Dick Van Dyke’s 100th birthday is a great moment to look back at his career and embrace some of his underrated movie and TV roles. Since his onscreen debut in 1956, actor Dick Van Dyke has found a special place in the hearts of audiences everywhere. Onscreen and in interviews, he’s an absolute ray of sunshine and an international treasure.
Van Dyke’s best onscreen roles include musicals like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mary Poppins, and Bye Bye Birdie. This isn’t surprising considering he’s an incredible singer and dancer. If you’ve never seen “Me Ol’ Bamboo” from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, you absolutely have to watch it. Its choreography is insane. Van Dyke also spent time on Broadway.
However, the actor has so many other roles that deserve recognition. In honor of actor Dick Van Dyke’s 100th birthday, we’ve put together ten of his most underrated TV and movie roles that are worth revisiting.
10
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
While he only appeared in a single episode of the horror anthology show Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Dick Van Dyke’s performance in the show is memorable. The episode centers on Thomas Craig, a greedy man who is desperate for his uncle’s fortune.
When his uncle dies, he leaves millions of dollars to his dog, and if the dog dies, then it goes to Thomas. Thomas and his girlfriend spend the whole episode trying to kill the dog in increasingly ridiculous ways. The dark comedy premise really allowed Dick Van Dyke to show off his comedic chops, even when the story got tense.
9
Columbo
Rather than being a “whodunnit?” show, the mystery TV series Columbo includes the crime and the killer’s identity at the start of each episode, and the plot centers on how Columbo will solve the case. In a single episode of Columbo, titled “Negative Reaction,” actor Dick Van Dyke plays a killer named Paul Galesko.
This casting was extremely risky, considering Dick Van Dyke was already considered such a lovable actor. Despite being known for his comedic roles, Van Dyke’s performance in Columbo was dramatic and extremely compelling. It is odd to see him play someone so cold-hearted, given that he exudes warmth, but he didn’t really well.
8
Murder 101
Made-for-TV movies rarely get recognition on par with streaming or theatrical releases. As such, even the biggest Dick Van Dyke fans might not know that he acted in a series of four films called Murder 101. This was truly a family affair, with actors Dick Van Dyke, his son Barry, and his grandsons Shane, Wes, and Carey all appearing.
The movies have an entertaining enough storyline, and they really lean into the strengths of Dick and Barry Van Dyke. The mysteries have a lot of comedy within them, and they never get too heavy. Mind you, Murder 101 is obviously a movie made on a minuscule budget. However, that gives a certain kind of charm.
7
Diagnosis Murder
The CBS medical crime drama show Diagnosis Murder is probably the last thing anyone would expect from Dick Van Dyke. The genre is so far from the musicals and comedies that we’re used to. It’s underrated, but it deserves a lot more recognition.
The show follows Dr. Mark Sloan, played by Dick Van Dyke, a doctor who works with his police officer son, Lieutenant Detective Steve Sloan, played by Barry Van Dyke, to solve murders. Although the first two seasons struggled to find their footing, Diagnosis Murder became a successful TV show, running for 8 seasons in total, with 5 additional TV movies and 8 novels.
Even though Diagnosis Murder was so successful, I’d still consider it underrated when compared to other Dick Van Dyke roles. This ultimately isn’t a judgment against this show but a testament to how great his other projects have been.
6
Never A Dull Moment
Early in his career, Dick Van Dyke acted in a campy heist comedy crime film called Never A Dull Moment, which centers on a second-rate actor named Jack Albany who gets mistaken for a hitman named Ace Williams and is pulled into a gang’s deadly art heist. If the movie premise sounds goofy, that’s because it is.
Disney’s Never a Dull Moment never pretends to be a prestige film. The movie leans into all the genre tropes, and it’s completely okay with being perceived as silly. Unfortunately, Never A Dull Moment has all but been forgotten, despite Dick Van Dyke’s entertaining performance as Jack Albany.
