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Dick Van Dyke believes ditching these two things is why he’ll likely make it to his 100th birthday
New York Post ^ | Dec. 7, 2025 | Antoinette Bueno

Posted on 12/07/2025 5:40:50 PM PST by nickcarraway

Dick Van Dyke revealed how he’s been able to live a long life.

The “Mary Poppins” star, who’s set to turn 100 years old on Dec. 13, recently recalled giving up alcohol and smoking in his 50s. Van Dyke credited the choice for why he’s “still here.”

The comments came when he spoke about working with Walt Disney, who died of lung cancer in 1966, at a Vandy High Tea event held at his home in Malibu, Calif., on Nov. 30. Van Dyke recalled that Disney “smoked too much,” per People.

(Excerpt) Read more at pagesix.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: dickvandyke

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1 posted on 12/07/2025 5:40:50 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

I knew smoking would be one of his vices, everybody smoked back before 1970’s.....................


2 posted on 12/07/2025 5:43:48 PM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: nickcarraway

When it comes to liberal politics, Van Dyke is a Dick alright.


3 posted on 12/07/2025 5:47:34 PM PST by Bullish (My tagline ran off with another man, but it's okay... I wasn't married to it.)
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To: Red Badger

Yep … I gave both habits up before I turned 40… just before.


4 posted on 12/07/2025 5:48:50 PM PST by House Atreides (I’m now ULTRA-MAGA-PRO-MAX)
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To: Red Badger
I knew smoking would be one of his vices, everybody smoked back before 1970’s.....................

The highest percentage of smokers in the U.S. was about 42.4%, in the early 60's, so not everyone was.

Smokers were 2.6% in the U.S. in 1900. The big difference was the U.S. government promoted smoking. They gave U.S. soldiers cigarettes in World War I. The in the 1920's, it was promoted as feminist for women to smoke.

By the way, they already knew smoking tobacco was bad for you by the time of Shakespeare.

5 posted on 12/07/2025 5:50:59 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

He kept his weight stable all his life as well.

He’s a testament to the benefits of living a moderate and active lifestyle.


6 posted on 12/07/2025 5:53:02 PM PST by Jonty30 (I've been diagnosed as being polemic and there is no cure. )
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To: nickcarraway

When I was about 10 years old, I tried one of my father’s Camel UNFILTERED cigarettes. One puff, and it savaged my throat.

Later, I foolishly tried mom’s Kool Menthol. Just one drag on the cigarette, and it felt like I was smoking a nasty mint.

Never did pick up smoking. I got into loooong distance bicycling, and liked my lungs too much.


7 posted on 12/07/2025 5:55:49 PM PST by Ronaldus Magnus III (Do, or do not, there is no try )
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To: nickcarraway

Dick Van Dyke has always been a noisy liberal. But he dropped out of high school during WW2, and enlisted in the Army.

Gotta give him that.


8 posted on 12/07/2025 5:58:27 PM PST by Leaning Right (It's morning in America. Again.)
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To: Leaning Right

Even liberals were cool back then, now we can’t even trust a lot of conservatives.


9 posted on 12/07/2025 6:08:58 PM PST by JZelle
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To: nickcarraway

Wouldn’t have pictured him to live so long. Or his liver.


10 posted on 12/07/2025 6:13:40 PM PST by OrangeHoof (Always spay or neuter your liberal.)
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To: nickcarraway

I fully agree. Smoking and drinking will shorten ones life considerably. I’d say smoking is by far the worse for those I know that never quit until their 60’s or so were on oxygen until they died.

Drinking in moderation is probably not much of a killer. My granddad had a shot of brandy before bedtime until he died at the age of 95.


11 posted on 12/07/2025 6:18:42 PM PST by redfreedom (They’re AWFUL...Affuent White Female Urban Leftists)
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To: nickcarraway

IMHO the Dick Van Dyke show is the top comedy of all time.. even as a small kid I would LMAO when poor Mel would be ripped by Buddy every time he walked into the room.. Comedic gold..


12 posted on 12/07/2025 6:19:05 PM PST by Lib-Lickers 2
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To: OrangeHoof

His brother was the drunk


13 posted on 12/07/2025 6:21:06 PM PST by Chickensoup
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To: nickcarraway

Dick Van Dick.


14 posted on 12/07/2025 6:46:00 PM PST by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: nickcarraway

I’m glad he stopped driving. For a while there it seemed he was trying to accident himself to death.

Yes, his politics suck; but as an old guy he has some good advice:

“I’ve made it to 99 in no small part because I have stubbornly refused to give into the bad stuff in life: failures and defeats, personal losses, loneliness and bitterness, the physical and emotional pains of aging,” he said.

“That stuff is real but I have not let it define me,” he continued. “Instead, for the vast majority of my years, I have been in what I can only describe as a full-on bear hug with the experience of living. Being alive has been doing life — not like a job but rather like a giant playground.”


15 posted on 12/07/2025 6:57:47 PM PST by MikelTackNailer (We can never stop failing for the minute we do, we fail.)
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To: nickcarraway
At that time (19th Century) lung cancer was so rare that professors whould take their medical
students to view the lung cancer patient, saying "you might never encounter a case like this again …"

16 posted on 12/07/2025 7:07:48 PM PST by Governor Dinwiddie ( O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious, and his mercy endures forever. — Psalm 106)
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To: nickcarraway

Penis Van Lesbian is a turd.


17 posted on 12/07/2025 7:19:08 PM PST by Hyman Roth
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To: nickcarraway

Van Dyke recalled that Disney “smoked too much,” per People. ‘Winston tastes good like a cigarette should’...’You get a lot to like in a Marlboro’.


18 posted on 12/07/2025 7:22:14 PM PST by kawhill (And the sea will bring each man new hope as sleep brings dreams of home. C.C.)
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To: Red Badger
I knew smoking would be one of his vices, everybody smoked back before 1970’s.....................

I wonder if his quitting smoking was in some way inspired by this film?

The movie had some amusing moments, IIRC - including the way his character dealt with the challenge of going "cold turkey".

19 posted on 12/07/2025 7:23:24 PM PST by Charles Martel (Progressives are the crab grass in the lawn of life.)
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To: Charles Martel

Maybe the other way around!............


20 posted on 12/07/2025 7:29:45 PM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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