The ‘Mary Poppins’ star turns 99 on Dec. 13.
Coldplay is honoring the remarkable life and career of Dick Van Dyke as the beloved actor nears his 99th birthday on Dec. 13.
On Friday, the British rock group, fronted by vocalist Chris Martin, released an extended music video of its latest song, “All My Love,” highlighting some of Van Dyke’s greatest moments, both on and off the screen.
The “Mary Poppins” star makes a special appearance in the seven-minute-long video, which was filmed in the actor’s Malibu home.
The music video opens with Van Dyke walking out into his string light-lit backyard, where Martin can be seen seated at a piano.
“Chris, shall we?” Van Dyke asks before the singer launches into a performance of his melodious love ballad, from Coldplay’s 10th studio album, “Moon Music.”
Throughout the music video, Van Dyke can be seen dancing, laughing, and even singing a portion of “All My Love” alongside Martin.
“You got all my love,” the pair croon in unison. “Almost on key,” Van Dyke quips, later sharing his favorite lyrics from the song: “Until I die, let me hold you if you cry.”
Van Dyke and his current wife, Arlene Silver, whom the actor married in February 2012, served as co-producers on the music video. It was co-directed by filmmakers Mary Wigmore and Spike Jonze—the Oscar-winning director of the 2013 film “Her.”
In one scene, Van Dyke is asked for his definition of love.
“What is love? Boy, they’ve been attacking that question for centuries,” he says. “It’s certainly the feeling of caring about the welfare and the life of the other person as much as you care for yourself.”
Elsewhere in the video, Van Dyke can be seen gazing at an old family photograph, which depicts the actor and his first wife, Margie Willett, along with their four children, Christian, Barry, Stacy, and Carrie Beth.
Van Dyke and Willett divorced in 1984 after 36 years of marriage. Willett died in 2008 at the age of 81 from pancreatic cancer.
“I am acutely aware that I can go any day now, but I don’t know why it doesn’t concern me,” Van Dyke says.
“I’m not afraid of it. I have that feeling totally against anything intellectual I have that I am going to be all right.”
Coldplay’s social media followers were quick to give the music video all their love.
“It is so beautiful and sweet … tears of emotion in my eyes,” one fan wrote on X.
“One of the most emotional things I have ever watched. Just beautiful,” another replied.
“Impossible to look at him without shedding a few tears,” a follower commented on Instagram. “It is devastatingly tender. So sweet. Love to the end of the days.”
Honoring a Legend
Van Dyke’s riveting performances have spanned the screen and stage throughout his more than 70-year career.
The actor garnered his breakout part in the 1960 Broadway musical “Bye Bye Birdie.” The following year, he emerged as a household name opposite actress Mary Tyler Moore in the CBS sitcom “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” which ran for five seasons until 1966.
The actor reprised his role as Albert Peterson in the 1963 film adaptation of “Bye Bye Birdie,” starring Janet Leigh and Ed Sullivan. He went on to perform in the 1964 musical “Mary Poppins” with actress Julie Andrews.
Some of the Emmy winner’s other notable film credits include “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” (1968), “Cold Turkey” (1971), and “Dick Tracy” (1990). Van Dyke is also known for playing Dr. Mark Sloan in CBS’s hit medical crime drama series “Diagnosis Murder.”
In December 2023, CBS celebrated Van Dyke’s 98th birthday with the premiere of “Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic.” The television special showcased a variety of tribute performances from artists including singer Rita Ora, who sang the famed “Mary Poppins” tune “Super-cali-fragil-istic-expi-ali-docious.”
Appearing on the “Awards Chatter“ podcast in June of this year, Van Dyke said he was greatly impressed by the performances.
“There was a lot of work covered there,” he said. “Really good stuff, and the fact that I had enjoyed every minute of it, all of it. Yeah, it was just a great tribute. I’ll never forget it.”
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