5
The Comic
Although it’s technically labelled as a comedy, Dick Van Dyke’s movie The Comic is much more of a dark dramedy that balances the different genres extremely well. The movie was born out of the director Carl Reiner and actor Dick Van Dyke’s interest in silent comedy.
Van Dyke plays Billy Bright, a silent film comedian who became famous in the 1910s and 1920s. Unfortunately, his life behind the scenes is chaotic and sad. Bright cannot stay faithful to his wife, is harsh on his coworkers, and has a drinking problem. As sound movies begin, he refuses to transition, allowing his career to end.
The Comic is such a niche movie, but it has become a cult classic because it does a brilliant job of recreating the world of silent film. What’s more, Dick Van Dyke manages to play a despicable character who is one person to the public and another in private. It really reinforces the idea that sometimes the funniest people have the saddest lives.
4
The Carol Burnett Show
Actor-comedian Carol Burnett once had her own sketch comedy show, similar to SNL, aptly called The Carol Burnett Show. It ran for eleven seasons from 1967 to 1978, and some of the biggest-name comedians and actors appeared in the cast at some point. This includes the absolute gem Dick Van Dyke.
He joined the cast in season 10 and lasted only 11 episodes before mutually parting ways with the show. However, his brief stint on the show brought about some truly hilarious sketches, including the K-9 obedience school bit and the electric company complaint bit. Despite leaving so shortly after joining the show, Carol Burnett and Dick Van Dyke maintained a close friendship.
3
Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.
Dick Van Dyke partnered with Disney a number of times, and one of his least remembered projects with them is Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N., an entertaining twist on Robinson Crusoe. Van Dyke plays Lieutenant Robin “Rob” Crusoe, a Navy pilot who gets cast away on a tropical island. He finds that beautiful women inhabit the island. The story follows his experiences on the island and his escape.
The movie getting forgotten makes a lot of sense because it had extremely mixed reviews despite Dick Van Dyke’s involvement and Walt Disney’s only story credit. Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N. is funny and zany, but it also feels derivative at times and runs for a little bit too long. However, it’s still enjoyable for those who want to enjoy Van Dyke’s comedy.
2
Buttons: A Christmas Tale
Dick Van Dyke has not let his age stop him from doing what he loves, including acting. In 2020, a movie called Buttons: A Christmas Tale came out that has been largely overlooked. The movie follows two orphan girls who wish to find a home for Christmas. Their two guardian angels swoop in to help them discover that magic and miracles exist.
With heavy-hitting actors like Dick Van Dyke and Angela Lansbury at the forefront, I cannot help but ask, “Why is Buttons: A Christmas Tale so underrated?” I’ve found that few people even know the movie exists, and even fewer like it.
However, Buttons: A Christmas Tale is nothing short of charming, magical, and filled with cute songs. With it being the holiday season at the time of Dick Van Dyke’s 100th birthday, I’ll undoubtedly be cozying up under a warm blanket with my dog and a hot cup of coffee to enjoy Buttons: A Christmas Tale.
1
The Morning After
The Morning After is perhaps Dick Van Dyke’s most personal movie or TV role that he’s ever taken. The story follows a likable and successful public relations man named Charlie Lester who refuses to admit his alcoholism, putting his entire life at risk.
He was approached because they wanted to show that even a lovable “everyman” can experience alcoholism. However, producer David Wolper was shocked to learn that Dick Van Dyke was, himself, an alcoholic who had been undergoing treatment for a year before getting the script (via The El Paso Times). Van Dyke decided to make his illness public knowledge after accepting the role.
The knowledge that the performance came from a very authentic place makes The Morning After all the more impactful. It explains why Van Dyke’s performance feels so realistic. Watching the movie, it’s easy to forget that he is an actor playing a role. Ultimately, this movie is a must-watch for Dick Van Dyke fans, even though it feels so far from the joyful persona he usually gives off in his roles.
- Birthdate
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December 13, 1925
- Birthplace
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West Plains, Missouri, USA
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