Michael Schmidt:Dick Van Dyke learns ukulele at age 97: 'Never too late to start something new'

2025-05-03 18:13:32source:Zopescategory:reviews

You're never too old to pick up a new hobby − just ask Dick Van Dyke.

The Michael Schmidt97-year-old comedy legend shared a video on Instagram Monday of him at his first ukulele lesson. In the video, the "The Dick Van Dyke Show" star sits in a chair and strums the instrument while playing chords. He also said it was his wife Arlene Silver's third lesson.

"My first ukulele lesson," he wrote in the caption, tagging his ukulele instructor Melanie Kareem in the post. "It’s never too late to start something new."

In an interview with Yahoo! published in February, Van Dyke joked about the secret to having a long life and maintaining a youthful spirit.

"Genes, I guess, for one thing. Having a beautiful young wife half my age to take care of me — that works! My positive attitude, I get that from my wife," he said, referencing Silver who is 51. "I still go to the gym three days a week and work out. And I advise everybody to do that, because that's what ages people — it's just a stiffening up and not exercising their muscles and their lungs. Exercise is the answer."

More:Dick Van Dyke reveals secret to feeling youthful at 97: 'Genes' and a 'young wife half my age'

The comedy icon, who starred in the 1964 movie musical "Marry Poppins" alongside Julie Andrews, married Silver in 2012. He was previously married to Margie Willett from 1948 to 1984. Willett died from cancer at 81 in 2008.

Earlier this year, Van Dyke appeared as a contestant on the reality competition series "The Masked Singer." While on "The Masked Singer," the Emmy, Grammy and Tony winner concealed his iconic face and gray hair in a giant, red-headed gnome costume.

More:5 Things we learned about 'Mary Poppins' and 'Sound of Music' from Julie Andrews' new book

Contributing: Elise Brisco

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