Dick Van Dyke obtained a duplicate of the automobile featured in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for his one hundredth birthday.
Dick Van Dyke obtained a duplicate of the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang automobile
The legendary actor – who performed widowed inventor Caractacus Potts within the 1968 household favorite – was “blown away” by the particular reward, a “stage reproduction” which got here to him through a “good friend of a good friend”, Michael Mulligan.
Dick’s spouse, Arlene Silver, defined to Individuals journal: “He performed Caractacus Potts in a stage model of Chitty Bang Bang, and he constructed that automobile.”
Through the celebrations for Dick’s one hundredth birthday in December, Arlene had talked about she was eager to have as many Chitty Bang Bangs in a single spot as attainable” for the event, prompting Michael to carry alongside his personal hand-built model of the automobile, which is presently on the couple’s Malibu dwelling.
Arlene added: “It was identical to a logo of him, Dick, whether or not he is there or not.
“It simply pulls on the center strings, makes middle-aged males cry.
“I simply love having it in our driveway as a result of [you’ll hear], ‘Oh my God, is {that a} Chitty Bang Bang?’ You understand, folks simply strolling by… whether or not Dick lives there or not.”
Arlene is not sure the place the automobile will finally find yourself, however she needs to open a museum devoted to her husband finally so it might be housed there.
She mentioned: “I might maintain it endlessly [if space allowed].
“You understand, it is simply higher right here than wherever else.”
The 54-year-old make-up artist beforehand hailed her husband’s birthday celebrations – which included her main a flash mob in dancing to the Mary Poppins actor’s songs and a celebration at dwelling with household and pals – as “excellent”.
She informed Individuals journal: “It went so excellent — simply all the things.
“And he was so comfortable. His face, I like to make him have that face.
“This felt so excellent.”
The make-up artist admitted she felt “relieved, grateful and so comfortable” with how the day turned out.
The Prognosis Homicide actor just lately admitted he feels “lonely” and “annoyed” in his outdated age as a result of he is outlived most of his finest pals and he not often will get to attend glitzy showbiz occasions due to his declining well being.
He informed The Instances newspaper: “Although I nonetheless do visitor spots on TV, and adverts and movies, I miss going to the studio each day for an everyday collection. And each single certainly one of my dearest lifelong pals is gone, which feels simply as lonely because it sounds.
“It’s irritating to really feel diminished on this planet, bodily and socially.
“I get invitations to occasions or presents for gigs in New York or Chicago, however that form of journey takes a lot out of me that I’ve to say no. Nearly all of my visiting with people has to occur at my home.”
