Legendary entertainer Dick Van Dyke, beloved for his role as Rob Petrie on his self-titled sitcom and his portrayal of Bert in Mary Poppins, is headed to Salem. The actor will appear on Days of our Lives in an upcoming episode.
Dick Van Dyke Visits Days of our Lives
Access Hollywood reported the news of Van Dyke’s casting. Believe it or not, this is the actor’s first-ever soap opera appearance. “Drake [Hogestyn, John] and I went to the same gym together,” Van Dyke said. “I used to kid him, ‘Don’t you have any parts for old people?’ He took me seriously and got me a part!”
Watch for Van Dyke to pop up on the Peacock series later this year in the fall. He’ll be playing a mystery man with amnesia. Who better to help Van Dyke’s persona out with a memory issue than psychiatrist Dr. Marlena Evans, played by Deidre Hall.
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“I have played old men before but comedy old men — this is the first time I’ve just played my 97-year-old self,” Van Dyke shares. His appearance has led the actor to become an admirer of the hard work actors on soap operas do. “I started watching them,” the veteran performer shares. “Some of the people [on this show] have been doing this for 20 years!”
Dick Van Dyke and Carol Burnett
Access Hollywood asked Carol Burnett, who recurred on All My Children as Verla Grubbs, if she had any advice for the daytime newcomer. “Make sure you know all your lines because they don’t do retakes,” Burnett advised her former guest from The Carol Burnett Show. “If anything goes wrong, you’re stuck!”
“Bless her heart,” Van Dyke said after seeing Burnett’s well-wishes on video. “Happy birthday, sweetheart!”
Burnett is set to turn 90 on Wednesday, April 26. Her birthday will be honored in a TV special titled Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love on her birthday at 8/7 central. The special will stream the next day on Peacock, the exclusive streaming service that DAYS calls home.
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