-show at this weekend’s event, with Arlene, 53, taking to the stage in his absence to explain that he was not ‘having a good day.’
Appearing at the Arlene & Dick Van Dyke Theatre at Malibu High school, Alrene joked that she was ‘not the Van Dyke you’re expecting.’
She then broke the news to attendees that her husband wouldn’t be joining them all, saying: ‘I have to inform you that Dick is not up to coming to celebrate with us today. I’m sorry.’
As reported by People, Arlene revealed that her soon-to-be 100-year-old husband was suffering a ‘bad day,’ hence the no-show.
‘When you’re 99 and a half years old, you have good days and bad days…’ she began.
‘And unfortunately, today is not a good day for him, and he’s sick that he can’t be here.’
The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang star did, however, make an appearance via livestream ahead of reassurances that he would attend the next Vandy Camp in person.
Ahead of his 100th birthday this December, Dick opened up about the ‘curse’ of living to such an advanced age.
Reflecting on his life and career in showbusiness, Dick explained that he was explained that he was set to team up with Ed Asher for a remake of beloved sitcom The Odd Couple.
However, Ed died in 2021, at the age of 91, before they could begin work on the project.
‘That would’ve been such fun, and we lost it. I’ve lost a lot of friends,’ he said at a Vandy Camp event earlier this year.
‘He’s outlived everybody,’ noted Arlene ‘That’s the curse of living to almost 100.’
However, the Diagnosis Murder actor keeps a positive outlook on life, saying: ‘Well, life’s been good to me. I can’t complain.’
Speaking to People Magazine, he spoke of why he kept working, eight decades after he first made his showbusiness debut.
‘I’m a ham,’ he admitted. ‘I love it. I get a jolt of energy from an audience.’
Dick’s gargantuan career has earned him four Emmys, a Tony for Bye Bye Birdy, and a Grammy award for his work on the Mary Poppins soundtrack with Julie Andrews.
He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was inducted into the Television Hall Of Fame in 1995.
Only last year, he made history by becoming the oldest ever Daytime Emmy winner – taking home the gong for his guest spot on Days of Our Lives, aged 98.
For a brief run of episodes, he played amnesiac Timothy Robicheaux – agreeing to appear on the long-running American soap opera after a friend suggested he should take part.
‘I said great and it snowballed into this,’ the star quipped at the award ceremony, while performing a jig with his newly acquired hardware.
‘I’m 98 years old. Can you believe it?’
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