Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Scarlett O'Toole

Dick Van Dyke, 97, announces first ever soap role weeks after crashing car

Dick Van Dyke is about to embark on a career-first after bagging his first ever role on a soap opera.

The 97-year-old Hollywood icon will guest-star on Days of Our Lives, with his episode airing on Peacock later this year.

Dick will be playing "a mystery man with amnesia" and will star alongside NBC actress Deidre Hall and his pal Drake Hogestyn.

The actor explained how his friend actually helped him to secure the role, saying: "Drake and I actually went to the same gym together.

"I used to kid him, 'Say do you ever have any parts for old people? Come on, give me a part'."

Luckily for Dick, his persistence paid off.

Dick Van Dyke has landed a new role (Getty Images)
He will guest-star on Days of Our Lives (Getty Images)

"He took me seriously. He got me a part," the Mary Poppins star told Access Hollywood.

He added: "I have played old men before, but comedy old men. First time I ever just played my 97-year-old self."

Dick has been watching episodes of Days of Our Lives to make sure he is fully clued up on the programme.

"I started watching and some of those people have been doing it for 20 years. That's about all the homework I could do was watch one and see how they did it."

The actor is well-known for his role in Mary Poppins (MARY POPPINS)

After hearing the news of Dick's new role, fans quickly took to Twitter to share their joy at the news.

"I am way too excited about Dick Van Dyke guest starring on #Days," one person wrote.

Another said: "It will be amazing to see #DickVanDyke on #DOOL," while a third fan tweeted: "Can’t wait to see him on Days!"

"The legendary #Dickvandyke will be making an appearance on #DaysofOurLives! Thank you @DrakeHogestyn for helping many of us to revisit our childhood memories," someone else commented.

Dick is well-known for his role on Mary Poppins and has enjoyed a highly successful career since.

The actor recently took part in The Masked Singer and was unmasked as Gnome on the show.

His show-stopping performance on the programme even reduced judge Nicole Scherzinger to tears as she she said it was "an honour" to watch him perform on the show.

* Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.