Love at First Sight
When legendary entertainer Dick Van Dyke entered his golden years, he met Arlene Silver — and was instantly smitten. Despite the nearly 50-year age gap, sparks flew. Recently, the 99-year-old actor opened up about Silver “marrying an old man” and shared their secrets to 13 years of wedded bliss.
A Hollywood Love Story
In an industry where romances fade fast, their love story feels cinematic. It all began at the 2006 SAG Awards. Van Dyke, then in his 80s, met Silver, a vibrant makeup artist in her 30s.
“The moment I saw her, something clicked,” he told People. “I never said hello to a strange girl before. But when she walked by backstage, I just jumped up and said, ‘Hi, I’m Dick.’ There was something about her — and I was right.”
Past and Present
At the time, Van Dyke was still with longtime partner Michelle Triola Marvin, whom he’d been with since 1976. Though they never married, they stayed together until her death in 2009. Admitting he felt “writhing in guilt” over past mistakes, Van Dyke honored that chapter and eventually hired Silver as his personal makeup artist.
From Work to Romance
Their working relationship slowly blossomed into love. In 2012, they married. Van Dyke affectionately joked she was his “child bride.”
Speaking to HuffPost in 2016, both admitted they doubted the relationship at first. “I thought, there’s no way this could work,” Arlene recalled. Van Dyke added, “My brother said, ‘What do you even talk about?’ But the truth is, we talk all the time. We do everything together.”
Facing Public Opinion
In 2022, Van Dyke shared with Closer Weekly that he once feared public backlash. “I thought people would say a gold digger married an old man,” he admitted. “But no one took that attitude.”
Silver praised her husband: “He’s the most perfect human being. So happy, genuine, and amazing. He’s like a happy pill.”
Life Together Today
On April 20, Van Dyke and 53-year-old Silver chatted with People at their Malibu home during the “Vandy Camp” event. Silver gushed, “We love being home, especially our house in Malibu. It’s like you’re at our house.”
Reflecting on the 2024 Franklin fire, she added, “Our house got hit, but we were very lucky.”
Secrets to Lasting Love
What’s the secret to their joy? “We get along so well,” Van Dyke shared. Silver added, “We just care about each other so much.”
Van Dyke noted, “Everyone said it wouldn’t work.” Silver laughed, “Yeah, it’s eerie how well it works. People the same age don’t last.”
Keep Dancing and Singing
At 99, Van Dyke stays sprightly by moving. He told NPR, “Everybody should dance. And sing! People say they can’t, but that’s no reason not to.” He added, “I have a beautiful, young wife who sings and dances, so there’s a lot of duets at our house.”
A Love That Defies Age
In a world full of fleeting romances, Dick Van Dyke and Arlene Silver shine as proof that love knows no age. Their relationship, built on laughter, friendship, and mutual admiration, shows that sometimes the most unexpected unions create the most magical stories.