Critics Slam Dick Van Dyke's Alarming Age Gap Marriage

Dick Van Dyke speaking at the 2017 Phoenix Comicon in Phoenix, Arizona, 2017. Photo by Gage Skidmore under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Dick Van Dyke might be just seven months shy of 100, but he's still dancing through life — and marriage — like a man half his age. Which is exactly what makes his relationship with 53-year-old wife Arlene Silver so fascinating. You might be tempted to raise an eyebrow at their 46-year age gap. But according to the legendary entertainer himself, that eyebrow might be better used for something else — like marveling at how sweet, solid, and shockingly ordinary their love story really is. Yes, Dick Van Dyke is out here giving the internet a masterclass in "mind your business and live your life." And honestly? We're here for it.

'Hi, I'm Dick': A Love Story Begins

Their story didn't start with a meet-cute out of a rom-com — more like a backstage moment with a little boldness and a whole lot of fate. Van Dyke spotted Arlene Silver working as a makeup artist at the 2006 SAG Awards and did something he never did before: he introduced himself.

"I never said hello to a strange girl in my life. I was too scared," he admitted. "But I was at a show backstage and she walked by, and for some reason, I just jumped up and said, 'Hi, I'm Dick'," according to The New York Post.

That little "Hi" turned into a friendship. Then love. Then, in 2012 — when he was 86 and she was 40 — a wedding.

'People the Same Age Don't Last'

Van Dyke knows what people think. He's heard the whispers. He's read the headlines. But as he and Silver recently shared, the connection they have doesn’t need to be defended — it simply works.

"Everybody said it wouldn't work," Van Dyke told PEOPLE. "But we get along so well."

Silver agreed — and then took it a step further saying, "It's eerie how well it works. People the same age don't last," as reported by The New York Post.

It's not about ignoring the age difference. It's about building a life that's joyful, grounded, and surprisingly normal. "We just love being home," Silver said. "We love Malibu, and it's our favorite place, our house especially," according to The New York Post.

A Marriage Built on Encouragement (And the Occasional Song)

If you're picturing some sort of sugar-daddy situation, you're missing the whole point.

Silver gushes that Van Dyke "made me feel like I can do anything," according to PEOPLE, and the feeling is mutual. In fact, Van Dyke once told her she could sing onstage — and she did, in front of 1,500 people. That kind of support isn't something you find every day, regardless of age.

Van Dyke, for his part, says he owes his positive outlook to her. "My positive attitude, I get that from my wife," he told Yahoo! Entertainment in 2022. "Having a beautiful young wife half my age to take care of me — that works!"

A Life Full of Love... And a Little Laughter

Before Silver, Van Dyke had two long-term relationships — a 30-year marriage to Margie Willett, and then a 35-year relationship with Michelle Triola, who passed in 2009. It wasn't long after that heartbreak that he and Silver began dating.

The timeline? A little unconventional. The connection? Undeniable.

"She was such a support, I fell in love," he said about Silver's care and companionship in those early years, according to The New York Post.

Their wedding? It happened on Leap Day — because of course it did. They're quirky like that.

What the Age Gap Crowd Might Be Missing

Sure, 46 years is a big number. But Dick Van Dyke isn't focused on the math. He's too busy making music, loving his wife, and looking ahead to turning 100 — which, by the way, he's only seven months away from.

Their secret? They like each other. They respect each other. They laugh. They stay home. And, maybe most importantly, they don't try to explain their love to anyone else.

References: Dick Van Dyke, 99, and wife Arlene Silver make rare comment on 46-year age gap — and what's 'eerie' about it | The Touching Reason Dick Van Dyke Says 46-Year Age Gap With Arlene Silver Works | Dick Van Dyke talks 'Mary Poppins' accent, Mary Tyler Moore’s capri pants and how being married keeps him young | Dick Van Dyke, 99, Says 'Everybody' Said His Relationship with Wife Arlene, 53, ‘Wouldn't Work’ (Exclusive)