Dick Van Dyke made history this past weekend at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, joking that he’s still “looking for work” even before he turns 99.
The iconic comedian turns 99 in December, but on Saturday he tied Norman Lear’s record as the oldest Emmy winner, both of whom turned 98 (Lear in 2020).
He won Outstanding Variety Special for his 2023 birthday special, Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic, at the Creative Arts Emmys on Saturday.
After receiving the award, Van Dyke told reporters (via People) that he hoped people would remember him for his ‘laughter’.
‘I hope I’ve been making people laugh for 75 years. “I’ve been in the business for 75 years. I can’t believe I’m still here and performing,” he said.
Dick Van Dyke made history at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards this past weekend, joking that he’s still “looking for work” before he turns 99
He won Outstanding Variety Special for his 2023 birthday special, Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic, at the Creative Arts Emmys on Saturday
The legendary comedian looked around the room and then joked, “I’m looking for work, if anyone has one.”
When asked what advice he would give to younger artists, he said: keep doing what you do.
“You have to persevere. You go through tough times and a lot of auditions … but you have to persevere,” Van Dyke said.
“Be patient if you have confidence in yourself, and it’s very important to believe that you can do it,” he added.
When Van Dyke accepted his award to loud applause at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, he was very grateful.
“Thank you! That reception, I can’t tell you what it means,” he told the crowd at the beginning of his speech.
He was joined onstage by his wife, Arlene Silver, 52, who served as a producer on the Emmy-winning special.
“The young lady who received this award, if I use the word nepotism I would understand it, but this lady got the job as producer of the Dick Van Dyke special all by herself, because she knows me inside and out, knows how I work and doesn’t accept any rudeness from anyone,” he said of his wife.
The legendary comedian looked around the room and then joked, “I’m looking for work if anyone has one.”
When asked what advice he would give to younger artists, he said they should stick to the craft.
“Be patient if you have confidence in yourself, and it’s very important to believe that you can do it,” he added
Just a few months earlier, he made history again as the oldest winner of a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Performer on Days of Our Lives.
“This is a very different honor for me; I’m rarely recognized for my dramatic or straight acting work — comedy and musicals are, after all, my specialty,” he said.
“I feel extremely honored and it’s going to be a fun night celebrating with the entire daytime television community,” Van Dyke added.
He will soon be seen in the film Capture the Flag, opposite Louis Gossett Jr., John Amos, Barry Corbin and Paul Dooley.