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9 10 12 11 From 1971-74, Van Dyke was back on CBS with The New Dick Van Dyke Show opposite Hope Lange (9). Throughout the '70s he was a staple of variety shows such as a Cass Elliott special in 1973 (10), and was on the final season of The Carol Burnett Show in 1977 (11), here with Ben Vereen and Burnett. Van Dyke's Diagnosis Murder was a family affair: a 1999 episode featured brother Jerry, left, grandson Shane and son Barry (12). the Laurel and Hardy comedy duo]. Tell us a little bit about that because I know it meant a great deal to you. DVD: Oh god, what a gentleman. his was in the '60s and I was looking up a phone number in the Santa Monica phone book, and it said "Stan Laurel." And I thought it can't be. So, I called up and asked, "Is this Mr. Laurel?" and I told him who I was, and he had seen the television show, so he knew who I was and I said, you know, I'm afraid I've stolen from you a lot over the years, and he said, "Yes, I know." He invited me to his apartment, I spent the aſternoon with him, and visited with him quite oſten aſter that. What a gentleman. He called me "Dicky." KH: I think it's appropriate that we're talking about him today because he received our second Life Achievement Award in 1963, and you had the opportunity to play him on screen from time to time. It came from within and you had him down. It was great. DVD: On one episode [of he Dick Van Dyke Show] we did a Laurel and Hardy sketch. So the night the show was on, aſterwards, I called him and asked "So, what did you think?" and he gave me 40 44 SAG-AFTRA | Winter 2013 | SAGAFTRA.org minutes of notes. hat I should have known ahead of time. [laughs] He said, didn't you remember that I had paper clips as cuff links, and the brim of the hat wasn't flat enough, and he took the heels off his shoes — I never knew that — to give him that funny stance, and that walk. But he never told me ahead of time! I said, "Now you tell me?" But then I got to do the eulogy at his funeral [in 1965]. What an honor for me. KH: You've done so many marvelous things, and had so many opportunities, and then, of course, came the height of nepotism with Diagnosis Murder. DVD: he ratings were healthy enough to keep us on the air [over the course of 10 years] and it was a joy for me to do because they let me be funny and keep it light. We tried to run a loose ship and make it light. KH: And it was also a family DVD: It was a fairytale. It was the best wedding I've ever been to. And Actor-to-Actor video, click HERE For the complete the three guys I sing with [in the Vantastix] are half my age, and they keep me young. KH: You're an inspiration to all of us. You're a perfect recipient of the Life Achievement Award because you have done it all. And for someone who hoped to one day be a television announcer, things have turned out just fine. affair. DVD: I had my son [on it], used all my grandkids, my daughter Stacy. [laughs] I think I used everybody on that show, which made it fun for me. KH: You've said that so much of your career was on-the-job training. DVD: Yes! I had anxiety most of my career because I had never expected to act or sing or dance; I thought I was going to be a TV announcer. So I got a job singing and dancing on Broadway and I wasn't ready, I didn't know how. And I got he Dick Van Dyke Show, and I had never really acted. We had a hit show and I was learning to act as we went. KH: And now yet another new phase of your life, not only with [the a cappella group] the Vantastix, which I just love, you also just recently married Arlene. I HAD ANXIETY MOST OF MY CAREER BECAUSE I HAD NEVER EXPECTED TO ACT OR SING OR DANCE. DVD: Oh, like this award! It's out of the blue and such a nice surprise. What a nice cherry on top of everything. KH: Well it's a giſt to you, but you are such a giſt to us. Great chatting with you. DVD: Let's work together again. KH: I'd love it, let's do it. Watch the complete Actor to Actor interview online at SAGAFTRA.org. Grand Award Record Co. (9, 10, 11) CBS Photo Archive; (12) Monty Brinton, CBS